My Program

Here it is, my secret, not-so-secret sauce:

Book a free, no obligation, 15 minute session with me

As soon as you book your time slot, I’ll send you an email with your pre-meeting homework so we are both prepared. I want to know:

• • Who is the most important person in your life?
  • What’s your ideal Saturday night?
  • What is an activity you would never, ever do?

We meet (on Zoom)

We meet and I’m immediately your biggest fan. I’ll interview you to get to know you, asking questions that encourage you to talk about yourself. You’ll be surprised how easy this is, and in hearing yourself talk, you realize that you actually are pretty unique. I’ll take notes during this process, and by the end of our meeting we have accomplished two things:

• • We’ve figured out the subject for your first essay. (HINT: It’s not what I think is best, and it’s not what you think is most marketable. It’s whatever makes your face light up while we’re talking. I’ll know it when I see it and, odds are, you’ll feel it. It’s a little bit magical.)
  • I’ve gotten to know a bit more about you, and you’ve gotten a feel for my vibe and whether or not you are comfortable with me. This is so important! These essays are going to be very personal, and you absolutely should feel comfortable and safe with the person helping you write them. I hope you’ll feel this way with me, but I will understand if you don’t!

Then we get to work…

We meet for one hour every week and we work on your essays in that hour. First we tackle subject, then structure, then tone. Mostly this consists of me asking you questions about what exactly, in increasing detail, you are trying to get me to understand and feel with your essay. I am understanding and supportive of you and do my best to amplify YOUR unique voice. Then YOU do the work of honing the piece to elicit that understanding in me.

And we POP the bubble…

When we think a piece is just about done, you give it to a third person of your choice for a fresh read. It can be a friend, a parent, a trusted teacher, whoever. You give it to them and you give them a short list of questions to answer. These questions are objective: they are designed to make sure that you and I aren’t too wrapped up in our bubble and that the average person will get what we want them to get out of your essay, regardless of their opinion of your voice and subject.

Rinse & repeat…

Rinse and repeat for the next twelve weeks until all your essays are written.

• • *Note: We make sure all your essays are complete at least one week before submission deadline. We DO NOT take chances with a school’s site crashing at the last minute!

Relax…

You RELAX knowing that you did your best possible work, and focus on enjoying the rest of your senior year. You are proud because you’ve just spent twelve weeks honing one of life’s most critical and undervalued skills, and now you have it at your disposal for the rest of your academic and professional career.

Receive…

When the decisions start coming through I check up on you. Regardless of the outcome, I’m here to celebrate you and all your work and achievements!