A Writing Coach for
the College Entrance Essay
Essays for your next chapter.
Take the confusion out of your college application essay.
Writing your college application essay can feel overwhelming.
It’s hard to know what to write about. It’s even harder to know how to write it.
As a professional writing coach, I can help you write a strong, persuasive essay for your college or
grad school application.
I’ll coach you through the chaos, from start to finish,
to help you write an essay that gets you noticed.
More students are applying to college today than ever before.
In 2023-2024, a record 7.5 million students - up from 7 million the previous year - applied to colleges using the Common App.
That means that last year there were 30% more students applying to college than in 2019-2020, the last pre-pandemic year of academic admissions.
What does that mean for you?
There’s more competition for admission slots, for specific programs, and for scholarship dollars than ever before.
Admission to these programs isn’t impossible, but more competition makes it harder to stand out from the crowd.
So what can you do to stand out?
Write an essay they won’t forget.
I hold undergraduate and graduate degrees in writing, and I’ve taught at the high school and college levels.
As a writing teacher, I’ve seen again and again: so many brilliant students have phenomenal abilities, work ethic, and life stories.
Yet, when it comes to capturing their uniqueness in an essay, they clam up. They play it safe. They make a fascinating journey seem ho-hum, or they flounder, unsure of what to put on the page and how to answer those generic essay prompts.
Things get stressful. Parents freak out about how long it’s taking their student to write a single essay. The tension is high, and everybody is unsure of the next step.
So the student just throws something on the page - anything - just to have something to submit. But instead of feeling victorious, the student feels nervous and disappointed, knowing that their final essay doesn’t represent their story (or their writing abilities) well.
Sound familiar?
If you’re facing the same struggles, know that you’re not alone. Thousands of other college applicants are feeling the exact same emotions: apprehension, confusion, and maybe a little bit of pure, old-fashioned panic.
And honestly, that’s natural. This essay is too big a deal to just take a guess at it.
…
When you start to write your essay, you may have questions:
Which prompt should you answer?
How should you answer it?
And how can you (AND your essay) stand out from the crowd?
Figuring these things out on your own can feel pretty overwhelming.
But what if you could take the overwhelm out of the essay-writing process? What if you had someone to coach you along, to help you know what is a great idea? What if you had someone who could encourage you and help you write a truly strong essay that clearly represents who you are?
That’s where I come in.
I can help you figure out your most compelling story.
Maybe a major life event made you who you are, but you don’t know how to share that in just 500 words.
Or maybe nothing big stands out to you, so you don’t know what you could write about in your essay.
No matter where you find yourself, know that I can help.
As a writing coach, here’s what I do:
I get to know you and your story.
I explain what colleges do (and don’t) want to see in your essay.
I help you figure out the most compelling parts of your story.
And I teach you how to share it in a way that is 100%, authentically you.
With a clear roadmap to follow, you can stop panicking and start writing.
What are you waiting for?
Let’s find the essay you were meant to write.
The Further.more Writing Method
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Getting Started: Prep Session
Once you sign up, you’ll receive an in-depth video from me. On this video, I’ll coach you through some writing exercises to prepare you for our first coaching session.
These exercises will help you start to think about moments that have shaped you, and will help me get to know you.
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The Nitty Gritty: Planning Session
Your first coaching session will be held over zoom or in person, if possible. During this 90-minute session, I’ll get to know you. I’ll help you determine your most unique, compelling story.
By the time we’re done, you’ll have a clear plan for what you’re going to write about. I’ll give you some strategies to use as you start writing.
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Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Writing Session
You’ll have up to two weeks to write your first draft. You’ll write in in a shared document, so I can check on your progress and offer feedback as you write. I’ll use side notes on your document to show you what’s working well and what you could strengthen.
Feeling stuck? Don’t panic. I provide two free 15-minute zoom consults during the writing process, if needed.
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Clean & Polish: Revision Session
During this 90-minute session, we’ll go over every bit of your essay. We’ll make sure it’s clear, direct, and interesting. We’ll clarify things that are hazy, cut out anything unnecessary, and make sure that every line is working well to tell your story.
When we finish, you’ll have a strong, beautiful essay that’s ready to submit.