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Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start the essay process?
An effective essay timeline begins during the second semester of a student’s junior year in high school. Rising seniors should aim to have the majority of their writing completed by the end of summer in preparation for submitting applications during the fall of senior year. Developing strong admissions essays takes time, and I encourage students to finish all essays well in advance of the deadlines. Students should plan to complete all writing by early December—and certainly before any early decision/early action notifications come in. While students may do some writing after returning to school, the fall of senior year is an especially busy time, and I strongly advise getting started well in advance.
*Note: The best writers often study the craft of writing their whole lives. You may be familiar with Malcom Gladwell’s assertion that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become a master at something. Students aren’t going to spend 10,000 hours writing college application essays, but the better they want to get at writing, the sooner they should start. Students can start practicing with targeted writing exercises during freshman year and leading up to the essay process as rising seniors.
How long will it take?
There are many factors at play, including how many schools a student applies to, how many essays each school requires, writing and editing ability, level of perfectionism, and so on. The majority of my students average at least 4–6 drafts on a personal statement. Some high-achieving students have spent 10+ drafts developing their main essays. Supplemental essays are often shorter and require fewer than 4 drafts. Students should treat the process like an intensive summer camp and/or extra curricular activity and set aside several hours each week to devote to writing.
What does the essay process entail?
The first step is a brainstorming session in which we’ll discuss potential topics for the personal statement. Most students will write the Common App/Coalition Personal Statement first, as students use these applications to apply to the majority of their schools. That personal statement can provide a foundation toward similar essay requirements for schools that have their own applications. Shortly after the brainstorming session, students write a first draft and share it with me. I’ll provide comments, from in-text notes to overall comments to line edits for grammar, punctuation, etc. They revise, I add more notes, and we go back and forth like this until the essay is complete.
Most students meet with me twice during the process, once for the personal statement brainstorming session and once to brainstorm supplemental essays. Of course, this can vary depending on how many essays a student may have to write, and I’m always happy to schedule additional meetings as needed.
Do you work with prospective transfer students? What about students applying for graduate or postgraduate education? Middle schoolers applying to a private high school? How about students applying for scholarships, summer programs, etc.?
Absolutely! I have worked with students on essays of all kinds, including the above and more. My students have obtained scholarships and been accepted to private high schools, summer programs, and business and medical schools across the country.
Will you write my essays for me?
NO, I do NOT write students’ essays. The point of these essays is to allow admissions officers to get to know YOU. My job as a writing coach is to help you make the most of the opportunity to share about yourself in the best light.