Eleanor AlgerLos Angeles, CAWriting Mentor and College Application Specialist
My resume is clear: I am a writer. As a recent graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dramatic Writing for the Stage and Screen, I have experience in writing for a wide variety of mediums, academically and beyond. What my resume does not show, however, is my lifelong background in higher education. I am the daughter of a university president, and have grown up in college towns my whole life. My perspective on applying to colleges is deeply personal and unique–not only have I been on the side of the student, having sent in several applications at both the undergraduate and graduate level in my lifetime, I also have a specialized understanding of the higher education system as a whole due to my upbringing.
At the core of my work, I am a storyteller. I believe that students seeking admission to colleges need to figure out the best way to tell their stories, and that I am uniquely situated to help them. My strengths in interpersonal communication, organization, and attention to detail led me to a strong interest in this role. During my graduate years at SCAD, much of my work involved not only learning how to create work of my own, but also how to properly and kindly critique the work of others. This emphasis on collaboration allowed me to gain new skills and confidence in how to critique and present others’ work in addition to my own. A vital part of my education at SCAD was an emphasis on discussing new, upcoming media. I spent my first quarter learning how to write script coverage for various forms of media– an action thriller, a sitcom, and a historical drama. Our classrooms were a collaborative environment, and equal importance was placed on our abilities to digest new work as it was to create new work ourselves. This has allowed me to learn not only how to kindly and clearly articulate criticism, but also how to speak to a writer in their own critical language.
