The common app essay is the chance to tell a personal story in 650 words. It’s not an academic composition,
so the essay requires students to switch mental gears and turn off some of the strategies they’ve used in school writing so far.
Why stories? Resumes show colleges what students have done, transcripts show how students have done, but
the essay shows who students are—or at least describes one facet of the applicant. For this reason, we encourage students to first reflect on what positive aspect of
their character they want to convey. Are they curious? Detail-oriented? Compassionate? Artistic? From there, we can brainstorm moments or
experiences that bring that quality to life.
Sometimes the best topic is not evident at first. Some of our favorite essays have been about things that seem mundane or even uninteresting (perfecting a
recipe for sourdough bread; walking the dog) Some stellar essays are about truly singular experiences (adopting a baby sister; catching on fire at a
bat mitzvah). Either way,
these stories reveal character. *Note: The 7 common app questions
are not typically the most useful place to start. They ask about events, lessons, time periods, etc.—those are all great ways to think about plot, whereas we
find it more inspiring to start with character. That said, all stories can answer at least one of these essay questions.
Whatever the topic, the essay should grab admissions officers by the end of the first paragraph. Even for gifted writers this can be daunting;
for students who are less seasoned writers, it can be paralyzing.
How The Writing Studio Can Help
We can make the process less scary and more fun, and we can help make the final product the strongest submission a student is capable of. We elicit
conversation and ideas, give feedback on which topics are most effective, and guide the writing process—but that process requires hard work from applicants. With
that effort, students end up with a strong essay. They end up with college acceptances. But just as important, students end up with the powerful experience of
reflecting on who they are and how they operate in the world, with all their
strengths, vulnerabilities, interests, experiences, and mindsets.
The college essay is just a small (but mighty) part of a student’s larger story.
We meet students individually, any time from late spring through the end of application deadlines. The number of sessions varies widely, depending on several
factors: how many colleges the student is applying to, the number of supplemental questions or scholarship essays required, the writing skill of the student,
and their willingness to engage in the process. Some students need 3 or 4 sessions to review one main essay, whereas others may need 15+ hours over 3 to 4 months
(for the main essay and supplemental essays.)
Supplemental Essays
Many colleges ask for supplemental essays in addition to the main essay. Supplements are 500 words or fewer, and most require approximately 150-300 words. These
short essays provide another place to showcase information that doesn’t show up in grades or lists. They need to be high quality. The average school asks for 2-3
supplemental essays; the occasional competitive school will ask for more.
Why Me?
As the owner of The Writing Studio, one of my main roles is to work with college applicants. Our three coaches offer tutoring, editing services, creative writing workshops,
and college essay coaching, but the bulk of my time is reserved for applicants, because I love college essays. I can empathize with students who feel stuck without a story, and I
can connect with them in a supportive way that makes it easier to find that elusive topic. Everyone’s goal is acceptance letters, but it’s also important to encourage students to
embrace their individuality and confidently express their hopes for the future.
I’ve been assisting students with essays for thirty years, so I’m good at it. I can’t guarantee any outcomes in terms of acceptances, but every one of my students has gone on to
college, and most have been admitted into at least one of their top choice schools.
We offer two options for coaching: an All-Inclusive package and Hourly Coaching, which are described in detail below.
OPTION 1: All-Inclusive
This is the most comprehensive package for the college essay journey. All-Inclusive is the best choice for students who meet most of the following criteria:
- students who will be applying to many schools, including multiple schools that require supplemental essays; these shorter essays can add up quickly if an applicant is submitting to more than 2 or 3 places.
- students who would benefit from support from start to finish, that is, from choosing topics all the way until time to submit the application
- students who need significant help structuring drafts and then fine-tuning revisions
- families who are unfamiliar with the college essay and submission procedures
The Process
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Introduction. During a first meeting, we discuss the steps, talk about the student’s experiences and interests, establish a rough schedule, and start to brainstorm.
If the student already has a topic in mind, I provide feedback.
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Brainstorming. I love this part, because I get to know students through questions and writing prompts designed to spark topic ideas. I’m a fiction and creative
nonfiction writer, which means that I love to notice details, search for connections, and find the traits that define character.
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Drafting. Once we’ve got a topic, we discuss how to get it on paper. We’ll talk about what good stories include and then start freewriting and some basic outlining.
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Revising.When the first draft comes together, we’ll start the more technical work to determine the best opening hook, the most salient details, and a satisfying ending.
Of course we’ll also address grammar and mechanics so that submissions are as readable as possible. Students can expect to revise an essay several times—4-5 is common.
The All-Inclusive package provides individual coaching throughout all these steps, until students feel comfortable submitting the applications.
This package also ensures that students have first dibs on scheduling.
The package eliminates the hassle of invoices, lets families know the cost up front, and, assuming students meet the criteria outlined above, reflects a discount from the hourly rate.
Cost: $1000 for the All-Inclusive individual coaching from start to the final submission, no matter how many meetings the process takes. It’s ideal to start in June after senior year, but this is not set in stone.
OPTION 2: Hourly College Essay Coaching
With hourly appointments, we can follow any or all of steps of the process outlined above: brainstorming, drafting, revising of the main common app essay and supplements (if applicable).
Hourly Coaching is the best choice for students who meet any of the following criteria:
- Students who are applying only to schools that require NO supplemental essays
- Students who are applying to 3 schools or fewer
- Students who would like feedback on existing drafts
- Students who are transferring
Cost: $90/hour for individual coaching on any part of the process
More Details:
Although The Writing Studio is based in Pittsburgh, we work with clients across the US and internationally. Pittsburgh students can book an initial meeting in person if that’s helpful, but we typically move to online meetings
after the first session. Wherever you are, I am available for online support, through Zoom sessions and written feedback on Google Docs.
The Writing Studio bills via Intuit Quickbooks, with invoices that can be paid online with any card. The All-Inclusive package is billed before the first session; hourly engagements are billed after each session.
Each year we provide a certain amount of assistance to families for whom college essay coaching is not financially feasible; please reach out if cost is a barrier.