College Applications and Essays

Working with Words to Express All That You Are,
and All That You Hope to Be

Assistance with the Non-Essay Portions of Applications

There are many areas to navigate through the college application process, and I can ensure that students don’t make the mistake of leaving out information or answering questions incorrectly. I go through the application step by step with each student so that when it’s time to hit the submit button, we can do it with confidence.

Assistance with College Selection

There are tons of colleges out there and each of them is the right one for someone. Deciding which colleges best fit a student’s goals and personality can be a painstaking process, but one that deserves focused time and attention. I support students through this process, offering personal insight exercises for the student and the family that help to define their goals within practical limits.

Assistance with College Application Essays

From the first brainstorming session through the Final Final Final draft, my approach to college essay coaching is customized to each student’s specific needs, but in all cases it's a personal journey we take together. Through the application essay, colleges want to get to know a student, to understand the role that student will likely play in the classroom, and the contribution the student will make to the university. My first task then, is to get to know the student myself. That way, I can better help them express in writing who they are -- as an individual, as a student, and as a member of a larger community.

Typically, the first phase of the college essay writing process is an informal conversation, one that offers us the opportunity to get to know each other, while the student has a chance to talk out loud about their unique personality traits and the events in their life that best illustrate those characteristics. During it, we'll likely do some brainstorming and create a list of potential topics so that we can eventually choose the strongest one.

Once we've decided on a topic, the student will write a first draft, then send it to me for feedback. My job at this point is to highlight the most relevant and poignant aspects of the essay, or ask for more details so that the student can see the strengths and weaknesses of the draft. Guided by margin notes and comments from me, plus an ongoing conversation -- by phone, Zoom, or otherwise – the student and I then work to refine the initial draft, adding information and insights. As the student writes each successive draft, it's returned to me for additional notes and suggestions for improvement. This process continues until the admissions essay or personal statement has reached the point that I'm confident it will present the student in the best light. There is no limit on drafts, or time. We work until we’ve nailed it.

Most highly selective universities have their own supplemental essays, many of which must be uniquely tailored to the respective institution to demonstrate a student’s commitment to attending. We brainstorm and revise every paragraph of every essay, with each essay serving as a critical puzzle piece in a student’s admissions file.

To ensure that all essays will be submitted without errors, I check them one last time immediately prior to submission.

PLEASE NOTE: All input should always be understood as a suggestion. Throughout, the university admission essay remains the creation and work of the student.

Fees

Fees are dependent on word count of each document and the amount of editing necessary.  Includes in-person or Zoom meetings and all drafts.