BRUNSWICK — Coastal College Advising, a provider of services that guide students and families through the college search and application process, is offering in-person workshops that help rising high school seniors get a jump start on the college application process.

The College Essay Workshop and Common Application Boot Camp will be held the week of Aug. 16 at the Merry Barn Writers’ Retreat in Edgecomb. These workshops provide an opportunity for students to complete the majority of the written work of applying to college before the school year begins, enabling them to spend the fall focusing on campus visits, interviews, and senior workload.

“Colleges want to know two things, essentially: they want to know you can do college-level work, and they want to know who you are, what you will bring to their community.” said Kristen Pett, founder of Coastal College Advising, according to a news release from the center. “Our student-centered approach helps students recognize their own contributions, cultivate the process of writing in an authentic voice, and realize all they have to offer. This is their opportunity to tell the story only they can tell.”

The Merry Barn is a literacy center where creativity and curiosity are nurtured and celebrated through retreats, workshops, and community events.

Coastal College Advising and the Merry Barn will follow all CDC recommendations, including masking, social distancing, and handwashing. Financial assistance is available.

For more information or to register, visit CoastalCollegeAdvising.com. For questions, contact Kristen Pett at 207-200-5281 or [email protected].

For more information about the Merry Barn at 417 River Road, visit merrybarn.com.