ECV College Application Workshops
An interactive college application workshop series for CVUSD students hosted in collaboration with COFEM
What are ECV College Application Workshops?
In 2021, ECV for Change began to host the ECV College Application Workshop Series, a multi-part college application workshop series for high school students in the Coachella Valley. During Fall 2021, our Mentorship Directors co-hosted our first iteration of the series, Wednesday Chats. In 2022, ECV for Change Board Member and guest trainer Melina Duarte drew from her professional experience as a University of California application reader to advise high school students on the do’s and don’t’s of filling out UC college applications.
Starting in 2023, ECV for Change has partnered with COFEM for our annual ECV College Application Workshop Series to provide free and accessible virtual application workshops for high school students across the Coachella Valley. Each workshop focuses on a different stage of the Personal Interest Question component of applications: brainstorming, writing, and peer editing. Students are offered one-on-one assistance from ECV for Change and COFEM mentors on crafting strong and compelling Personal Interest Question responses.
Scroll down to learn more and see past examples of how we helped our students navigate the college application process!
ECV College Application Workshop Series: Fall 2025
ECV College Application Workshop Series: Fall 2022
Session 1: How to Start Personal Interest Questions (PIQs)
Executive Director, Celina Avalos, and Board Member, Melina Duarte, explain how to start responses to personal interest questions on UC college applications.
Session 2: What to Include on Your PIQs
ECV for Change Board Member Melina Duarte draws from professional experience as a former college admissions professional to offer tips on how to write a compelling responses to personal interest questions.
Session 3: 1-on-1 Peer Editing PIQs
Executive Director, Celina Avalos, and Leadership Development Program Manager, Eloisa Lopez-Valencia, join Melina Duarte to provide one-on-one assistance to participating high school students with their college applications.