Common App First-Year Essay Coaching
This service is for writers who need help developing ideas and crafting their personal story for the specific colleges they are applying to. (If your essays are already written and you just want help editing and revising them, click on the “Editing Services” tab for my services and rates).
Register for a preliminary coaching session, and we can sit down and brainstorm your Common App essay together. As your writing coach, I listen for your story and draw out the unique details of what makes you you so you can highlight them your essay. I will ask questions and discover what it is you want to say and then encourage you to express yourself clearly, logically, and in cohesive, skillfully expressed language. My philosophy is rooted in respect for you and your story, and I will offer honest feedback and suggestions, always honoring your voice and message while encouraging you and boosting your confidence.
Preliminary StoryMakers Brainstorming Zoom Session $200
One 50 minute conversation: Reflecting on What Makes You You and Why it Matters
Coaching: What’s your story? How can I help you tell it?
Common App StoryMakers Outlining Zoom Session $300
One 50 minute workshop: Telling Your Story
Coaching: Develop story images, determine thesis, construct outline
Common App Essay Editing and Shaping via Google Docs $250
Two critiques of your written Common App essay
Coaching: Detailed advice for improving content, clarity and tone and suggestions for restructuring and rewording
*additional editing billed at $150/hr
UC Admissions Personal Insight Essay Coaching
What are you curious about? When have you surprised yourself? What makes you proud? The University of California wants to get to know you, but they also want to sense just how much you know about yourself. As your writing coach, I’ll offer feedback specifically aimed at showcasing your strengths and personality throughout all four essays, with an emphasis on self-reflection.
Preliminary StoryMakers Brainstorming Zoom Session $275
One 60 minute conversation: Reflecting on What Makes You You and Why it Matters
Coaching: Listening for your story and selecting the right PI prompts to help you tell it
Two Personal insight Essay StoryMakers Outlining Sessions $600
Two 60 minute workshops devoted to outlining PI essay stories (two prompts per session)
Coaching: Develop story images, determine thesis, construct outline
Personal Insight Essay Editing and Shaping via Google Docs $250 per essay or $900 for all four
Coaching: Receive two critiques of one written essay with detailed suggestions for improving content, clarity and tone. Applicants can jump straight to this service if their essays are already written!
*additional editing billed at $150/hr
Full Service Concierge College Essay Application Coaching
Why Contract with A Full-Service Writing Coach?
Hiring a mentor is the best way to go if you aren’t a confident writer, if you’re a procrastinator or struggle to stay organized, or if you know you’ll have several applications and a variety of essays to prepare and submit throughout the year. With the influence of AI in education, too, it has never been more important to convey your human fingerprints and personality in your college application essays, but regaining your confidence and initiative with this technology to tempt you can be challenging. As a professional college-level writing instructor with 30 years of experience working with student writers, I can tell you AI-voice is not only easy to spot, but it damages your credibility and can kill your application. We can work together to tell your story in your own way!
I’ll help you stay organized, set deadlines, brainstorm, and I’ll coach you through every step of the writing process. And if you receive deferrals during the Early Admission stage, I can help you prepare additional materials to strengthen your application and boost your chances in the second round. Full Concierge Service means I am just on the other end of the line whenever you need help.
The Common App and most other college applications open on August 1st, with first deadlines in November. (for transfer admission deadlines, see here)
$2500 if retained six months or more from admission deadlines
$3500 if retained three months from admission deadlines
$4000 if retained less than three months from admission deadlines
Full Service clients receive unlimited mentoring and editing from me throughout their application season.
Enrollment for concierge service is limited and begins in April, so contact me to reserve your space.