Philosophy & Approach
No two students or families are the same.
Instead of a one-size-fits-most approach, we’ll begin with a conversation to talk about desired outcomes and deadlines and then design a schedule together. Whether we spend the whole year or just four sessions working together, my goal is to meet you where you are and encourage each student to push themselves to walk away proud of their work.
Empowerment through ownership
For students applying to colleges, I expect a degree of independence and ownership of assignments. I am available to do sit-in study halls for those who work better with immediate guidance and feedback, but I encourage students to attempt new drafts on their own before we meet again.
Six Stories
Students come in with an essay topic in mind, a completed draft, or sometimes nothing at all. Regardless of your starting line, every student will complete the ‘six stories’ assignment, which saves a lot of time later.
A good public speaker, politician, or pitch always has key points to deliver regardless of the question being asked. Applications are much the same. Together, we’ll work on identifying a student’s favorite or strongest traits, and what ‘six stories’ best show off those qualities. It’s a great warm-up exercise to start thinking about how to share yourself on paper, and it’s extremely helpful leg-work! The idea is that one of those stories may turn into the main essay, or they may later be used to plug-in answers to supplemental questions that creep up during the process.
In-Person or Online
I am available to meet in person for clients who are based in Los Angeles, California, but online is the easiest way to connect, especially for writing clients. We’ll spend our sessions looking at drafts together, dissecting delivery, polishing grammar, and making sure every word counts.
Cultivating a positive mindset
Writing about yourself can be hard and even awkward. Getting to know students’ interests and passions is a big part of our sessions. Essays with a positive spin and those that include a student’s sense of humor benefit not only how a student comes across in an application, but also encourage students to see themselves in that light.