College Essay Coaches

The college-admissions essay is a unique genre of writing, with conventions and best practices that are not made explicit in the instructions. It's also a high-stakes endeavor. Students are understandably stressed by the prospect that these 300- or 600-word essays might determine so much about the course of their lives. They have certain bits of advice in mind––be authentic, try to stand out––but it's hard to know where to go from there.

One of the great benefits of working with an experienced college essay tutor is simply that we can ease the burden of stress. There's a comfort in working with someone who has seen other students do this before and succeed. Not only do we know what what a successful essay looks like, but we know what it looks like for a real-life high school student to start with an idea and see it through to a final product.

One piece of advice: if the underlying message of your essay is try hard and you will succeed, you may want to reconsider your approach. The sentiment is a good one, but in our experience, it's one that admissions committees must see all too often.

A related piece of advice: it's best to speak to a tutor before you settle on the story you're going to tell. If you were only going to do one session with a tutor, it's best to do that at the brainstorming rather than final-editing stage. That's not to say that it's not worth working with a tutor after a draft has been drawn up. But once you get started on an essay, it can be painful to change course.

No matter whether it's early or at the last minute, we look forward to helping students put their best foot forward in their college essays.

Stephen

I have more than ten years of experience teaching and tutoring students in writing skills––you can see my full tutor bio by clicking here. Since graduating with an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Washington, I have regularly worked with students to improve their college essays and have learned how to steer them through what can sometimes be a trying process. I think that the college essay is essentially a creative writing task, and it's one in which the constraints are your opportunity for invention. Students struggle to present all of themselves in so few words, and in response to prompts that are not of their own choosing. But when a student homes in on the story or anecdote or approach that is going to communicate something of their peculiar charm, their idealistic ambitions, their shining hopes for the future, it's all the sweeter for having come in response to a boilerplate application prompt.

Jesse

I have been tutoring writing for three years, with over a decade of experience as an educator. You can read my full tutor bio here. I have also worked as a college essay coach, working with hundreds of students on their essays and receiving training from college admissions officers. I've helped many students get into their first-choice schools. I've helped students with strong ideas get into elite schools. I've also helped students who are overwhelmed, struggling, or unmotivated finish their essays with ease and gain admission to the schools of their choice. I also have experience working with those applying to graduate school and non-traditional applicants.

College essays are also an opportunity for students to express themselves creatively, share their stories, and tie a bow on important experiences they've had. It's an opportunity to reflect on their growth throughout the last several years. When working with students on a personal statement, I begin with extensive brainstorming about the values, experiences, character traits, and goals that are most important to them. We then utilize creative nonfiction techniques to tell a story that is captivating, honest, and exceeds the expectations of college admissions readers. I also have experience helping students with supplemental essays, resumes, and activity lists—all of which have specific (and often unspoken) requirements and parameters.

I take great pride in helping students create college essays that not only get them into great colleges but also reflect their true selves and grow their skills as writers. I'd look forward to supporting your student!

Norah

I am a librarian-in-training with extensive experience supporting high school students in their college admissions journey, and I love working with students to craft a narrative that lets their personalities and experiences shine.

I am a 2025 graduate of the University of Washington's Information School, where I received my Master's in Library and Information Science with a focus in academic and instructional librarianship. I received a Bachelor's in English from Harvard, where I spent countless hours editing student writing as a senior editor of the award-winning student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson. There, I gained extensive experience working with writers to create a compelling narrative within a tight word count. I also have a Master's of Philosophy in Irish Literature from Trinity College, Dublin. I have worked with students over the past several years to craft narratively tight, compelling, and authentic college essays. The students I've worked with have been accepted to Duke and Cornell, and received competitive merit scholarships at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. I look forward to helping your student's voice shine as they embark on this next chapter of their academic journey!

Dan

I am an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Seattle University, and earlier in my career I spent three years evaluating hundreds of admissions essays for the Arts and Sciences department at McMaster University. This experience provides me a special insight into the mind of the admissions-committee reader who is the intended audience of the college essay.

I also have fourteen years of experience with teaching students how to write fantastic college-level essays. My students have gone on to some of the best colleges, medical schools, law schools, graduate schools, and professional careers. I am honored to help students brainstorm, write, revise, and fine-tune their college-admissions essays.

Wendy

I have worked in youth and school programming for over a decade, and have been a writing tutor since I was an undergraduate at Middlebury College; you can read my full bio here. While I am now a social worker in a middle school, I am looking forward to working with high schoolers again this summer and fall with their college applications.

When I was a college access coach, I supported high school juniors and seniors to and through the entire college application process, from creating a top schools list, to scholarships, interviews, and of course, each and every essay. I also helped students and their families after the acceptance process as desired and needed. One of my favorite experiences in this role was aiding students with their college admissions essays. I find it to be an exciting, vulnerable, and honest writing process that helps young adults navigate who they are, who they may wish to become, and how they want to share that with others along the way.

With my Bachelor's in English/Creative Writing and my Master's in Social Work, I not only tailor my tutoring to where students are in their writing journeys, but also where they are socially, emotionally, and culturally. I know that the writing process is different for each student, and I use varied brainstorming and drafting techniques in essay writing to help each person find and convey their most confident personal narrative.

Madhura

I have helped several high school students to think of their college essay as a little glimpse into their inner self, something that grades and standardised testing just cannot provide. It is a crucial piece of the complex puzzle that admission committees find themselves stitching together. It is not the place to list accomplishments or skills, it is a place to be a little vulnerable, and to be honest. I truly believe in taking the pressure off students to constantly perform. I am convinced that there is a right college for everyone and more importantly, I believe in developing the mindset to make your choice work for you. I am excited to help students navigate this critical milestone with dignity and confidence.

Dr. Evan

A bio focusing on Dr. Evan's experience working with students on college-admissions essays is coming soon. For now, please see her bio focused on graduate and professional academic writing support by clicking here.