Frequently Asked Questions
Good writing begins with a lot of questions. Ask me yours.
For local students, I am happy to meet in person in my home office or at the public library. For out-of-town students, and for local students for whom virtual sessions are more convenient, we will meet on Zoom. During the drafting process, we will work on Google documents to share writing and comments.
Yes. I’m happy to work with and recommend highly regarded college counselors. I welcome collaboration with my student, parents, and college counselor to ensure the student’s narrative in all parts of the the application is consistent.
I encourage students to start writing their personal statements during the summer before senior year. Once colleges and universities release supplemental essay prompts in late August, we will start those, as well.
Parents are a valuable part of the process, especially during the brainstorming portion. I’m always open to suggestions from parents who know their child best. Typically, it’s best for parents to keep a healthy distance during the writing process so as not to muddle the essays with too many varying opinions.
Your child might be perfectly capable of independently developing and writing essays. However, an objective eye without personal judgement or emotional investment can be a great resource in identifying when the dots aren’t connecting for others the way they are in one’s head. Many parents want to oversee the process themselves. Personally speaking, I ended up hiring a college consultant/essay coach for my own son rather than engage in daily arguments about deadlines, etc. Enlisting an essay coach often relieves stress for the whole family.