Applying to College?
Colleges really want to get to know you as a person. While your transcript and test scores will show them who you are as a student, only your personal statement will convey to them your character and insights. Yet it’s difficult to write a personal statement admissions essay that truly conveys who you are. Whether you have difficulty getting in touch with your strongest traits, figuring out which story about yourself puts you in the best light, or going through the writing process, I can help.
I will inspire and guide you through each phase of writing your personal statement so that the college admissions officers will notice you. Not only will you develop an outstanding personal statement, you will cultivate your writing skills and go on a journey of self-discovery. This is a major part of what college teaches you and you’ll start off right now!
I will draw upon my decade-long experience with the University of Pennsylvania’s well-known Writing Program to take you through all aspects of the writing process. I will interview you and then guide you through self-assessment techniques that move from pre-drafting to drafting to revision and, ultimately, to polishing.
I will guide and inspire your admission essay process. In four sessions, you can expect:
I will spend very focused time getting to know you through a guided interview and self-assessment. This interview will bring out aspects of your personality that you might not have considered important (imagine a walk down “memory lane”). Together, we will develop some anecdotes that capture the important insights that come from the guided interview/self-assessment. You will leave our first session with marching orders to explore a few possible essays (unless you are certain that we have captured your story, which sometime happens!).
You will do some pre-writing exercises that help you construct the beginnings of your essay.
We will go through your initial essay pre-drafting and any other drafts that you may have to develop a structure for your essay. We may go through the draft(s) to discover the real story or subtext, which often takes place ‘between the lines’ of your writing. This is a process that requires patience and maturity. It requires that you look kindly at your own work. I am a patient and insightful guide. We will get there! You will leave this session with an initial outline of your essay.
You will write the first draft of your essay(s). This will be your best effort at a draft.
We will confer on your draft(s). I will lead you through self-assessment of your draft and we will discuss revisions to your draft. Writing is a process of ‘re-visioning’ your work and we will take the task of seeing it in a fresh light very seriously. We will assess the structure of your statement and make sure that it conveys what you need it to convey. At the end of this third conference, you should have a fully-fleshed out draft, complete with the voice, style and language that expresses you appropriately.
You will continue to revise your draft(s), putting forth your best effort. Plan to bring to your fourth session the personal statement that you would send to the admissions committee.
We will go over your draft with a fine-toothed comb. You will apply principles of grammar and style, so that your draft is as polished as possible and speaks with your voice. You will hone your skills as an editor and we will celebrate your amazing accomplishment!
[accordion clicktoclose=true tag=div][accordion-item title=” Session One: “]I will spend very focused time getting to know you through a guided interview and self-assessment. This interview will bring out aspects of your personality that you might not have considered important (imagine a walk down “memory lane”). Together, we will develop some anecdotes that capture the important insights that come from the guided interview/self-assessment. You will leave our first session with marching orders to explore a few possible essays (unless you are certain that we have captured your story, which sometime happens!).[/accordion-item][accordion-item title=” Between sessions one and two “]You will do some pre-writing exercises that help you construct the beginnings of your essay.[/accordion-item][accordion-item title=” Session Two: “]We will go through your initial essay pre-drafting and any other drafts that you may have to develop a structure for your essay. We may go through the draft(s) to discover the real story or subtext, which often takes place ‘between the lines’ of your writing. This is a process that requires patience and maturity. It requires that you look kindly at your own work. I am a patient and insightful guide. We will get there! You will leave this session with an initial outline of your essay.[/accordion-item][accordion-item title=” Between sessions two and three: “]You will write the first draft of your essay(s). This will be your best effort at a draft.[/accordion-item][accordion-item title=” Session Three: “]We will confer on your draft(s). I will lead you through self-assessment of your draft and we will discuss revisions to your draft. Writing is a process of ‘re-visioning’ your work and we will take the task of seeing it in a fresh light very seriously. We will assess the structure of your statement and make sure that it conveys what you need it to convey. At the end of this third conference, you should have a fully-fleshed out draft, complete with the voice, style and language that expresses you appropriately.[/accordion-item][accordion-item title=” Between sessions three and four: “]You will continue to revise your draft(s), putting forth your best effort. Plan to bring to your fourth session the personal statement that you would send to the admissions committee.[/accordion-item][accordion-item title=” Session Four: “]We will go over your draft with a fine-toothed comb. You will apply principles of grammar and style, so that your draft is as polished as possible and speaks with your voice. You will hone your skills as an editor and we will celebrate your amazing accomplishment![/accordion-item][/accordion]
Please note that I will try our best to address all of your essays within the confines of the (typically) four sessions offered in my standard coaching package. If you are applying to many colleges, or you have many essay prompts, then your writing process may very well require more sessions.
