Step 1:

Connect & Assess

I offer a free, low-pressure phone consultation designed to get to know the student and understand where they are in the college application process. During this conversation, we discuss their goals, any existing ideas or drafts, and the overall timeline. This first step helps ensure that our work together is tailored, intentional, and aligned with the student’s needs from the very beginning.

This conversation is also an opportunity for the student and their family to determine whether I’m the right person to support them through the college-essay writing process.

Step 2:

Brainstorm & Plan

The next phase involves a series of informal conversations designed to uncover the student’s experiences, values, and voice. These conversations help generate meaningful topics and themes. From there, we explore potential prompts and consider multiple angles for telling their story. To deepen the students’ understanding of what makes an essay effective, we also analyze sample essays to illustrate the diverse ways students can approach their essays. Together, we storyboard their journey — shuffling scenes, shifting angles, and shaping a structure that lets their story shine.

Step 3:

Draft & Review

I work one-on-one with each student to develop a personalized plan that fits their goals, schedule, and working style.

Through multiple rounds of drafts, I provide detailed, constructive feedback—ensuring that the student stays focused, responds effectively to prompts, and communicates their story with clarity and confidence.

Regular check-ins help keep students on track, maintain momentum, and reduce last-minute stress.

Step 4:

Revise & Refine

The final phase of the coaching process centers on in-depth revision. At this stage, the student has developed a complete draft, and our work turns to refining the essay at both the structural and sentence levels. We focus on clarity, coherence, and precision, ensuring that the narrative flows logically, the voice remains consistent, and each word contributes meaningfully to the overall message.
Through thoughtful, iterative feedback, we elevate the essay to a polished piece of writing that is both compelling and authentic.