Give your college essay wings

Big picture? I offer writing coaching that puts you in the driver’s seat.

You’ll gain a clear understanding of the purpose of the essay, who your audience is and how to make your narrative compelling.

Throughout the process, your writing capacity will blossom. You’ll develop clarity, build confidence, find flow and express your voice.

The best part?
After you press submit, you’ll know you gave your all to the admission process.

Let's do this

Get a leg up on the odds

 

The college application process is a mixture of luck and agency. You put your very best foot forward (agency) and then a combination of factors can make you stand out and get accepted to one of the colleges on your list (luck). A persuasive package of transcripts, accomplishments, activities and recommendations can help you put your foot in the door. An effective, vivid essay can open the door all the way.

As a college essay coach, I work with students to ensure the odds break in their favor. I coach—and coax—students to explore core values, focus on their most authentic gifts, craft a compelling message, and write essays that make a distinctive impression with college admissions officers. The results can be literally life-changing.

A genuine, original essay requires a commitment to self-reflection and a willingness to discover your truth. Students may end up a little surprised by what their essay reveals about them. But like any quest, a few plot twists can lead them on the exact path they need to find their own buried treasure.

Leveraging my background as a journalist for national magazines and as the co-author of two books, my goal is to guide students toward developing a meaningful narrative specific to their unique passion(s). The WOW method I have been trained in is built on proven tools and decision-making guidelines, with clear instructions to help students succeed. The intentional process turns applying to college into a rich exploration of selfhood, a discovery of voice, and an opportunity to claim one’s signature superpowers.

Explore the process
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Start young

Jk. Start where you are. Start close in.
And by all means, start early, as in before October of your senior year.

Getting your college essay out of the way the summer before you start senior year makes for a solid strategy. Senior year is packed with activities, exams, applications, college visits, social events, sport competitions, concerts and plays. You don’t want to leave a deep dive into a finely-tuned essay till the last minute. Believe me, your future self will thank you for allowing the time it takes. And yet sometimes you do find yourself struggling last minute to pull your essay together. It happens. I’m here for you.

One last thing. If, by chance, you are wondering why you can’t simply use AI to help you craft your college essay, consider that AI writing has severe limitations. To name a few: it sorely lacks originality, can be easily detected, is clarity-compromised, utilizes a dully repetitive sentence structure, has zero ability to convey emotion, and most importantly—tells us nothing about the writer. Although AI does have many exciting as well as terrifying applications, college essays is not one of them.

Get the essay support you need to navigate the college admissions process with ease and confidence..

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Here’s the tea

  • A woman with curly hair smiling outdoors.

    Elizabeth guided our son on his college essay with patience and insight. She helped him articulate his story in a way that felt meaningful to who he is. The final essay was thoughtful, beautifully written, and submitted on time, thanks in large part to her dedication. Her commitment and expertise exceeded all expectations.

    Lindsay Heppner

  • Close-up of a woman with wavy brown hair smiling outdoors, wearing a white top with black polka dots.

    When Elizabeth worked with my daughter on her college essays and summer internship applications, the words flowed more eloquently and the final product was impressive. Whether it’s brainstorming, crafting or refining, I highly recommend Elizabeth as your guide!

    Tara Brockman

  • A young woman with long dark hair smiling outdoors in front of green trees, wearing a sleeveless top and a delicate necklace.

    Thanks to Elizabeth’s guidance, my essay transformed into a compelling narrative that truly represented who I am. I felt confident submitting my application and I am excited to see where this journey takes me. Elizabeth is knowledgeable and encouraging which made her the perfect guide for my college essay writing process.

    Alayna Quinn