The Writing Center and The Speaking Studio offer a variety of workshops for students, faculty, and staff. Workshops are an opportunity to learn more about specific writing and speaking topics.
In these sessions, we discuss different topics such as critical analyses, research papers, essay exams, resumes, personal statements, revision, and brainstorming. We offer most of our workshops by request (for specific courses, student groups, departments) and are happy to custom design a workshop to suit your needs.
Upcoming workshops open to all students can be found on our events page. A list of our regularly offered workshops can be found below.
If you’d like to request a custom workshop for your student group, program, or department, please reach use our Workshop Request Form.
Regularly Offered Workshops Open to All WashU Students, Faculty, and Staff
Diversity Statements
In partnership with the College of Arts & Sciences and the Center for Career Engagement, The Writing Center offers diversity statement workshops for students applying to graduate and professional programs, fellowships, jobs, and other opportunities requiring this essay. Although writing an additional essay may seem like one more hoop to jump through, it also gives you an additional opportunity to communicate something about yourself to your readers. Join this workshop to learn about what makes for a great diversity statement and – more importantly – how to get there as we share strategies to help you move through the writing process from brainstorming ideas to drafting and revising. This workshop is appropriate for anyone working on applications regardless of whether you are done with your other required essays. See our events page for dates, times, and locations.
Graduate School Statements of Purpose
In partnership with the pregraduate advising committee, The Writing Center offers statement of purpose workshops for those applying to graduate school. The workshops provide an overview of what makes a good statement of purpose, strategies for brainstorming, drafting, and revising, and dos and don’ts. The workshops are appropriate for anyone applying in the next cycle. See our events page for dates, times, and locations.
Healthcare Personal Statements
In partnership with the College of Arts & Sciences, The Writing Center offers personal statement workshops for students applying to medical school, dental school, and other professional schools in health-related fields. The workshop provides students with brainstorming strategies, insider information on the qualities of an effective personal statement, and examples of good and sub-par statements. The workshops are appropriate for juniors, seniors and post-baccalaureate students applying to MD, DO, dental, pharmacy, optometry, and physician assistant programs this year. This workshop is offered five times throughout the academic year. See our events page for dates, times, and locations.
Note: Given differences in application requirements, applicants to veterinary or PT programs are best served via one-on-one writing center appointments.
Law School Personal Statements
In partnership with the prelaw advising committee, The Writing Center offers personal statement workshops for students applying to law school in order to provide applicants with brainstorming strategies, insider information on the qualities of an effective personal statement, revision strategies, and dos and don’ts. The workshops are appropriate for anyone planning to apply in the next cycle. This workshop is offered several times throughout the year, including during the summer. See our events page for dates, times, and locations.