Application essays give admissions officers a more holistic sense of who a student is, beyond a GPA and test scores. They give students a chance to bring together all the pieces of an application — grades, extracurriculars, recommendations – into a cohesive narrative, while also providing admissions officers a sense of how they might contribute to a campus community.

There’s a common misconception that a student must have an impressive or traumatic experience to write their essays about, but what really matters is specificity and a sense of growth.

A strong essay shows how an experience — serious, fun or somewhere in between — helped a student grow. An exceptionally strong essay feels like something only one student could write, not just because of its topic, but because of its insights and voice.

Absolutely not. My role is to help a student find their voice and story through collaborative editing and brainstorming.t.

I help students brainstorm topics and organize their ideas before they begin drafting. From there, I provide in-depth editorial feedback through marked-up documents and follow-up conversations.

 I offer both hourly support and essay packages.

Yes. Hourly support is a good option for students who want targeted help with brainstorming, essay development or final revisions.

The summer before senior year — when students aren’t bogged down with homework and extracurriculars — is the perfect time for applicants to focus on their essays. With this approach, students can start school knowing they’ve already crossed off an important task on the college application to-do list. (I also offer reduced summer pricing.)

 Still, starting in the fall semester gives us plenty of time to develop a strong, interesting essay.

I work with each family to determine the appropriate level of parental involvement to ensure everyone feels comfortable with the process.

I typically do Zoom calls, but may be able to meet in person with local students.

My approach works especially well for students who want thoughtful, highly personalized guidance and are willing to engage deeply in the writing process.