Q: Do I have to stay for the entire event?
A: Because this event is first come first served and we have a wait list, you are expected to attend from 9AM-3PM. This event is designed to allow you enough time to complete your person statement essays. We match each student one-on-one with a trained tutor who dedicated their entire day to help you. If a student leaves early, their tutor will be forced to also end early. Plan your schedule ahead of time in order to prevent any time conflicts.
Q: What is provided?
A: First and foremost: food! Breakfast and lunch are provided. We will also have water and snacks available. In addition, we will provide laptops, paper, and pencils to all students who need them. And most importantly, each student will be provided with up to 5 hours of writing support by a trained tutor!
Q: How many personal statements am I expected to work on?
A: For this event, you will work on as many personal statements as you can with your volunteer. You are only focusing on the essay portions; creating an account and completing the rest of the application is your responsibility outside of this event.
Q: Do I have to have all of the documents ready before the day? What if I don’t have a draft yet?
A: If you have not started your personal statements, we highly encourage you to complete the Opening Questions worksheet. If you have started your personal statements, please have them ready to share with your volunteer. It’s okay if you are missing some of the requested documents, your volunteer is equipped to help you get started from any phase. However, the more documents you are able to provide, the easier it will be for you and your volunteer to write and finish your scholarship essays!
Q: What's the difference between a volunteer and room leader?
A: All volunteers and room leaders are trained by 826LA to support students with writing personal statements.
Volunteers are paired 1:1 with each student for the entire event. They provide direct feedback on their student’s writing to help them reach the goal of completing personal statements.
Room leaders will stay in each breakout room for the entire event. They are available to help with any tech issues, answer any questions about the event, provide time-checks to keep everyone on track, and be an observer of the student/volunteer interaction.
Q: What if I can’t make it to the event anymore?
A: If you cannot attend the event or need to switch the day you wish to attend, please send an email to schools@826LA.org to let staff know and to open a spot for a student in the waitlist.
Q: Who can I reach out to if I have any questions before the event?
A: For any questions, please contact staff at schools@826LA.org.