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College essay coaching
College essay coaching
Many students believe their goal is to impress colleges with their accomplishments. I see it differently: the goal is to be understood.
The purpose of college application writing is to help the reader understand how you think, what you care about, and how you make meaning.
Strong essays don't need dramatic stories or clever hooks; they need reflection, clarity, and specificity. Strong essays develop through contemplation, revision, and decision-making over time.
That’s why our work is structured the way it is.
As a guide and sounding board, I work alongside students to help them make sense of their experiences and develop writing that feels authentic, grounded, and insightful. The goal is to craft essays that only they could have written.
This approach tends to work best for students who:
want to understand their experiences before trying to “package” them
are curious and open to reflection
are willing to brainstorm, draft, and revise between meetings
care more about fit than prestige
Click the link below to set up a free 15-minute consultation.
How We Work
We start by understanding what matters, then decide what to say, and finally shape the writing itself.
My coaching is organized into cycles rather than one-off meetings or edits. Each cycle includes:
one round of written feedback on a draft or set of drafts
one live meeting (45-60 minutes)
time in between for the student to revise independently
Live meetings and written feedback work together to support thoughtful writing and effective revision. Written feedback allows me to give careful, detailed guidance that students can return to as they revise. Meetings build on that feedback, allowing us to focus on clarifying and deepening ideas and insights. This balance leads to stronger essays and a healthier, more sustainable process for students.
Structured support, built around revision cycles
Structured support, built around revision cycles
Written Feedback
Written feedback provides clear, specific guidance students can revisit as they revise.
Depending on the stage of the work, written feedback may include:
Depending on the stage of the work, written feedback may include:
in-line comments about clarity, focus, and development
suggestions for revision, such as reorganizing ideas, sharpening focus, or deciding what to expand or cut
reflection questions about meaning, perspective, or specificity
line-level edits for clarity, flow, and concision (especially in later drafts)
notes on voice and tone, so the writing sounds authentic and student-owned
feedback across multiple essays when relevant, including overlap, balance, or repetition
Early drafts typically receive more big-picture feedback, while later drafts receive more detailed attention to wording and polish.
Live Meetings
Most students meet with me weekly to talk through ideas, make sense of feedback, and decide how to move forward. Live meetings should not replace the work of drafting and revising between sessions but rather create space for thoughtful conversation, perspective, and direction so students leave each meeting knowing what to work on next and why.
Depending on the stage of the work, live meetings may include:
thinking out loud together to clarify what an essay is really trying to say
comparing multiple ideas to decide which ones are worth developing
identifying themes or patterns that could shape an essay
making decisions about direction, emphasis, or structure
discussing written feedback and prioritizing what to revise next
clarifying audience expectations without writing to please or perform
Live meetings are most effective when students come prepared with drafts, reflections, or questions to discuss.
I work with students through a thoughtful, individualized process grounded in careful listening and sound judgment. Because this kind of work unfolds over time and benefits from steady attention, I limit the number of students I support each year. Pricing reflects this sustained, personalized approach.
2026 Packages and Pricing
2026 Packages and Pricing
Save 10% on packages booked by June 1st
All packages include a structured combination of live meetings and written feedback, one initial family meeting, and curated resources to support self-reflection and writing craft. Each cycle includes detailed written feedback on a draft and a live coaching session, so students always know what to do next. Support is designed to encourage steady progress, thoughtful revision, and clear decision-making over time.
Every package includes support for brainstorming, drafting, and revising all written components of the Common Application, as well as supplemental essays and/or UC PIQs. The right package depends on the length and complexity of your college list, as well as how much iteration your essays need.
Targeted Intensive
Targeted Intensive
4 cycles
Best for students who want targeted help within the writing process.
The four-cycle targeted intensive offers a structured, short-term engagement that still reflects how real essay work happens: through feedback, revision, and conversation over time.
This option is designed for students who want meaningful guidance without committing to a full season. This works well for:
Students seeking clarity and direction early in the writing process
Students who have ideas but aren’t sure which one to develop
Students who want to work deeply on a single essay
Students who want feedback on drafts already in progress
Families considering longer-term coaching and wanting a thoughtful entry point
Core Application
Core Application
10 cycles
Best for students with focused lists and limited supplemental essay types.
This ten-cycle option offers a balanced, multi-month approach to support the full writing process from reflection through final refinement.
This option is for students who want support across the personal statement, activities list, and key supplemental essays. This works well for:
Students who want to begin with structured self-reflection before drafting.
Students applying to schools with fewer supplemental essay requirements.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive
14 cycles
Best for students with ambitious or writing-intensive lists (10+ schools, special programs, or highly selective targets).
Fourteen cycles allow for deeper brainstorming, more rounds of refinement, and thoughtful attention to complex or specialized supplements (such as honors, combined programs, or multiple short-answer sets).
This works well for:
Students applying to several highly selective colleges.
Students with a greater quantity and range of supplemental essays.
Students who want more space to think, draft, and refine over time.
$1,200
$2,500
$3,300
Essay Reviews
Essay Reviews
Written feedback for students who want a clear, expert read.
This option is for students who want thoughtful, written feedback on a single piece of writing to help them revise independently.
A one-time essay review offers insight into how an admissions reader might experience the essay and guidance on what to revise. This is not a replacement for cycle-based coaching, and meetings are not included.
This option is a good fit for:
Students who want a second set of eyes on a draft
Families seeking feedback before deciding on more support
Personal statement review (or a combination of supplements not exceeding 650 words)
$200
Personal statement, activities list, and a combination of supplements not exceeding 650 words
$400
FAQs
FAQs
Process and Structure
Process and Structure
What is a cycle?
What is a cycle?
A cycle includes one round of written feedback, one live meeting (45–60 minutes), and time in between for the student to revise. This structure keeps revision and independent thinking at the center of the process.
Most students complete one cycle per week, but the schedule can vary depending on deadlines, revision needs, and the student's progress. The pacing adjusts to the work rather than following a rigid schedule.
In a typical cycle, a student drafts an essay and then schedules written feedback. I provide detailed feedback within 24-48 hours. The student begins revising their draft based on the feedback and schedules a live meeting a day or two later. We then meet to discuss their progress, answer questions, weigh possibilities, and plan next steps.
Why work in cycles?
Why work in cycles?
Strong essays develop over time, not in a single conversation or one round of edits. Cycles create a rhythm that helps students think more independently, develop essays over time, and avoid last-minute panic. It also makes meetings more focused and productive because we are not using that time for drafting or significant line edits.
What's expected of students between cycles?
What's expected of students between cycles?
Students are expected to draft and revise between rounds of written feedback and meetings. When they are ready for feedback, students will schedule a place in my feedback queue and a live meeting for further discussion.
Packages and Logistics
Packages and Logistics
How early should my student start working with you?
How early should my student start working with you?
Most students begin in the spring of their junior year or the summer before their senior year. Starting earlier allows time for reflection, drafting, and revision without last-minute stress.
What if we start late in the process?
What if we start late in the process?
I work with a limited number of students who begin later in the application cycle (starting in September or later). Late starts don’t automatically require more cycles, but they do require more focused pacing and less buffer.
Depending on availability and deadlines, we’ll determine whether the work is viable within a cycle-based package and how tightly the cycles would need to be scheduled.
Should we choose a package or short-term intensive coaching?
Should we choose a package or short-term intensive coaching?
It depends on where your student is in the writing process. For a student just starting, a package will give us more time and freedom to explore potential topics, strategize their storytelling approach, and refine their craft. A student who feels confident about their essay topic or has already written a draft may not need as many meetings and may prefer the targeted intensive.
What’s the difference between the Essentials, Guided, and Supported packages?
What’s the difference between the Essentials, Guided, and Supported packages?
Packages differ by the number of cycles included, which determines how much room there is for revision, iteration, and complexity.
Targeted Intensive (4 cycles): best for working deeply on a single essay or revising drafts already in progress
Core Application (10 cycles): best for students with focused lists and limited supplemental essay types
Comprehensive Application (14 cycles): more room to explore, revise, and tailor across a wider range of schools and prompts
All packages support brainstorming, the personal statement, activities list, additional information, and supplemental essays. The difference is in how much capacity and flexibility are available across the season.
What if my student needs more cycles than their package includes?
What if my student needs more cycles than their package includes?
If additional cycles are needed and availability allows, they can be added later.
The goal of the package structure is to align scope with need early so expectations stay clear and the process remains sustainable.
Are live meetings required?
Are live meetings required?
Yes. Live meetings are a core part of cycle-based packages. They support clarity, insight, and decision-making, and they build on the written feedback students receive.
Written-only essay reviews are available as a separate service.
Do you offer a package payment plan?
Do you offer a package payment plan?
Yes, payment plans are available and are typically structured over two or three installments.
Fit and Boundaries
Fit and Boundaries
Who is this coaching best for?
Who is this coaching best for?
This coaching works well for:
Motivated high school juniors/seniors who want to own their story and application
Students who are ready to reflect on their values, strengths, and goals
Students who are curious about why a story works, not just how to improve it
Students who can commit to steady weekly progress
Families who value process over quick fixes
Families who trust their student to do the intellectual work, with guidance
This may not be the best fit if:
Your student wants someone to write for them (I'm a coach, not a ghostwriter)
You're seeking last-minute fixes without time for revision (rush work is limited)
You expect unlimited edits or same-day turnaround as a baseline
You expect the coach to solve motivation or accountability challenges for your student
You’re seeking an approach designed to “maximize chances” rather than reflect the student
You’re looking for full-service admissions consulting (college list building, test prep, course selection, etc.) rather than focused support on essays and narrative
Do you also help students build a college list?
Do you also help students build a college list?
I don’t build college lists.
Instead, I help students clarify what they value in a college so their list reflects what actually matters to them. Colleges want to admit students who are excited to attend for specific reasons, and this clarity leads to stronger, more genuine “Why This School?” essays.
Do you work with international students?
Do you work with international students?
Yes! While I am based in the United States, I work with students virtually and have experience supporting international applicants applying to U.S. colleges. I have worked with students in many countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
My services focus on application writing and strategy. I do not provide visa guidance or test preparation.
Do you guarantee outcomes or admission results?
Do you guarantee outcomes or admission results?
No coach ethically can. Admission decisions depend on many factors outside a student's control. I bring extensive experience and care to help students present themselves thoughtfully, authentically, and clearly, but I cannot guarantee specific outcomes other than improved writing.
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