• Let's work together for your success!

Ways to Work Together

I will work around your and your child's schedule -
Evenings and weekends are probably best for your child, so they will work for me. If you want to schedule a call during the traditional workday, great - I look forward to doing so.

Whether you want a few hours for fine-tuning nearly completed essays, help getting started and understanding the process, or a partner from start to finish, I'm ready to help and have done so many times before.

For families going through this the first time, I typically provide end to end essay help - from brainstorming ideas to final edits. The time we spend together for the main personal essay will help us more easily complete any supplemental essays required by most schools. If one college application requires several essays, great care will be given to make sure the totality of the essays paint the most robust, well-rounded and coherent story.

Personal Statement
(Common Application or Coalition Application essay):

This is the main essay used in the Common Application and Coalition Application utilized by most schools. I usually invest 10 hours across our Discovery, Topic Assessment, Writing guidance and three rounds of Editing sessions. It may take more hours; it may take fewer hours. I prefer not to work to the clock and rather work to your needs to arrive at the best essay. But, if you prefer per hour rates, this is possible too.

Supplemental Essays:

These are typically shorter in length (250 to 500 words) and required by many schools. Some are straightforward and some are designed to be more thought-provoking and more revealing about your beliefs, values, and aspirations. Although shorter, these essays are sometimes more difficult to write. In our fast paced lives, few of us pause to think about our beliefs and aspirations, but I'll help you do that. Regardless of the complexity of the supplemental essays, I will give you insight into what the school is really hoping to learn through these questions and how we can best teach them!

  1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story.
  2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
  3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
  4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
  5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
  6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
  7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
  1. Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
  2. What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?
  3. Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?
  4. Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?
  5. What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?
  6. Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.
  1. Given your interests, values, and goals, explain why XXXX College will help you grow (as a student and a person) during your undergraduate years.
  2. Why are you interested in XXXX University?
  3. When you choose a college, you will join a new community of people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. What is it about your background, your experiences, or your story, that will enrich XXXX College's community?
  4. Why do you want to study your chosen major at XXXX, and how do you think XXXX will prepare you to pursue opportunities in that field after graduation?
  5. If you could only do one of the activities you have listed in the Activities section of your Common Application, which one would you keep doing? Why?
  6. Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.
  7. Please share an experience you have had outside of the classroom that has contributed to your personal growth.
  8. Which book, character, song, or piece of work (fiction or non-fiction) represents you, and why?
  9. Beyond your impressive academic credentials and extracurricular accomplishments, what else makes you unique and colorful?
  10. Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that's developed over time - what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study?
  1. Great art evokes a sense of wonder. It nourishes the mind and spirit. Is there a particular song, poem, speech, or novel from which you have drawn insight or inspiration?
  2. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address and why?
  3. We believe that a diverse community is a strong community. Reflect on an experience that demonstrates your commitment to inclusion and diversity.
  4. In The Painted Drum, author Louise Erdrich ‘76 wrote, “… what is beautiful that I make? What is elegant? What feeds the world?” Tell us about something beautiful you have made or hope to make.
  5. What inspires you?
  6. We have always known that young people can be catalysts for change. What is one way that you have made an impact in your community?
  7. Defend an unpopular opinion you hold.
  8. Please share an experience that made you feel uncomfortable or challenged, and then explain how you grew from the situation.
  9. If you could witness a historic event first-hand, what would it be, and why?
  10. If you had a theme song - a piece of music that describes you, what would it be and why? Please include the name of the song and the artist.
Are you ready to get started?
Let’s talk about it.