Questions Before Your Story Starts

No. I never write essays for students. My job is to help your student uncover the story that’s already inside them—the one only they can tell—and then to coach them through writing it in their own voice. As a working journalist, I've spent years finding the human story hiding inside ordinary moments. That is exactly what I do with college essays.

Most essay coaches edit essays. I find stories. Most start with the prompt. I start with a conversation. My background is journalism—not admissions, which means I bring a reporter’s ear for what is real, what is specific, and what is worth telling.

It is a 90-minute conversation where I ask thoughtful questions and listen closely for what sparks something. I am not looking for the correct answer or the impressive story. I am listening for the details that reveal character, the moments that matter, and the truths only your student can tell. Most students leave realizing they have a story they didn’t even know they had.

Yes, there are two packages that include supplemental essays.

Ideally, junior spring or the summer before senior year. That gives us time to discover the story and let the writing breathe. If it is later, I can work with a compressed timeline, but earlier is always better.

Story Discovery Sessions and coaching sessions are between me and the student. This is intentional—students speak more freely and honestly when a parent is not in the room. 

That is exactly what the coaching sessions are for. Students bring drafts, questions, or specific problems to work through. I help them identify what is not working, and more importantly, what is.

All sessions are online.

No coach can promise that. College admissions is about many factors—grades, test scores, activities, and fit. What I can promise is a personal statement that reveals who your student really is, in their own voice, with a story worth remembering. That is the best possible foundation for a strong application.

Almost never. Students think they need a dramatic story—travel, tragedy, overcoming impossible odds. But admissions officers read thousands of those. What actually resonates is genuine insight, self-awareness, and specificity. A story about learning to listen to a friend, or realizing you were wrong about something, or discovering an unexpected passion—those stories stand out because they are real. My job is to help your student see why their story matters.

Some of the best essays come from the students who thought they had nothing to say. I have spent years interviewing reluctant subjects as a journalist. I know how to ask questions that create space for real answers, without pressure. If your student is quiet or hesitant, that is not a problem. It is often an advantage.

After the Story Discovery Session, your student should feel clear about what they want to write. After coaching, they should feel more confident in their voice and less worried about the process. The essays themselves should sound like your student—not polished corporate copy, but honest and specific.

Reach out and we will find a new time. Life happens. I ask for 24 hours notice when possible.

See story process and pricing section