College Essay Coaching
I tailor my essay coaching to each student’s individual needs. Some students benefit from a hands-on approach in which we interview, brainstorm, and develop topics and themes together. Others need only an editor and proofreader.
I am familiar with the application prompts used by the California State University system, the University of California system, and the Common Application for private colleges, including supplemental questions required by individual schools.
I approach the college essay from the perspective of a journalist: What is the student’s ideal story to share? What is authentic and distinctive about their experiences and interests? What differentiates them from other applicants? Most importantly, how can we tell that story effectively within the prescribed word count?
Typically, I meet with students four to five times, either in person, online, or through a combination of both, depending on scheduling needs. By the end of our work together, students will have a polished final draft that they can confidently submit to their colleges.
We follow the tried-and-true five-step writing process:
- Prewriting
- Drafting
- Review and revision
- Editing and proofreading
- Publication or submission
Plan A: One College Application Essay
- Brainstorming, drafting, editorial review, revision, editing, and proofreading of one college application essay or application set
- Examples: four University of California Personal Insight Questions, or one Common Application essay
- Approximately 10 hours, including phone calls, essay review, editing, consultations, revisions, and proofreading
- Includes three to four drafts per essay
Plan B: Two College Application Essays
- Brainstorming, drafting, editorial review, revision, editing, and proofreading of two college application essays or application sets
- Examples: four University of California Personal Insight Questions and one Common Application essay, or one Common Application essay and three supplemental essays
- Approximately 20 hours, including phone calls, essay review, editing, consultations, revisions, and proofreading
- Includes three to four drafts per essay
Plan C: Two College Application Essays and Five Supplemental Essays
- Includes everything in Plan B, plus five additional private-college supplemental essays
- Approximately 35 hours, including phone calls, essay review, editing, consultations, revisions, and proofreading
- Includes three to four drafts per essay
Plan D: The Almost Unlimited Package
- Includes everything in Plan B, plus up to 10 additional private-college supplemental essays
Plan E: Editing-Only Package
- Includes thorough editing and proofreading of completed essay drafts
- Does not include brainstorming, initial drafting, or other generative writing work