College Essay Coaching
I am a literature and writing teacher who loves coaching high school seniors through the college application process. The personal statement essay is a student’s opportunity to stand out by showcasing their personal character and talent as a writer. I am located in Cary/Apex, and I offer in-person coaching to students in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area and virtual coaching to students outside of the area. Most of my students attend schools such as the University of North Carolina and NC State University. I have also helped students earn acceptance to prestigious schools such as Princeton, Columbia, Duke, United States Military Academies, and equivalent schools.
I pride myself on transparent pricing and expectations. While my instruction varies depending on the student and their goals, I follow the schedule of objectives below. My flat rate pricing of $750 includes: three in-person or virtual meetings, virtual feedback on three supplemental essays (additional supplemental essays are $50 each), and email/phone support throughout the entire application process.
Day 1 Objectives
Get to know each other through icebreaker questions about values and experiences
Introduce CommonApp (or Coalition) and select top two essay prompts for the personal statement
Brainstorm 3-4 examples for each essay prompt
Determine which essay prompt is most appropriate for student
Review sample essays from three of my former students (who attend Princeton, West Point, and UNC), focusing on structure and strategy
Introduce the rhetorically savvy college essay
Outline essay together
Homework: student turns the outline into a rough draft
Day 2 Objectives
Review rough draft focusing on content organization
Introduce guidelines for writing narration and storytelling using examples
Add narrative elements throughout the essay, focusing on the hook and amplification
Introduce commonly used clichés and how to avoid them
Homework: edit rough draft using feedback
Day 3 Objectives
Review draft focusing on style
Improve sentence structure and syntax
Incorporate literary elements, schemes, and tropes
Incorporate varied punctuation
Introduce supplemental essays
Homework: finalize main essay using feedback and begin supplementals
Day 4 Objectives
Review three supplemental essays and edit based on feedback