Writing Studio Office and Primary Location
Curb Center Building (1801 Edgehill Avenue), Suite 112
Satellite Location
217 Commons Center
Scroll down for hours by location.
Below you will find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about working at the Writing Studio and about applying for the undergraduate writing consultant position. This FAQ is intended as a supplement to the information already available on the Writing Studio鈥檚 website, particularly the Undergraduate Writing Consultant page, which offers essential details about the position and the application process.
We aim for this FAQ to be a constant work in progress, and we add additional questions and responses as time allows.
Position-Related Questions
-
What is the time commitment for undergraduate writing consultants?
What is the time commitment for undergraduate writing consultants?
Undergraduate writing consultants鈥� required time commitment is eight hours per week. We also ask that undergraduate writing consultants commit to their positions for the full academic year (with the exception of study abroad, see 鈥淚 am planning to study abroad next year. Can I still apply to a writing consultant?鈥� below).
The eight hour per week commitment breaks down to seven weekly writing consultation hours (each 50 minutes long followed by 10 minutes for record keeping) plus one additional hour for our mandatory weekly staff meeting.
The mandatory weekly staff meetings are offered on Wednesdays at both 9:10-10:00 a.m. and 4:10-5:00 p.m. Consultants are able to choose which of those two meeting times best fits their schedule, while also committing to keep a time to attend a meeting at one of those times open as they register for classes each semester. The weekly staff meetings continue building on the mandatory, intensive four-day August training for new and returning writing consultants.
-
Are writing consultants paid for attending training and weekly staff meetings?
Are writing consultants paid for attending training and weekly staff meetings?
Yes! Taking part in trainings and ongoing professional development activities are an essential part of working at the Writing Studio and are therefore paid time for all writing consultants.
-
Does the undergraduate writing consultant position count for federal work study?
Does the undergraduate writing consultant position count for聽federal work study?
Yes! It absolutely does, and we聽strongly encourage聽applications from students who anticipate having Federal Work Study next year.
-
I haven't used the Writing Studio myself. Can I still apply to work there?
I haven鈥檛 used the Writing Studio myself. Can I still apply to work there?
First of all, yes! While we highly recommend applicants familiarize themselves with the Writing Studio by holding an appointment (perhaps to work on your application materials), there is no requirement that applicants must do so to submit an application, and past applicants have successfully interviewed with us and landed the job without having ever held a writing consultation themselves.
One major advantage of familiarizing yourself with how writing consultation appointments work at the Writing Studio is that it will help you have a clearer idea of the job and our workplace, which should help you craft a more informed application.
The next several entries below also address some of the biggest questions we hear from applicants new to the Writing Studio.
-
How do students sign up for appointments with writing consultants?
How do students sign up for appointments with writing consultants?
Students sign up for appointments using our online scheduling platform, WCOnline, which is accessible via the 鈥淪chedule an Appointment鈥� button throughout the Writing Studio site.
You can learn more about our scheduling system on the following pages:
-
Will I get to read writers鈥� essays before they meet with me for a writing consultation appointment?
Will I get to read writers鈥� essays before they meet with me for a writing consultation appointment?
The short answer is no, and we think there are major advantages to reading with clients during a session. The following pages offers an overview of how we approach writing consultations as students prepare for their appointments as well as a broader FAQ about appointments.
-
How does weekly scheduling work for undergraduate writing consultants (two four-hour blocks, etc.)? Is it the same each week?
How does weekly scheduling work for undergraduate writing consultants (two four-hour blocks, etc.)? Is it the same each week?
Yes, undergraduate writing consultants鈥� weekly shift schedules are the same each week after being set at the beginning of the semester.
In the lead-up to both the fall and spring semesters, writing consultants fill out an availability survey indicating the times, given their class schedule and other commitments, during which they would prefer to work, could work if necessary, and cannot work. The Writing Studio Associate Director, Megan Minarich, uses those responses to build the weekly schedule for that semester.
Our Associate Director can also work with consultants when changes to their class schedule or other circumstances require a permanent change to a consultant鈥檚 current weekly shift assignments.
-
What if I have a one-time conflict with a shift I鈥檓 scheduled to work?
What if I have a one-time conflict with a shift I鈥檓 scheduled to work?
Writing consultants are responsible for arranging coverage by another writing consultant when they are not able to attend a regularly scheduled shift due to a one-time conflict for which it is possible to plan ahead. Our staff listserv is the primary way writing consultants call out for a shift sub or swap, and all are encouraged to make arrangements as far in advance as possible.
Of course, we know that writing consultants get sick sometimes or find themselves facing unexpected circumstances that prevent them from working a shift, as well, and we have processes for addressing those instances, as well.
Application-Related Questions
-
Are you looking for applicants from any particular majors? I'm majoring in ______. Can I apply?
Are you looking for applicants from any particular majors? I鈥檓 majoring in ______. Can I apply?
Yes, you can apply whatever your major happens to be. First, we welcome undergraduate consultant applications from all majors and from students of diverse backgrounds, and the Writing Studio is a stronger program when we assemble a team of writing consultants who can learn from one another鈥檚 diverse perspectives and diverse experiences with writing and otherwise.
If your major has challenged you to grow as a writer in specific ways, we encourage you to address that in your application. But also keep in mind that there is much more to you as a student and a writer than your major. For instance, courses outside of your major may have had a significant influence on how you think about and approach college writing, too, and how you would approach your work as a writing consultant.
-
Do I need to have tutored before or have other similar experience to be a strong applicant?
Do I need to have tutored before or have other similar experience to be a strong applicant?
No, prior tutoring experience or formal experience supporting writers is not required.
In your application essay, of course, it will be important for you to address your motivation for wanting to engage in this type of work. You can also consider drawing on experiences you have had more informally assisting others with their writing or perhaps even reflect on a powerful experience of your own in which a teacher, tutor, or someone else helped you learn and grown as a writer.
-
I am planning to study abroad next year. Can I still apply to be a writing consultant for next year?
I am planning to study abroad next year. Can I still apply to be a writing consultant for next year?
Please don鈥檛 let your study abroad plans stop you from applying, although the answer depends somewhat on which semester you plan to study abroad.
Studying abroad in the spring is not a problem. We will simply ask they you let us know about your intention so that we can make our staff plans accordingly.
Fall is somewhat more complicated. For applicants planning to study abroad the fall after being offered an undergraduate writing consultant position, much depends on their departure date. As long as their departure is late enough to allow them to attend the Writing Studio鈥檚 mandatory August training for new writing consultants, they will be allowed to begin their work as an undergraduate writing consultant upon their return in the spring semester. Those who cannot attend the intensive August training, however, cannot join our staff and should consider applying for the following year instead.
Do note that fall study abroad is more common among writing consultants entering their second year on our staff, having already attended our August new consultant training.
Application Elements: The Writing Sample
-
For the writing sample are any particular types of writing samples preferred?
For the writing sample are any particular types of writing samples preferred?
No. Although we ask you not to submit creative writing samples, we welcome whatever writing sample you believe will best showcase your strengths as a writer of academic essays or other types of college-level writing.
And remember that, as part of your application, you will have a chance to contextualize why you chose it and which strengths you believe it demonstrates.
For instance, it might show your ability to construct a careful argument, to engaged in the sort of analytical thinking the class you were taking challenged you to develop, or to effectively synthesize and enter into conversation with a large volume of scholarly research. Maybe it is a recent piece that you felt genuinely challenged you to stretch and grow as a writer.
-
Should I be worried about choosing a writing sample that is less technical or specific and therefore more accessible to a General Audience?
Should I be worried about choosing a writing sample that is less technical or specific and therefore more accessible to a General Audience?
No. At the Writing Studio, we have a lot of experience reading writing from students and scholars across the university, so we suggest you not pass over a piece simply because you think it might be too 鈥渢echnical,鈥� too specific to a particular discipline, or too unfamiliar for us as readers.
We are very familiar with the ways in which college-level writing assignments tend to be closely tied to the content of particular courses, course concepts, and course readings.
In fact, we are most interested in reading writing samples that show how you approach more challenging topics, readings, or disciplinary conventions that you have encountered in your undergraduate coursework. Therefore we want to encourage you to select a writing sample that pushed you out of your comfort zone as a writer, thinker, and student.
-
I recently transferred here, is it alright to submit a paper from my previous college as my writing sample?
I recently transferred here, is it alright to submit a paper from my previous college as my writing sample?
Yes! Please use the Writing Sample Reflection short answer question to address this context for the piece. We have had many successful applications over the years from transfer students, and we will be glad to consider the college-level writing you produced at your previous institution.
-
I'm a first-year student, and I have not yet had any writing assignments in any of my classes. How should I approach the writing sample?
I鈥檓 a first-year student, and I have not yet had any writing assignments in any of my classes. How should I approach the writing sample?
This question, honestly, is one of the most challenging questions we receive from a small number of potential applicants each year, and we wish we had a more satisfying answer for those who ask it.
Because experience with college-level writing assignments and expectations is an important part of the being an effective writing consultant, our most candid answer is that you might simply need to wait and apply in a future year.
Those who ask this question often wonder whether they can apply with a piece of high school writing, which we discourage as they rarely fit our expectations for strong college-level writing samples.