While students think they need to come in with some ideas on what they could be writing about, we actually prefer that they have not started in advance. This encourages students to consider new ideas rather than fixate on what they have previously written. With freedom of thought, the writing progresses, and the essay’s direction evolves too.

Our process involves pre-writing exercises and brainstorming sessions to uncover unique essay topics that may not have been previously considered. This method often leads to more impactful essays and helps generate material for the supplemental essays many colleges require. Students who are open to exploring new directions in their personal statements typically find that their applications become more authentic and memorable.

No, you do not need to come to us with a prompt; in fact, you will be asked to write to several prompts before deciding on your essay topic.

Writing a strong personal statement always takes longer than one might plan for. Depending on where you are applying and how important the essays are going to be, you should set aside writing time. Writing the main essay can take anywhere from 6-10 active hours, over a period of several days.  Allow enough time to be reflective, work through the pre-writing exercises, and write several revisions before editing and publishing.

The essay belongs to the student.

Parents play an important role by encouraging reflection and helping students manage deadlines. Throughout the writing process, however, the essay develops through conversations between the student and the coach.

We believe the strongest essays preserve the student's own voice, perspective, and personality. While we welcome parent support, we encourage revisions to come from the student whenever possible.

Essays are about bringing out an aspect of yourself that adds personality and brings purpose to your college application. A good essay coach will coax you to look deeper into your experiences and the value systems that make you special. We all have life experiences that are uniquely ours, no matter how commonplace we feel our lives might be. A good writing coach may make you laugh at the past or cry with you over your heartaches on the way to a powerful essay.

A machine could help refine the language of a draft but will never be able to bring out the voice that define your learning and growth.

We’ve found that virtual sessions help students stay more organized, engaged, and focused. Using screen sharing and collaborative tools, we’re able to provide real-time feedback, guide brainstorming, and track revisions efficiently—all the while keeping the process low-stress and highly personalized.

Virtual meetings can be anywhere from a 15-minute check in to an hour long session. They offer the flexibility students need during a busy season. With summer travel, school prep, and activities in full swing, virtual coaching allows for consistent progress without the logistics of commuting. Students are given a preliminary schedule at the beginning, but as the work gets underway, the essay coach will recommend meetings depending upon the work at hand and upcoming deadlines.

Your essay coach is always a Zoom meeting away.

Yes, but our approach is different from a traditional editing service.

Rather than simply correcting wording or grammar, we evaluate whether the essay is accomplishing its purpose in the admissions process. We often recommend rethinking the structure, reflection, or message before focusing on sentence-level edits.

Our goal is not to produce the essay we would write. Our goal is to help students write the strongest version of the essay they would write.

As part of your advising or essay package, students will have scheduled meetings with their coach or advisor. While these meetings are included in your package and do not carry an additional session fee, they represent reserved time on our calendar.

We kindly request that any cancellations or scheduling changes be made by 4:00 PM on the business day prior to the scheduled session.

• Changes made after 4:00 PM the day before

• Same-day cancellations

• Missed sessions (no-shows)

will incur a $50 late cancellation fee.

This policy allows us to respect our team’s time and offer availability to other families when possible.

One of the hardest parts of writing is knowing when to stop revising.

Additional editing does not always produce a stronger essay. As more people contribute wording and stylistic changes, an essay can become more polished but less personal.

Our coaches help students recognize when an essay has reached the point where it clearly communicates their story, demonstrates reflection, and authentically represents who they are.

No.

We'll challenge your thinking, ask difficult questions, suggest stronger organization, identify areas that need deeper reflection, and help improve clarity and mechanics.

The ideas, stories, and final writing should always remain the student's own.

Absolutely.

Parents often provide valuable perspective throughout the process. We simply encourage families to remember that the essay is ultimately the student's story.

When multiple people make extensive wording or stylistic changes, essays can unintentionally lose the voice that makes them authentic. Our coaches help students thoughtfully consider feedback while ensuring the final essay remains true to the student.