A Unique, Successful Approach
Industry Knowledge
Objective Point of View
Objective Point of View
With over fifteen years' experience assisting students with their college application essays, I can help you to decide which topics are cliché and from which to steer clear versus those that provide a welcome digression, piquing the interest of readers and leaving them wanting more.
Objective Point of View
Objective Point of View
Objective Point of View
Getting professional help with the college essay eliminates much of the subjectivity that comes along with receiving well-intended (and often, unsolicited) advice. The best essays - the most memorable and impactful ones - accomplish much more than respond to a prompt or tell a great story. An objective view can help to bring forth stories and ideas that showcase attributes that set an individual apart from his or her peers.
The "Right" Topic
Objective Point of View
The "Right" Supplements
Often a student will spend hours composing an essay only to discover that the topic really does not say anything about him or her as a person. Following a proven process, a student can tap into his or her passions, interests, and pivotal moments, stamping perspective to a personally narrated tale. This is a journey of self-discovery. The finished product will paint an authentic picture, one that looks and sounds like the person it represents versus some forced, often inaccurate or incomplete version.
The "Right" Supplements
The "Right" Supplements
The "Right" Supplements
If a college requests supplemental essays or information, it’s for a reason, and getting them right can make all the difference between an offer of acceptance and a rejection. Through this process, you will learn to connect your skillsets and intentions with a college or university’s specific programs so that you can prove that YOU will add value to the college, and not the other way around (as most applicants are inclined to convey). You will learn research skills and tricks that help you to bring relevant ideas to the table, setting you apart from other applicants.
Writing Instruction
The "Right" Supplements
Writing Instruction
Regardless of pre-existing skill or comfort level with writing, you will learn techniques and acquire research skills that will be useful not only for your college applications, but also for all of your writing needs – in school and beyond. You will become a stronger, more effective writer.
How It Works
4-hour Workshop
Prior to beginning our one-on-one work together, a 4-hour college essay introductory workshop is HIGHLY recommended. Spaces fill quickly, so please reserve your spot now!
Private College Essay Advising: First Session, Informational (1-2 hours)
After taking the 4-hour Workshop session, you have the option for ongoing, individualized support to complete your essay(s). The first one-on-one session is done in person or via FaceTime or Zoom. Mom and Dad are welcome and encouraged to join for the first session.
Second Session, Interview (1-2 hours)
Student only! Following the 4-hour group session and the First Session, Informational (described above), the process continues with a thorough one-on-one interview via FaceTime or Zoom. After this session, the drafting process begins. All drafts are shared and responded to via Google Docs.
Parents may schedule sessions with me separately and/or share any pertinent information with me via email.
Subsequent Sessions, Drafting
The draft process itself is explained during the initial session. After the 4-hour group session, informational session, and interview session, the student and I meet approximately weekly to collect more information (recorded in "session notes"), work on drafts together, as well as to discuss the changes each of us has made since our last session as applicable.
For students applying to Ivy League and "Most Competitive/ Selective" institutions, the process is more involved because the application requirements are onerous and the competition is cut-throat! Please see sections below for details including estimated billable hours.
It's a marathon, not a sprint!
Be Committed
THIS IS A TIME INTENSIVE PROCESS, often completed over the course of many drafts and/or conversations. The total number of hours depends on the number of schools to which you'll apply, the level of support you request, and the content itself. It's not ready until it's ready! Sometimes the right content reveals itself during the first session, while other cases are more complicated; just the right experience – a chance conversation that took place in physics class, for instance, can provide content that had been the missing link all along.
Billable Hours
For students applying to "COMPETITIVE" institutions:
IN ADDITION TO TAKING THE 4-HOUR INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP, students applying to "competitive" to "more competitive" institutions typically utilize approximately 10 to 14 hours of one-on-one support, as follows:
- 1 - 2 hours first session, in-person or via web conference
- 1 - 2 hours brainstorming session, in-person or via web conference
- 8 - 10 hours follow-up, drafting, editing, and final revisions. These are conducted via Google Docs rather than in-person for maximum efficiency.
This includes the following:
- ONE Common Application essay (max. 650 words)
- ONE Personal statement or Coalition essay (suitable for non-Common Application schools. Usually 500 words)
- 1-3 supplemental responses (200-400 words) tailored to individual schools. Requirements specified on Common App and/or on college websites.
For students applying to "MORE COMPETITIVE" institutions:
In addition to the process described above (For students applying to "COMPETITIVE" institutions), students applying to "more competitive/ more selective" and "highly competitive/ highly selective" must compose uniquely written ADDITIONAL supplemental essays. Necessary research on programs and majors is a highly specialized process, conducted collaboratively.
Total number of billable hours ranges from 12-20+
For students applying to Ivy League, "Tier One", "Most Selective", "Most Competitive","Little Ivies"
In addition to the process described above (For students applying to "COMPETITIVE" and "MORE COMPETITIVE" institutions), applications for Ivy League, "Tier One", "Most Selective", "Most Competitive", and/or "Little Ivies" require additional 600- word+ essays and/or multiple short responses. Additional support, including additional session and editing time is required to conduct necessary research, discuss content, and revise drafts.
For students applying to top tier schools, the ideal time to begin the college essay process is during spring of junior year. During this time, students should take a 4-hour workshop as well as begin one-on-one work with me. During summer months, the focus is primarily on the common app essay (aka the main essay, personal statement, or college essay).
Please note that the program is holistic, so content for the main essay also considers what we will use later on, for college-specific supplements. Support increases during summer and fall, when we focus on supplemental essays.
To save time and reduce costs significantly, please begin the supplemental essay portion of the process with a 4-hour Supplemental Essay Workshop (held in the summer and fall). Subsequently, one-on-one support, mainly via google docs, continues until drafts are finalized.
Total number of billable hours ranges from 15 to 40+, depending upon the amount of support needed.
For students applying to Non-Participating Institutions
Although the "college essay" is only one of what may amount to many of the essays required, the process runs more smoothly when the majority of schools participate in one of the shared application platforms, such as the Common Application or Coalition for Access and Affordability. Students whose college list contains non-participating institutions often require additional original essays.
Resume, Activities section (Common App), and/or Additional Information section (Common App)
You may request–and/or be advised by college counselor or me–to create or modify any or all of these items. The total number of billable hours increases accordingly.
Instruction/Private Tutoring (weekly, 12+ weeks)
For applicants whose primary objective is to improve their writing skills, or for those who prefer to meet weekly, in person. Benefits include side-by-side collaboration and hands-on learning about the overall writing process.