College Essay Consulting
Let's do this.
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Together, we’ll work through my proven step-by-step approach to help you reflect on who you are, identify your most meaningful experiences and strengths, and then write the sort of compelling college essays that can help you stand out.​
Because every student has a story to tell.
What's yours?
Testimonials
re: college & university essay coaching, tutoring, & editing
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Admissions Results
some colleges & universities where my student clients have been accepted
Process
Maybe you're wondering how to brainstorm a strong college essay topic that doesn’t feel overused. Or how to start an admissions essay with a hook that works. Or what a college might want to know about you. Or even what your 650-word Common App personal statement should be about.
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No matter what questions you start with, my process always begins the same way: by listening. Because every student is different, and so I tailor my approach to suit each individual.
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Some students come to me early, in the spring or summer, for a months-long immersion in college essay writing. Others come to me later in the fall, closer to early action or early decision deadlines, for some targeted edits on a working draft just days or weeks before it's due. Wherever you are in your journey, I can help you bring your best self to the page using my proven step-by-step process of discovery, feedback, and revision.*
Step One
First, we’ll review what you already know about admissions essay writing and fill in any gaps. Then, we’ll analyze some examples of college essays that worked to give you a better sense of what’s possible.
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Step Two
Next, I’ll use my journalistic skills to ask you questions about what you care about and how you came to be who you are. Then we’ll dive into some structured brainstorming to further uncover your most intriguing stories and defining personal traits.**
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Step Three
Finally, we’ll engage in a series of outlines, freewrites, rough drafts, and focused revisions to help you find your voice, discover your most telling details, and write the kind of strong admissions essay that can make all the difference.
* Certain steps can be skipped or condensed to accommodate advanced writers or tight deadlines. ** Many students worry that if they haven’t overcome some significant hardship, they won’t have anything good to write about. Not true. Some of the best college essays emerge from the smallest moments of everyday life.
Pricing
Because every student’s coaching, tutoring, or editing needs are different, I offer a range of packages and hourly-rate options.
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My most affordable rates go to students who come to me before the start of senior year and choose one of my package options.
Later, to accommodate crunch-time demand, my rates go up for new clients who start with me after Labor Day. But for all pre-existing clients, my rates always stay the same, save for the sliding-scale rates I offer students experiencing financial hardship.
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If you’d like to learn more about my packages, hourly options, or sliding-scale rates, please get in touch.
Calendar & Timing
Ideally, I like students to begin regular weekly sessions with me in May or June. That way, by the end of summer, they’ve completed—or nearly completed—their main Common App personal essay, along with as many school-specific supplemental essays as possible.
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For most students, it takes anywhere from 3–5 drafts and 10–15 hours of my editorial guidance to complete a polished 650-word personal essay, though those numbers can vary depending on each student’s pre-existing skills and work ethic.
As for supplemental essays, requirements vary widely, and so the time it takes to complete them largely depends on the specific schools each student applies to.