FAQs

A connected story!Every part of your application gives colleges another piece of your story, from what you hope to study and the activities you pursue to your essays, honors + the choices you make with your time. Those pieces do not all need to revolve around one interest or fit neatly into a single theme. But together, they should create a cohesive, memorable picture of who you are, what matters to you + what you might contribute to their campus.

Absolutely not! Even if a student plans to stay close to home or apply to schools that don’t require an essay, I still encourage every senior to write one — and submit it whenever possible. Students learn so much about themselves through the process, from what they value to how they want to present themselves to others. The personal statement can also act as a strong foundation for scholarship essays + honors applications.By the end of our time together, students not only have a compelling essay but also gain more confidence in their writing + communication skills. Yay!

I help students uncover what makes them unique while keeping their authentic voice at the center of the essay process. My feedback comes in the form of questions, suggestions, brainstorming, and examples that help students clarify + strengthen their ideas without replacing their words with mine. Does it take time? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. At the end of the process, I like to ask parents: If your child’s essay were hanging anonymously on a wall in the school hallway among hundreds of others, would you be able to pick it out?If the answer is yes, we’ve done our job.

AI can be useful for brainstorming, proofreading + researching colleges, but it should never be used to write a college essay. Or any essay, for that matter!Admissions officers are looking for reflection, insight + personality, three essential elements that can come only from the student. When AI takes over the writing, it can flatten their perspective, distort their voice + erase the personal details that make an essay memorable.As AI becomes more common in the admissions process, authentic student voice matters even more. I show students how to use AI responsibly while making sure their writing is 100% their own work. The result is an essay that genuinely sounds like them when read aloud + one they are proud to call their own.

Sessions usually start with conversation, brainstorming, and freewriting exercises designed to explore different topics, stories and ideas. We think of each part of the application as a chapter in one cohesive story, with the personal statement serving as the biggest + most meaningful chapter.Early in the process, we spend time with this question: What do you want an admissions officer to remember about you in one sentence? The answer becomes “our working compass,” helping us make thoughtful decisions about the essay + the rest of the application. From there, we organize ideas, work on sections one step at a time, and review revisions together. Every session is tailored to the student’s pace + needs. I always provide time for reflection, questions, and feedback. My goal is for students to leave each session feeling confident about how to improve their next draft.

That’s completely normal. Most students don’t walk into our first meeting with a fully formed essay topic. Even those who do may change direction once we dig deeper. More often than not, the strongest essay topics are the ones students never considered at the beginning.

Never! A coach or parent should not do the writing. My role is to guide, support, and strategize, but every essay is written by the student. That’s the only way to ensure the essay captures the student’s authentic voice + unique perspective.

An English essay is a great starting point, but college essays play by a different set of rules. Academic writing + personal statements serve very different purposes. One is designed to analyze and inform. The other falls more into the world of creative nonfiction: a values-based, character-driven personal narrative. Most students have never written like this before.I can help students take a paper they’re proud of + shape it into something that shows who they really are. Can we use the topic they wrote about? Sure! But often, once students better understand the goals of the personal statement, we dig deeper + realize there’s a stronger story to tell…even if it starts with a single sentence from that English paper!

The timeline varies depending on the number of essays + where a student is starting, but most students complete the Common App essay over several weeks.When the new application cycle opens in August, school-specific supplemental essays also require time. Some schools have only one prompt, while highly selective colleges may require five or more additional responses. Each one takes brainstorming, drafting + revising.Starting the application process during the summer helps students produce thoughtful essays without the stress of last-minute deadlines!

Yes, essays absolutely matter! Ask almost any admissions officer and they can recall a student they admitted because of an essay. Grades + test scores show academic achievement, but essays are what make a student memorable. They offer insight into a student’s personality, values, perspective, and voice, all the things that numbers can’t show. Even at schools where essays are considered “optional,” submitting a strong personal statement is always worth it. While no essay can guarantee admission (because nothing in this process is guaranteed), the Common App essay remains one of the most powerful opportunities to show who a student is + what they will bring to campus.

A strong personal statement takes time, and students should understand that this is not a one-and-done project.Most of my students go through 5–7 drafts before the essay really clicks. From the start, I make sure students know this is part of the process. Each draft clarifies their ideas, tightens the writing, and strengthens their voice.Knowing that multiple drafts are normal takes the pressure off + helps students move forward confidently. By the end, they not only have a polished essay but have also learned to organize their ideas, reflect on their experiences, and communicate clearly. Those are important skills that stick with them far beyond college applications!

Parents play an important role by asking questions, helping students reflect + nudging them to stay on track. I’m always happy to guide parents on how to provide feedback in ways that support without taking over. One of my biggest tips for families starting this process? Ask your child early on: How do you want me to support you?Support might mean helping your student stay organized, offering perspective on potential colleges or simply being available when needed. The key is remembering that this process belongs to your student. Setting boundaries around college conversations + protecting time for everyday life can help keep college admissions from taking over.Unsure how to start the college convo? Reach out for a list of conversation-starting questions you can use with your teenager!

As early as possible! Ideally, juniors begin reflecting on the Common App prompts when they’re released in late winter, then begin drafting during the summer before senior year. But trust me, this “best-case scenario” doesn’t always happen. My phone really starts ringing in October!Starting early allows time to brainstorm, write multiple drafts + polish essays without the stress of fall deadlines. For Early Action or Early Decision applicants, deadlines arrive as early as October, so developing an admissions strategy early is important.Ask current seniors what they wish they’d done differently, and you’ll hear this answer again and again: “I wish I had started sooner.”

I generally recommend beginning the process in 10th or 11th grade to allow time for college planning + research, standardized testing, summer experiences, and meaningful extracurricular involvement.That doesn’t mean students should start writing essays or building applications in 10th grade. It means they have time to explore their interests, make thoughtful choices, and develop a plan without unnecessary pressure.Every student’s situation is unique. For students with specific goals or more selective admissions targets, beginning as early as freshman year can provide valuable time for intentional course planning + exploration.

Yes! I work with students with a wide range of learning styles + needs, including students with ADHD and dyslexia.Because I work one-on-one with students and don’t limit session time, I’m able to tailor my approach to each student’s strengths + challenges. My goal is to help every student find a writing process that works for them, drawing from a variety of brainstorming + writing techniques.Every student has a story + every story deserves to be told.