For Rising Senior Girls Ready to Wow Admissions Counselors

Let’s Write the Scroll-Stopping Essay Your Dream-College Admissions Counselor Can’t Stop Thinking About

An eight-night trip to beautiful Northern Italy to finish your college admissions essay while making lifelong friends.

July 7–15 | Limited to 12 Students

By the end of this retreat, you will:

Finish a “feels like you” draft of your college admissions essay that gets your dream college admissions counselor calling with an invite.


 ✔ Get crystal clear on your winning admissions storyline on the sun-warmed terraces that inspired Shakespeare himself.


 ✔ Calm your college jitters with “ready for launch” self-regulation tools.


 ✔ Make life-long friends in a digital-detox environment


 ✔ Return home ahead of the game and ready to finish high school with confidence.

  • Leadership & Supervision

    College Calm™ is led by:

    Dr. Emily Wassell, PhD
    Holistic college coach, wellbeing researcher, former school founder, and educator with over 25 years of experience. Dr. Wassell has led students on academic adventures for 8 years. Dr. Wassell has helped hundreds of students to craft scholarship winning

The Journey Through Northern Italy

  • Over 8 nights, students will travel intentionally through:

    • Milan – Arrival and visit to the Duomo

    • San Pellegrino Terme – Restorative spa experience at QC Terme

    • Verona – Roman ruins and historic exploration

    • Vicenza – Architecture, culture, and writing time

    • Venice – Guided exploration and gondolier experience

    • Jesolo – Beach reflection and integration

    • Return to Milan for departure

    Experiences are curated for depth and restoration — not rushed tourism.

    All lodging, meals, and transportation are arranged and supervised.

    Tuition does not include transport to or from Milan. 

A Strategic Reset Before Senior Year Begins.

  • Daily Rhythm

  • Morning
    Focused writing block (3–4 hours)
    Individual coaching sessions

  • Midday
    Lunch and quiet reflection

  • Afternoon
    Cultural or restorative experience

  • Evening
    Dinner, calm group time, optional journaling

  • Limited phone access window

  • The structure balances productivity and restoration.

  • All meals will consist of healthy local whole foods.

Each morning is dedicated to intentional, focused writing and reading. The afternoons are dedicated to visiting Italian locations and to experience:
La Dolce Vita

• Chi Va Piano Va Sano e Va Lontano

• Il Dolce Far Niente

• Fare Bella Figura

• Andare Lontano

This is not rushed drafting.
 It is guided discovery.

The goal is not just a finished essay — but a clearer sense of identity and direction.

Who's This Perfect For

This immersion is ideal for:

• Thoughtful, high-achieving rising senior girls

• Students feeling pressure or burnout

• Teens who want meaningful progress on essays before senior year

• Families who value wellbeing alongside academic excellence

** This retreat is not designed for students seeking a party-style travel experience or those unwilling to participate in a structured digital detox.