We recently asked a group of our students and graduates, ranging from those currently enrolled in high school to others in college and beyond, to answer questions about the value of our course. 

Following are our questions, and their candid answers.  (The number following each quotation identifies the student quoted.)

Has your training with us helped you with your overall performance at school?

The program has been very beneficial, especially in university where good communication skills in writing are a necessary prerequisite in all of my courses.    1.

ICL training has improved my overall performance because I was motivated to finish high school two years early [to] start a career as a writer.   2.

I took an Advanced Placement Composition course last year and found that things I learned through this course helped me in class.  I felt I had a head start and did very well.  Various writing assignments I had in different classes were relatively easy because of techniques I learned through this course.  5.

This course has greatly improved my performance in school, particularly in language arts and American literature.  It has helped me to view my essays, reports, and responses with a more critical eye.  The tips and guidelines for writing articles have helped me to write essays and reports. My instructor’s feedback and proofreading have taught me to be more careful in my schoolwork, and my grammar and punctuation have improved greatly since the beginning of the course.   9.

ICL taught me lessons that I hadn’t yet learned in school, so by the time my teachers introduced the assignments, I already had structured knowledge of what was needed, and therefore was able to . . . dazzle my teachers and get remarkably high grades.   10.

Besides the extra attention shown to certain important aspects of English, such as grammar, structure, etc., this program was especially helpful in teaching me how to manage my time and my assignments.   14.

ICL definitely benefitted my overall school performance.  I took the course in high school and the semester after I finished it, I was accepted into Advanced Placement courses and scored near-perfect averages on the national exams.  That one course gave me a boost in high school, as well as in college.  I am now on a double scholarship at my top school studying English.   20.

This program helped me keep a 3.8 GPA in my junior year of high school and pass AP classes with flying colors.  24.

Has it strengthened your performance in subjects other than writing and English?

The course . . . has helped me in any class that requires the use of paper and a pencil: language, literature, history, English.   4.

The course has taught me professionalism that will be helpful throughout my career.   6.

It has strengthened me to become a better researcher.   17.

Definitely. In history, I made 113 for my yearly average.  Biology as well, although I am not completely sure why.    18.

Yes.  Because of the nonfiction assignments, I learned lots of useful research tips that have stuck with me and helped me get through my English classes, as well as history, natural science, and social science.  20.

If I had to name one class, I’d say the course helped strengthen my writing skills in history when it came to preparation for AP exams.  12.

It has made me analyze my history essays, and has helped me to delve deeper within myself to “think outside the box.”   22.

Have any of your teachers commented on your writing?

I am homeschooled so the only teacher I have is my mom.  She’s commented several times on how good my writing has become since I enrolled.  2.

I gave the first chapter of my novel to my English teacher and he said, “This is, without a doubt, the best piece of creative writing a student has ever given me.”  3.

I’ve actually been asked by my teachers to enter contests because they would like to see one of their students excel.  4.

By the end of the year, my teacher was using my work as good writing examples in her classes.  5.

My teachers are really impressed with my creative skills and my ability to write such wonderful stories and essays.  One English teacher said, “Your skill is amazing.  Whatever you are doing, keep it up.”  15.

I am homeschooled.  My main teacher, my mom, has commented on my progress and how my writing has improved, particularly my writing contest submissions.  16.

This course improved my ability, no matter what I was writing, whether it was a short story, a novella, or even just a plain old business letter.  My teachers often asked where I learned to write as I did, and I credited this course as one of the reasons for my skill.  19.

One teacher . . . told me that I write very well for someone barely out of high school.  I have had my work published and my college professors tell me that my writing, while never perfect, is excellent.  20.

My history teacher told me that my creative writing . . . on my final exam was excellent.  22.

I once had a science teacher tell me that I wrote in the same style as one of his favorite authors.  My English teachers have also complimented me on many writing assignments.  24.

Are you pleased with ICL and your instructor?

ICL has met and exceeded all my expectations.  The staff was immensely helpful, my instructor has drastically helped [my] writing, and the website and course materials are excellent.  You guys are amazing!  2.

The one-on-one relationship . . . gives me a sense that I am writing to an editor, but at the same time to a friend who wants to be honest and critical, with a goal of helping me get better.  4.

They are helping me turn my weaknesses into strengths.  5.

My instructor was awesome.  I loved the way she always encouraged me rather than put me down.  8.

I am extremely pleased.  I learned more than I expected to learn. ICL has opened so many doors for me, despite my young age, and my instructor is phenomenal.  10.

My instructor is amazing!  She gives great comments and advice.  I look forward to receiving my [instructor’s comments on my] latest assignment, which has come to be my favorite.  She and I will make it a masterpiece.  18.

I was very pleased.  It served as a springboard, a foundation to more learning and further education that I will always value.  It’s a great addition to my résumé, as well.  20.

I was very pleased.  My instructor told me what I was doing wrong, and in what areas my writing lacked strength.  It was an experience I’ll cherish and never forget.  21.

Quite frankly, yes.  At first I thought this is going to be difficult, since I was in Canada and my instructor was in America.  But it

wasn’t.  My instructor really connected with me and gave me positive feedback and criticism.  She really got to know me.  23.

Are you learning more than you did with standard classroom instruction?

The standard classroom form gives you information, but the one-on-one instruction focuses on my specific weaknesses and strengths in a way that the classroom never could.  2.

I’m most definitely learning more with my [ICL] instructor than I would with a classroom instructor.  The one-on-one aspect is much more than any standard teacher would have time for.  7.

I learned a lot because I was able to take my time on assignments rather than being rushed.  8.

I think I’m learning more, mostly because I write assignments and get my instructor’s opinions on them instead of only getting a few comments from my [classroom] teacher.  13.

Yes, where else would I have found an English teacher who could double as my editor/mentor?  14.

Classroom teachers can only do so much.  They are there to teach what they are told to.  Teachers in classrooms are not actually published writers and ICL teachers are.  That is what makes the difference.  They have been in our shoes and they actually know what it is like to go through this.  They can relate to their students.  15.

Yes!  I chose a small private college that gave me a classroom [experience] most similar to what I found at ICL.  It’s the best way to learn, in my opinion.   20.

Yes, because it was just the instructor and me.  I got to focus on my weaknesses as well as my strengths.  You can’t focus on those with twenty other kids in the room.   21.

Are you pleased with your progress to date?

I like being a part of ICL.  It allows students who are gifted in writing to find a way to express it.  Plus, it teaches them that they are different and that there is so much more for them than four walls and a set assignment where everyone is the same.  With this course, there are no “smart kids” or “delinquents.”  We don’t have a label.  We’re just people with opinions and views like everyone else.  We are a lot more expressive and a lot more creative in this course, something that is encouraged instead of suppressed.   22.

I never expected to learn so much and become so opened up to the world of writing.  ICL has helped me to find my “writing legs” and showed me how to get where I want to go.  They have taught me so much about writing and marketing.  I would be lost without my instructor’s guidance, she is so knowledgeable and helpful.  This course is fantastic.  2.

My goal is to complete my novel by the end of the summer, and then spend the next few months editing and revising.  My dream is to be published before I graduate high school, and because of what I’ve learned from my instructor, I feel I’m ready to publish . . .    3.

I’m very pleased with my progress.  I’ve seen my writing improve 100% since I started.  This course has dramatically changed the way I organize my writing, and it’s helped me stop and think about what I really want to write.   7.

I was very pleased with my ICL experience.  I’ve been happy to note my diploma in resumes and cover letters.  It’s been a huge jumpstart to my writing career.   11.

Students quoted:

 1 Joyanne Baab, Alberta, Canada

2 Caitlin Halone, Idaho

3 Andria Heese, Missouri

4 Kristofor Hellmeister, Georgia

5 Sierra Hoffman, Oregon

6 Danielle Iamarino, Maine

7 Jeremy Lomeli, California

8 Krystal Moncrieff, Alberta

9 Molly Myhand, Texas

10 Shelby M. Verspeek, Manitoba, Canada

11 Micah Waldron, New York

12 Tiera Wright, Massachusetts

13 Amanda Blum, Iowa

14 Caroline Sanchez, New Jersey

15 Ashley Stanley, Washington

16 Claudia Bach, North Dakota

17 Erin Sammons, Ohio

18 Gabriella Perez, Tennessee

19 Luba Tymchuk, Ontario, Canada

20 Tandra Haycraft, Pennsylvania

21 Chelsea Terry, Missouri

22 Amanda Holsinger, Pennsylvania

23 Ashley Paiva, Ontario, Canada

24 Amy Morse, California