Essay Coaching Services
I offer personalized guidance to all types of students, regardless of grades, test scores, or writing abilities. Whether your student is looking to stay close to home or aiming for an Ivy, I work with any student willing to put in the effort.
Guidance for Every Student, Every Path
Services: Full Story Strategy + Support
Common App | Personal Statement Coaching
The personal statement is intimidating, I get it. How do you convey your values, passions, and experiences in 650 words or less and make a lasting first impression? Most students have never had to write about themselves like this ever before, which can leave them staring at a blank page, totally unsure where to begin.
From brainstorming and narrowing down the topic to sentence structure + word selection, this essay is the most time-intensive part of the application. But it’s also your chance to bring yourself to life on paper and to share who you are as the young adult responsible for the numbers, grades, and other data points in your application. In fact, your essay is the only part of your application that allows you to tell the story you want to tell!
I help students dig deep to craft their most compelling narrative with creativity + heart, while watching them discover new insights about themselves along the way (yep, it’s pretty awesome). We spend as much time as needed writing + revising, and we don’t stop until we have a final draft that makes us sit back + smile.
Supplemental Essays
Showing personality + fit is essential when it comes to supplemental essays. They offer opportunities to showcase personal growth, belonging, curiosity, personal interests, passions, and more. Think of these essays as additional chapters in your story — each one shares something new about you!
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On average, my students write 15–20 short essays across applications, including “Why Us” essays that are written specifically for each school.
We approach these essays with strategy, creativity, and focus to connect past experiences with future goals. These chapters serve one major goal: to show schools why + how you are a perfect match for one another.
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Identify overlapping prompts + develop a writing plan
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Brainstorm personal anecdotes that work
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Align essays with each school’s values + mission
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Understand the research needed + how to incorporate details to make them count.
Application Strategy
At highly selective colleges, every applicant looks identical on paper: strong grades and the same AP’s, test scores, and clubs. What sets a student apart are compelling essays, leadership, and impact beyond the classroom. No two students have lived the same life or have the same story to tell. And that story is what colleges are trying to understand as they read applications. That’s why presenting your best, most authentic and compelling self in your applications is so important.
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I help my students uncover the meaning behind their achievements so their application doesn’t read like a disjointed list of accomplishments. Centered around a one-sentence theme — also known as a singular hook — we create a narrative that weaves together all the different aspects of who you are into one coherent story — a story admissions officers won’t forget. Because if an admissions officer can’t remember you, how will they advocate for you?
College Planning at Any Stage
It’s never too early to think about college. For underclassmen, it's important to remember that you have control over your narrative, one that’s built over time. This work starts early: aligning your courses, activities, and choices around what genuinely matters to you.
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I offer planning sessions for freshmen through seniors, covering:
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Align courses + activities with curiosity, passion, and intended major
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Audit your existing roadmap to refine focus + fill gaps
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Relationship building with teachers + colleges
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College research strategy
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College list development
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creating a balanced list
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articulating what college fit means (what your student wants and needs in a college experience)
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College list evaluation:
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Review Likely, Match + Reach schools
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Identify duplication + ways to diversify
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Clarify where adjustments may improve stability + reduce risk
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College tour planning
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Pre-college, summer, and internship opportunities
Interview Preparation
Many colleges offer in-person or virtual interviews with admissions staff or alumni. I encourage seniors to take full advantage of this great opportunity (unless there is a very specific reason not to do so). We cover effective strategies, practice real questions and run mock interviews so students can present themselves confidently. From developing a 30-second elevator pitch to demonstrating fit, your interview will leave a positive impression while teaching you valuable interpersonal communication skills you’ll use the rest of your life.
Scholarship + Honors College Essays
I support admitted students with merit-based scholarship and honors program applications + essays. Students receive step-by-step guidance to craft compelling submissions that highlight strengths and increase the chances of recognition + financial awards.
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Honors programs require multiple essays and often have tight deadlines, so having a solid strategy is important to create new chapters that show how you’ll thrive within an honors learning environment.
Standalone: Essay Polishing + Proofreading
Even the strongest writers benefit from an extra set of eyes. This service is ideal for students who have already written their essays independently + want constructive feedback. I provide detailed feedback on clarity, structure, grammar, and overall impact, designed to strengthen content while staying true to the student’s voice.
Ready to Write Your Next Chapter?
Additional Support Offerings
Brag sheets, resumes, and LinkedIn profile
Activities List + Honors/Awards
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Additional Info + Challenges sections
Housing application essays
Letters of Continued Interest
Financial Aid appeal letters
Scholarship search strategy + applications
The Scoop: How We Work
Working Your Beat
We'll brainstorm (a lot) to reflect on what truly matters to you. We'll compile your favorite memories, life lessons, core values, best traits, and so much more. Be ready to ask (and answer) questions because that's what reporters do best.
Mapping Your Story
Like a reporter, we’ll find the angle that makes your story stand out and organize the information to create a clear narrative. We’ll build a working outline that provides structure and direction to make writing easier.
In the Newsroom
Write. Edit. Repeat. I'll offer suggestions and prompts to improve content and help you develop your ideas and insights. We'll stay true to your unique voice and strengthen your story with each revision.
At the Editor's Desk
We'll polish your hook, narrative, and conclusion, tighten your copy, and review tense and grammar to make your words shine. Proofreading matters. A lot.
