college essay helper

College Essay Guy One-on-One Consulting Services & Pricing

Work with one of our experienced college essay coaches that specialize in helping students brainstorm, draft, and craft their best possible college essays and applications..

Each year, our team helps rising seniors craft outstanding college applications and essays, assisting them on their journey to amazing colleges and universities around the country . . . and the world.

Ready to get started? Reach out to your Program Advisor, or fill out the form linked above and we'll be in touch.

Lasya • Former Student

Aarón (he/him) is a first-generation college graduate based in South Texas. He holds a B.A. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University and, currently, he is pursuing a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley, where he is working on a thesis that centers on US-Mexico border life. Aarón is passionate about access to higher education, and he is especially excited to help students articulate their dreams, desires and struggles in what he argues is one of the most challenging literary forms–the personal essay. He believes in radical "word vomit" stages to writing just as much as in incisive editing ones. He is also mindful of the need for creative rest, which allows one to destress from the pressure of churning out ideas by taking time to appreciate and enjoy the creative work of others. Away from his computer you can find Aarón at the gym, at the beach, or reading a book. He loves novels, and he loves talking about them just as much! He is happy to "talk books” anytime. He is currently working on his own fiction novel inspired by the small village communities in Mexico where his parents grew up.

Allison R. (she/her) holds a BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch and an MFA in Dramatic Writing from the Savannah College of Art & Design, where she achieved the singular Master’s Outstanding Academic Achievement award for the School of Liberal Arts. A lifelong storyteller and established playwright, Allison has over a decade of experience working with students on their college essays, Musical Theater and Acting auditions, and SAT/ACT preparation. Her goal as an essay coach is to provide every student with the tools to carry them far beyond college applications as both a writer and confident champion of their own story. She firmly believes that every student has a story worth telling and that if they can get their authentic self, unique personality, and humor to shine through on the page, anything is possible. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she can be found writing in coffee shops, performing with her musical improvisational comedy team, and continuing her pursuit of storytelling at the highest level in theatre and television.

Andy (he/him) attended Stanford and Oxford, earning degrees in Political Science and Drama. He has taught college classes in Los Angeles in Critical Thinking, Sociology, Anthropology of Media, English Composition, and Public Speaking, has helped students gain entrance to Stanford, the Ivies, U Chicago, Northwestern, and other top 25 schools every year for the past decade, and is particularly interested in working to address issues of equity and access in higher education. He has worked with hundreds of students over his career and has spent time living in California, England, Montana, and briefly New Zealand. Over his career, he’s developed a passion for intentional wandering, both in life and in the wilderness. Some of his most valued experiences in that regard include trekking 100km with his brothers to Machu Picchu during a 100-year storm, joining a Maori tribe in New Zealand, and wandering through Patagonia with his wife, Sage.

Brendan (he/him) holds an MA from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College, and a newly acquired MBA from the University of Maine. As an educator, he taught in various locations ranging from the bustling streets of Brooklyn to the sunny boulevards of Florida. He is always eager to help students discover and hone their unique writer's voice. He founded a college essay club to assist students in preparing for academic endeavors of the application process and beyond. His preferred method involves collecting sparks, gathering bursts of inspiration, then methodically exploring the ideas, refining thoughts, and refining authentic stories, enabling students to unearth the golden and arduous moments and craft narratives as captivating as any novel. Brendan believes every student has a symphony of thoughts worth hearing; his job is to conduct them in harmony.

Calvin (he/him) studied English Literature at Vassar College and went on to graduate from the prestigious Columbia Teacher’s College at Columbia University. He is a passionate advocate of college access and has guided hundreds of students through the college admissions process and helped students craft essays that have helped them gain admission to some of the most selective colleges in the U.S. He is a passionate reader, writer, and all-around communicator with a deep love of narrative. Having worked in both a classroom setting as an English instructor and through one-on-one college counseling and mentoring, Calvin seeks to leverage structure in writing to elevate students’ stories and help them access their highest college aspirations.

Cat (she/her) is an educator, student advocate, and writing coach with twenty years of experience teaching, editing, and writing. Using what she's learned from teaching every grade level from kindergarten through college, she aspires to meet each writer where they are in the process. She loves to work with students to create written work that is both authentic and intentional. Cat grew up in New England, lived in the Marshall Islands and then California for many years, and now resides in Northwest Montana, where she teaches writing at a tribal college. She spends her free time outside hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, and camping with her family. She loves baking desserts, taking really long road trips, and listening to all kinds of music. Cat earned a BA in English from Dartmouth College and an MA and PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Courtney (she/her) has worked in college admissions and college counseling for nearly a decade. After earning her B.S.B.A and MBA from Elon University, Courtney found herself in a critical leadership position within college admissions, influencing recruitment strategy, scholarship review and strategic planning. While her leadership grew, Courtney missed making authentic connections with students and decided to became a college counselor. Empowering students to realize and tell their stories is a passion for Courtney. Her energy, empathy and professional experience lends itself to her coaching style that leaves students feeling confident after every session. She has read thousands of essays as a reviewer and assisted hundreds in crafting their story. Courtney is active within the profession serving on regional professional boards, leading national identity-based groups and serving on college admissions counselor advisory boards. When Courtney is not navigating the college admissions process, you can find her at OrangeTheory Fitness, walking her dog, Simba, on the phone with friends, or trying new restaurants in Atlanta.

Diane (she/her) has worked as a university English professor, taught literature and cultural studies at an independent secondary school, and directed writing programs. But coaching and running workshops on college essays the past decade has been her most joyful and meaningful work. Her approach to coaching is both collaborative and inquisitive, with a goal of seeing this writing as an opportunity to help writers develop their unique, most powerful voice and to understand their own value and dreams through the process of personal writing. After 25+ years in teaching, she started a new career path as a freelance writer. Her current writing project explores the relationship between Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, their music and their fans, questioning if and how this relationship is establishing a new wave of feminism. A native Californian, Diane received her B.A. in English from UC Santa Barbara, then moved East where she earned her M.A. in English at Boston College and her Ph.D. in American Studies from Boston University. Ask her which of her Boston alma maters she roots for in the annual Beanpot hockey tournament. Currently, Diane lives in central New Hampshire, but dreams of living in London and Florence someday. When not writing or collaborating with writers, Diane can be found spinning new vinyl of all genres, hiking and skiing every mountain in New England and beyond, getting her zen on doing yoga and surfing, or playing with her SEVEN pets. She is so excited to get to work with you.

Elica (she/her) was born and raised in Southern California. She attended an arts high school, where she specialized in creative writing, and holds a BA from UCLA and an MA from CSULB (both in linguistics). While pursuing a PhD, she researched topics in the field of Writing Studies and taught academic writing at UC Santa Barbara. Beyond academics, Elica has been an essay coach and specialist for over seven years, working with students who were applying to four-year universities as well as various types of graduate school. She is committed to and passionate about helping students navigate the admissions essay genre while helping them gain confidence in their agency as young writers. You can find her (still) living in Southern California with her partner (+ two Italian greyhounds & lovebird), where she likes to spend her time reading, writing, and printmaking.

Jennifer (she/her) holds two degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, a BA in East Asian Studies and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School. She worked as an analyst on Wall Street for eight years before leaving to focus on raising her two daughters. She began her work in college admissions consulting as a volunteer for ScholarMatch, an organization dedicated to helping high-achieving low-income students through the college admissions process. She also tutors students preparing for the ACT and SAT. Students she has worked with have received acceptances to Harvard, Williams, Yale, Brown, U Penn, Cornell, Dartmouth, and UVA, among others. Outside of work she is a member of the Board of Trustees of her local public school and a docent for school groups at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Cloisters location. She serves on the board of Graham Windham, a child welfare organization, and the Bronxville Historical Conservancy.

Jon (he/him) knows well the value and power of writing from a place of personal truth. Originally from Houston, Texas, he holds a BA in English from Harvard University and an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. He teaches English, Writing, Script Analysis and SAT/ACT Prep classes throughout California. As an essay coach and college admissions consultant, he has helped thousands of students from various backgrounds gain admission to top colleges and universities, including the Ivies, the UCs, MIT, CalTech, UChicago, NYU, Williams, Swarthmore, UMichigan and many, many more. As a storyteller, he is committed to helping students find their personal voices to craft authentic stories that reflect the range of human experience.

Jade (she/her) brings nine years of professional college admission experience to her coaching role with College Essay Guy. After graduating from Loyola University New Orleans with an English Degree, she began an exciting and fulfilling career in college admission. Jade has worked in multiple admission offices, most recently Agnes Scott College, where she served as Associate Director of Admission and made final admission and scholarship decisions. Driven by a desire to work more closely with students and supporters, Jade transitioned to school-based college counseling and most recently served as the Dean of College Counseling at Atlanta Girls’ School. Jade leverages her experience in selective college admission to counsel students on how to develop competitive applications, while encouraging wellness, self-advocacy, and celebration in their process. Jade recently completed three years of service on the Southern Association of College Admission Counseling (SACAC) Board of Directors, an organization that awarded her the 2020 Rising Star Award. Jade is an active NACAC member and has been selected for the 2024-2025 NACAC Next cohort of emerging admission leaders. When she isn’t helping students confidently and creatively craft their stories, she enjoys getting lost in novels, bragging about New Orleans to anyone who’ll listen, and spending time with a little black cat named Elphaba!

Mahika (she/her) hails from the bustling streets of New York City. She attended a competitive Ivy League Prep School in NYC and later graduated from the University of Chicago. There, she earned a BA in both Psychology (Honors) and Comparative Human Development before fast tracking her way to an MA in Social Science during her senior year. Now, as a behavioral scientist, she works to craft lasting change in a variety of prosocial contexts. An avid reader and seasoned traveler, she's traversed landscapes both literal and literary, soaking up stories from every corner of the globe. But her true passion lies in guiding others through the labyrinth of college applications. Having felt the frustration of brilliant ideas lost in translation, she's made it her mission to help students unlock the perfect prose to tell their tales. So, whether you're struggling to find the right words or just need a sounding board, Mahika’s got your back.

Laura G has been in education for over a decade, with ten years of experience as a classroom teacher of students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. She has worked in general education as a middle school English teacher, and as a special education teacher and case manager in a variety of settings, including as a high school math co-teacher, elementary resource teacher, and middle school modified language arts teacher. As a tutor, she has spent the past eight years working with students on test prep for standardized tests (SAT/ACT/ISEE/HSPT), college essays, and executive functioning and study skills. Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northeastern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts University, and also maintains teaching certifications in California and Massachusetts, having taught in both states. She has worked extensively with students with learning differences (ADHD, autism, specific learning disabilities, dyslexia, etc), and loves breaking down challenging concepts into concrete steps, as well as leveraging student strengths and interests to build success. She strives to figure out what level of understanding students are coming in with, and meets them where they’re at to create a gradual but meaningful learning plan targeted to each student’s individual needs. In 2023, she transitioned from full-time classroom teaching to working with students primarily online, which has allowed her to provide more individualized instruction, support students at their own pace and instructional levels, work with students and families across the US, and learn from incredible educators from around the world. In every session, Laura aims to create a relationship-based non-intimidating learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, taking risks, and making mistakes to learn in the way that works best for them. When she is not working with students and families, she sings in a choir and two rock bands, writes music, and enjoys hiking around Los Angeles.

Marvin (he/him) is an education enthusiast and advocate. His parents cultivated his interest in learning at a young age and he strives to cultivate that same curiosity in young people today. After graduating from the Trinity School in NYC, Marvin studied Sociology and French at Colgate University. He also completed a graduate degree in Education Entrepreneurship at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the College Essay Guy team, Marvin served as a teacher, college admission officer and university development officer. He worked at various institutions, including Babson College, American University and MIT. As a nonprofit professional with a background in K-12 and higher education, Marvin thinks about the full education lifecycle of a learner. He strongly believes that the college admission process is about reflecting and taking stock of one's goals, interests, skills and personal mission. As a college counselor, Marvin has helped many students pursue their postsecondary education goals who have attended top colleges all around the US.

Rene (she/her) is a veteran educator who has taught academic writing courses at Duke University for a decade as well as advised faculty there on increasing inclusivity through effective intercultural communication. As a writing coach, she has supported Duke undergraduate students, law school students, and Ph.D. candidates in addition to working privately with high school students on their college application essays. She enjoys guiding students to develop narratives that share personal insights and that invite their readers into another world. Rene has worked with students who have been accepted to some of the country’s top schools. Her past experience includes teaching undergraduates in Puerto Rico as well as serving as an undergraduate admissions reader for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives out in the countryside near Chapel Hill.

Sofia (she/her) is committed to helping students making education count and living bigger lives. She has worked with hundreds of students, designed and led college application essay workshops and helped students write powerful stories to gain admission to the college of their dreams. Sofia is the author of Journeys to the Heart, a book about social entrepreneurs, failed ideas and change-makers in Indonesia. She has lived in Asia and Europe and has worked as a strategy consultant in Washington DC. Sofia graduated from Brown University majoring in international relations. She holds a masters in European political science from L’institute des Sciences Politiques and a Masters in diplomacy and international business from Georgetown University. She loves theater, any kind of science and politics, modern art, board games, painting, mindful practices, kickboxing, a good read, empowering conversations and her amazing family. She believes in the power of young people’s ideas and creativity to make positive impacts throughout their lives.

Semilore (she/her) is a doctoral candidate in the English Department at Brown University. She holds a B.A. in African & African-American Studies and Comparative Literature from Stanford University, as well as a M.A. in English from Brown. As a graduate student, she has worked on both research and teaching, leading her own seminar classes as well as working one-on-one with students as a writing center associate for the Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning. She's been lucky enough to work with students applying to various levels of postsecondary institutions and fellowships, but keeps a special place in her heart for the undergraduate college application experience. Semilore is excited to continue to help introduce students to one of her favorite genres of writing: the personal essay. Other things that excite her include trashy romance novels, blue raspberry slushies, and Mariah Carey. She is currently working on adding yoga to that list.

Tom (he/him) is an eternally "extra" Gemini who has spent the past seven years helping students and families navigate the college admissions process. Before joining College Essay Guy full-time as our inaugural Community Manager, he worked as a college counselor at a selective Seattle independent school and an admissions officer at Pomona College and the College of the Holy Cross (his alma mater). After college, Tom spent a year as a Jesuit Volunteers/AmeriCorps member at Catholic Charities Spokane, where he served as an Operations Assistant for a family services program called CAPA (Childbirth and Parenting Assistance). During this program, Tom lived with fellow volunteers who committed themselves to four core values: simple living, community, spirituality, and social and ecological justice. Tom first connected with CEG after reading a poignant essay from a Matchlighters student during his time in admissions at Pomona, and — thanks to additional advocacy from Ethan and some fighting spirit in the admissions committee room — this student was admitted on a full scholarship! He stans em dashes and semicolons, Kacey Musgraves (all eras, not just star crossed and Golden Hour), superior breakfast burritos, and alliterative moments. He works out begrudgingly, sings and dances feverishly, complains about space tourism incessantly, and uses way too many exclamation points. (He just took one out of that last sentence). Sitting here penning this bio, he’s reminded how challenging writing about oneself can be and how high stakes and it can feel — so you’ll find nothing but empathy and solidarity from him as you embark on your college essay journey!

Julia Byrd (she/her) graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University and earned her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Illinois State University. One of her first jobs was as a copy editor and proofreader for a major stock brokerage firm (despite no formal editing or financial background), where she became even more enamored with effective, accurate communication. For 20 years, she’s been a content marketer, helping businesses tell their stories through compelling website and blog copy. She began as an essay specialist in 2018 and loves partnering with students on their admissions journey to help them recognize their worth; draw unique connections among their life experiences, values, and college and career goals; and develop writing skills that will last students a lifetime. Students with whom she’s worked have been accepted to (and found homes at) their top-choice institutions, including Columbia, NYU, USC, UT-Austin, University of Miami, and Washington University. When she’s not writing and editing, she enjoys traveling with her daughter to see Imagine Dragons, watching and analyzing “Shark Tank” with her son, and relaxing with her husband and Carolina Dog.

Margaret (she/her) is a passionate English educator who has worked in New York City public schools for more than a decade. As English Department Chair of her school, she provided Instructional Coaching for her department, growing other English teachers into more effective educators. She received two Bachelor of the Arts degrees, one in Comparative Literature and one in Spanish Language, from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and she is fluent in Spanish. Afterward, she went on to study English Education at Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Margaret has taught countless writing courses, including AP English Language and Composition, as well as several Creative Writing classes. She also developed a College Essay writing curriculum herself, gently guiding hundreds of students through the process. Margaret firmly believes that creating an emotionally safe learning environment is essential to student growth and as a result, works hard to make sure students see her as a trustworthy ally and cheerleader. Her main objective always is to build her students’ confidence and empower them to feel comfortable taking academic and creative risks. Personal Narrative is her favorite genre to teach, as she sees it as an opportunity for incredible developmental and academic growth.

Helena (she/her) has over 35 years experience working in higher education at colleges and law schools where she focused on admissions, student counseling, student leadership programs and community development. After many years as an independent education consultant working with high school students, she now brings her calming presence and warm, student-focused approach to helping students and families during the college application process. She also serves as a seasonal admissions application reader for a liberal arts college in Los Angeles. (As a native New Yorker, she is constantly surprised by how much she enjoys living in LA!) When not at work, Helena rides her road bike (longest ride - 70 miles!), loves the beach, reads books recommended by her daughters, lifts medium-heavyish weights, and is mildly obsessed with American Ninja Warrior. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University with a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies and earned her Masters of Education degree from Harvard University with concentrations in higher education planning and counseling.

Morgan is the Director of College Counseling at College Essay Guy after spending her entire 20+ year career in college admissions and counseling. During her eight-year tenure in college admissions, she was an application reader and oversaw admission to an undergraduate business school as a Senior Assistant Director of Admissions. She also spent 13 years supporting domestic and international students through the college admissions process at two independent day and boarding schools in Massachusetts and North Carolina. At CEG, she prioritizes helping students be as successful as possible in the competitive landscape of highly selective admissions, while building rapport and trust with both students and parents. Recognized as a ‘Counselor That Changes Lives’ by the Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) organization, Morgan promotes “a college search that focuses on the individual student and finding a college that will cultivate the student's lifelong love of learning.” Her students have been accepted at a wide range of colleges, including most of the Top 50 (US News Rankings) and many highly selective liberal arts colleges. Here are just a handful of the colleges she’s had students admitted to recently: NYU, USC, Tufts, Georgia Tech, CMU, UNC-Chapel Hill, all UC campuses, UVA, MIT, Emory, Princeton, Columbia, Duke, Villanova, Wisconsin, Lehigh, Middlebury, Northeastern, University of Florida, University of Rochester, Boston College, McGill, Purdue, RPI, Case Western, Loyola Marymount, George Washington, UC Boulder, TCU, UGA, University of Washington, and many more. Not only is Morgan competitive with her approach to college admissions, but she also loves playing cards and board games, having fun with her spunky 9-year-old daughter, and traveling with her family. She’s a New England transplant based in the amazing college town of Chapel Hill, NC.

Cindy R • Parent

Hattie b. stanford university, aarav m. cornell university, nira k. parent, john • parent, up to 3 schools/ programs.

• Common App main personal statement (650 words)
• Supplemental essays for up to THREE schools/programs (Typically 5-10+ essays)
• Common App Activities List
• Common App Additional Information statement (650 words)
• Internal Committee Team Reviews of Your Essays
• Dedicated Family Liaison
• Bonus: Access to our signature college essay courses for students

Up to 6 Schools/ Programs

• Supplemental essays for up to SIX schools/programs (Typically 8-12+ essays)

Up to 10 Schools/ Programs

• Supplemental essays for up to TEN schools/programs (Typically 15-20+ essays)

Premium Essay Support

• All components in our essay coaching packages
• Feedback and guidance from Ethan throughout the process
• Regular sessions with your essay specialist
• Package customized to your needs
• CEG’s Admissions Committee Review™

Applying to more than 10 colleges? Adding schools after getting started? Additional schools can be added on at the start for an additional fee of $600 per college.

The University of California application system requires extensive essay and activities list requirements, so is counted as two schools/programs in essay packages, but may be used to apply to all 9 UC campuses

If students are applying to specialized programs that require additional essays beyond the required essays for their undergraduate admissions application, we may often consider those as two colleges. These programs may include but are not limited to honors colleges, BS/MD programs, specialized business programs, the US service academies, film, theater, arts, or other creative programs. Inquire for more details about your specific programs. See below in the FAQ for a longer list of programs. Please note that most scholarships and honors colleges do not require additional essays.

The packages above include assistance with the college essay components noted in the packages above and do not include college admissions counseling or college list development guidance, which is a separate service provided by our veteran college counselors. See more below about these options, or ask us to learn more.

Intake & Review

Your college counselor will review your background, including transcripts, school profile, resume, college preferences, and more.

One-on-One Meetings

You'll work with your counselor over several 1:1 meetings to get strategic support on your college list, ED/EA strategy, major selection, and or more, depending on your needs.

Comprehensive Follow-Up Report

We'll follow-up from your meetings with a comprehensive report that summarizes our recommendations and outlines next steps for you.

Adrienne (she/her) has over a decade of experience in selective college admissions, as both a college admissions counselor and a high school counselor. She previously served as a Senior Admissions Counselor at Vanderbilt University, where she evaluated thousands of applications while also being charged with various recruitment initiatives. Most recently, Adrienne has counseled high school students in a selective private school in Nashville, where she aims to help students and families navigate all aspects of the college search and application process. Before entering into college counseling, Adrienne earned a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Delaware and a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Peabody at Vanderbilt University. Outside of her work, Adrienne is a highly accomplished professional figure skater and coach, having toured and performed in various countries around the globe. She also loves running, writing and keeping up with her two daughters.

• B.A. Philosophy and Political Science
• M.Ed. Interdisciplinary Education
• Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education

• B.A. Psychology
• M.A. School Counseling
• Ed.S. Educational Leadership & Administration

Scott brings extensive experience in university admissions and high school college counseling. He was an admission officer at Middlebury College in Vermont for eight years, handling all facets of both domestic and international admissions. Eager to experience the high school side of admissions and to live abroad, Scott moved overseas in 2014 and spent the following nine years working as a university counselor at independent schools in Hong Kong (five years) and Vancouver, Canada (four years). Scott has worked closely with American and international students and families, and has extensive knowledge of the admissions processes of the US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia and Europe. He believes strongly in the philosophy of "best fit" in university admission, and loves getting to know his students and their families to help make the university admissions process as positive, comfortable, and stress-free as possible for all involved. The father of two (now adult) children, Scott has an understanding of the process from both the parent and counselor perspective. Born and raised in Maine, Scott earned a BA in social anthropology from Harvard University, and spent most of his adult life in Vermont before moving abroad. Scott’s interests include cycling, Nordic skiing, travel, food/wine/cooking, music, and good conversation. He currently splits time between Hong Kong and New England.

College Counseling Add-On Service

• Comprehensive & actionable follow-up report
• Custom college list development
• EA/ED strategy, intended major selection, and more
• Other admissions topics of your choice, as time allows

12th Grade College Counseling Package

• Longer-term planning and support
• Support on waitlists, letters of continued interest, admissions decisions, financial aid & appeals, and more.

- Donna J. • Parent

Yep! Though the company is called College Essay Guy (because that's what Ethan has become known for in the industry), we have a good deal of expertise (a combined 150+ years experience) counseling students through the process, as well as counselors on our team with decades of experience working with students and in college admissions offices. In short: we can do it all.

Online via Zoom, email and Google docs. We have an essay management platform to help you stay organized and collaborate with us throughout the process.

After we have a chance to review the pre-work of your student, we like to assign coaches based on each student's individual personality, writing style, targeted schools, and the “parent homework” questionnaire. All of the coaches I work with are amazing at what they do and have experience working with students of various writing abilities and learning and working styles, so you are in great hands no matter who you work with. But we know that chemistry is an important factor to the essay coaching process so we like to make sure it’ll be a good fit.

• Scholarship programs with essays beyond the requirements for the undergraduate application (UNC's Morehead Cain scholarship, etc.)

Each year, we have dozens of students that go on the Ivies, as well as every other top school. See links at the top of this page our most recent acceptances. We’re fortunate to work with lots of highly motivated and high-achieving students.

It's important to note that our services are advisory in nature and we can't (of course) guarantee admission to a highly selective school. But we can help you put together the best possible application and essays to demonstrate your gifts, skills and values.

No. Beyond being unethical, that would be doing you a great disservice to you and also undermine the transformative element of this process. The essays submitted will be the original work of the student. 

We work with students through a tried-and-true process of brainstorming topics to polishing the final drafts. We find it super important that the college essay and application be grounded in an in-depth brainstorming process and some discussion to help you get to the point where you’ve found your deepest stories and are comfortable tackling your first draft. And that sometimes takes a session or two or three.

As a result of this, we don’t offer hourly help and prefer to avoid giving essay feedback without the context of all of the other things that you’ve accomplished or experienced in your rich and colorful life. We’ve also found that it’s so important to have the flexibility to meet as many times as necessary to help you have great essays. It gives you (the student) and our specialist the freedom to spend time getting to know each other, to experiment and get creative, and to try things out without concern for how much time you’ve spent so far, or have left.

The process may take a bit longer. That’s okay with us.

We highly recommend developing a balanced college list. Most students, for example, fixate on 1 or 2 highly selective (usually Ivy League) schools, but we find the students who are most happy with the process are those who have developed a wide range (usually 8 - 12 schools) with around 3 reach, 4 maybe, and 3 likely.

In terms of sample essays,  here are a few essays written by past students.

Students are welcome to upgrade their package at any point by paying $600 per additional college.  

We recommend that students try to have at least 3 of the colleges they’ll be working on with us prior to their first meeting, and to finalize all of the colleges they’ll be working on with us prior to the 4th meeting to help set students up for effective brainstorming and essay content strategy. This also helps us to guarantee that our coach will be available to assist with any additional colleges.

Most importantly, this will help students and coaches to work most effectively in their initial brainstorming meetings to select topics and map out a strategy that will allow them to see where there is opportunity for overlap on topics. In our experience, this helps students reduce the overall amount of writing, focus their energy more efficiently, and ultimately write better college essays.

Absolutely. We’ll be happy to set up a call to walk you through the process and answer any questions you have.

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Improve your college essays through feedback

CollegeVine’s fast and secure essay peer review system lets you:

Learn where your essay is strong and where it can improve

Improve your writing by reviewing other students’ essays

It’s free — learn how

What current seniors are saying

Differentiating yourself is more important than ever.

With more schools going test optional, college essays can help you stand out from the rest, and they can often make the difference between a rejection and acceptance.

Essays are 25% of your application

Grades alone won’t get you accepted to your dream school. The college essay is an extremely important piece of your college application. Essays help you stand out from the rest.

Show your personality

Admissions officers want to better understand who you are through your essays. Showcasing your unique view of the world and the experiences that have led you to where you are is pivotal.

Become memorable to admissions

Admissions officers only spend a few minutes on each application. Ensure your essay will be memorable by getting honest feedback from people who don’t already know your story well.

Write amazing college essays

Stop guessing what admissions officers will take away from your college essay. Our community of peer reviewers will let you know and provide feedback. You’ll build confidence and improve your own writing by reviewing peer essays, which help you learn to read essays just like an admissions officer.

Learn what admissions officers are looking for

Get exposed to how admissions officers read and evaluate your essays. Our essay guides provide students with clear, actionable ways to write an authentic essay. We analyze real essays from the past to see what works to get accepted.

Get your essay reviewed by experts

We've helped with 100,000+ college essays—we've seen it all and we know what works. Submit your own essay or watch our team of experts critique other student essays LIVE. All viewers can ask questions and get help from the expert team at no cost.

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Join interactive livestreams about nearly every topic in the college process, hosted by college admissions experts.

Essays guidance and peer review

Submit your own essay for a review in less than 6 hours on the world’s first entirely free college essay review system.

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Ask questions and get quick and helpful answers from CollegeVine experts and a community of supportive peers.

How is CollegeVine free?

We believe that every student deserves expert guidance. To make that possible, access to the CollegeVine platform is free for students. We partner with colleges that pay to join our ecosystem and interact with students via virtual events and 1-1 connections.

There are zero ads on our site and you can rest assured that you are always in control of your personal data. Connections with colleges are student-initiated, meaning your profile is only shared if and when you opt-in.

College Essay Mentor

Admissions essay help from a published author.

Transform the Admissions Process

As a college essay consultant who specializes in helping self-motivated students gain admission to Ivy Plus universities, I want to transform the admissions experience. It is common for students to feel uncertain about college essays, which represent the last, best chance to differentiate themselves from other outstanding applicants. In a sequence of one-on-one meetings, I help students explore their personal values, identify meaningful themes, and write essays that will intrigue and impress admissions officers. As a personal guide for every draft of every essay, I create and manage a process that minimizes stress and maximizes success.

Get Exceptional Results

Students, parents and I share a goal: acceptances to top universities. Every year dozens of College Essay Mentor students defy low admissions rates and get accepted to the Ivy League, Stanford, MIT and other top schools. Credit belongs largely to my students' academic accomplishments and endeavors beyond the classroom. My contribution is to understand what "works" in the college admission context, to identify ideas that will make an impact and to elicit insights. I then to teach students how to craft essays that create compelling, personal portraits.

Total acceptances for College Essay Mentor students, 2020-2023

One-on-One Essay Packages

The hallmark of College Essay Mentor is providing guidance that is tailored to each student's the talents and goals. To provide full benefit of his knowledge and experience, Christopher Hunt works one-on-one with every one of his students, for every meeting, for every essay. His essay packages all include the personal essay, school-specific supplement essays, the activities list, and other counseling services.

College Essay Mentor Has Been Seen In

Write college application essays that get you admitted

with expert help from College Essay Advisors

One-on-One Advising

Work with one of CEA’s expert Advisors to conceptualize, edit and refine admissions essays that stick with admissions and make you stand out.

• YouTube Tutorials

Master each step of the admissions essay writing process and learn what it takes to craft a memorable submission one video at at time.

Why Choose College Essay Advisors?

Our Top Resources

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• Common App Essay Guide
• Supplemental Essay Guide
• UC Essay Guide
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Essay Coaching and Review

Designed for rising and current 12th graders.

Write Your Way In With Essays That Leave An Impression.

Whether you’re refining your essay or starting from the ground up, we’re here to help you craft a standout piece.

Of our students are admitted into at least one of their top choice schools.

Full Essay Coaching

The best option if you want to craft the ultimate essay from the ground up or need to discuss your current draft’s narrative. Your admissions consultants will take you from topic planning to final draft.

Price Option Pulldown

Essay Review

A great option if you already know what you want to write about and you’d mostly benefit from an expert admissions consultant helping you perfect your style, tone, and message.

You’re a unique person, with unique experiences and ambitions, but how do you best show this in a response to an essay prompt? With Full Essay Coaching, your expert Admissions Consultant will guide you from beginning to end and make sure your strongest attributes come through clearly and concisely.

This is a great option for the Common App personal statement, reach schools, and other high-stakes situations.

Highlights:

How it works:, we get to know you in detail and match you with the perfect consultant, we brainstorm and strategize your essay topic during live, face-to-face calls, we work with you to edit and improve your draft – as many times as it takes, we help you finish with a perfect stand-out essay.

You have a good start on your essay, but you want an expert to help you perfect it? PrepScholar Admissions Consultants are top-notch writers who know exactly what colleges are looking for. No matter your background or school choices, they’ll help you wordsmith and perfect your essay so you can present your thoughts in the best possible manner.

This is an affordable option for lower-stakes situations and almost-ready essays that require some polishing before they’re submissions-ready.

Upload your rough essay draft

Receive a complete evaluation and revision – up to 5 rounds, finish with a completely polished essay, see for yourself.

Curious to see the process in action? See two samples of our essay review and revision process for real essays. SAMPLE ONE | SAMPLE TWO

We Hire Only The Best

Leverage experienced admissions consultants.

At PrepScholar, you have access to the nation’s best storytellers, profile-builders, and application crafters. By working one-on-one with one of our expert Admissions Consultants, students build their profiles and develop their unique story resulting in a standout application.  

The Perfect Consultant, Hand-Picked For You

We personally and thoughtfully recommend the best consultant based on your profile.

We start our work by getting to know you in depth. With the help of our Student Profile Questionnaire, we ask relevant questions about your academic profile, challenges, and admissions goals. To gain a deeper understanding, we also ask thought-provoking questions to get your insights about your formative years, personal interests, hopes, and dreams.

Your questionnaire is personally reviewed by our Head of Admissions, a Harvard and Yale graduate with 10+ years of counseling experience. They have worked closely with all the consultants on our team and understand their areas of specialization and track record. Based on your answers, our Head of Admissions matches you with the best consultant to help you reach your goals.

Our matching process is carefully designed and consistently leads to successful consultant and student matches; as a result, reassignment is virtually never necessary. However, if the need for a reassignment arises, we are happy to accommodate such a request.

Chantine A.

Dominique r., shahrukh m., pricing tiers.

The Full Essay Coaching and Essay Review services are priced by number of essays.

To choose the right tier, identify the number of essays you would like to work on and select the corresponding option. We recommend fitting multiple essays into one package to save!

*We can also help you with the Common App activities list. All you need to do is count it as an essay.

(or a total of up to 650 words)

$595 full coaching

$195 review only

(or a total of up to 1000 words)

$995 full coaching

$295 review only

(or a total of up to 1500 words)

$1375 full coaching

$435 review only

(or a total of up to 2000 words)

$1735 full coaching

$565 review only

(or a total of up to 2500 words)

$2075 full coaching

$685 review only

(or a total of up to 3000 words)

full coaching

$795 review only

(or a total of up to 3500 words)

$900 review only

(or a total of up to 4000 words)

$1000 review only

(or a total of up to 4500 words)

$1098 review only

(or a total of up to 5000 words)

$1194 review only

Take The First Step Towards College Admissions Success

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Since our inception, we have prided ourselves on offering a plethora of high-quality free guides, blog articles, and webinars to navigate the college admissions process and SAT/ACT.

Join our Facebook Group where you can ask questions and get the latest tips and advice: Secrets for Getting Into Top Colleges

The flexibility and availability offered to me by my selected tutor as well as her willingness to work with me until we perfected the things needed for my college journey. I would Highly recommend prepscholar to anyone looking for help or improvement in high school.

I really liked the personalized support for my essays and how my consultant took the time to understand me as a person to know how to best reflect myself in my essay. She was also very understanding when I needed more time to work on the draft before another round of revisions

Many of the people that reviewed my essay told me the same thing: show don’t tell. However, they never explained what they meant or how to accomplish that. Lily was really nice and helpful in demonstrating what I needed to change instead of just saying it needed improvement. She was also really nice!

Through the consulting sessions, Laura was able to hone in on Mike’s true values, and the best positioning to colleges.  She helped pick the best activities and way to word the activities on the applications.

After many sessions, the application and essay writing became more natural for Mike. I’m glad to say that his voice fully shines through the essays. His consultant just helped him cut out unneeded information, and help hit the word limit and make the most important points. Shewas an expert at knowing how to position clubs and activities as well.

My consultant did an excellent job helping me tell my story. Over our first week, he provided very helpful feedback on my topic ideas and quickly identified a concept that ended up leading to a well-formed essay. He was also very helpful and encouraging throughout the process, and he provided accurate and specific feedback that helped me create an essay that felt very true to myself. Paradoxically, the essay we created together felt much more genuine than any of the attempts I had made at drafting an essay on my own beforehand!

Prepscholar’s personalized approach to the admissions process is invaluable. Eric’s “show, don’t tell” philosophy is practical and proven. Allen and the Prepscholar team embody this essential value with their own degrees and educational accolades. I trust them with my collegiate future. I would suggest that anyone needing guidance through the admissions process do the same.

From Our Blog:

177 college essay examples for 11 schools + expert analysis, how to write a perfect “why this college” essay, free expert-led college admissions advice webinars, watch replays & register for upcoming webinars, have more questions, call or email us to talk with one of our expert academic advisors today: 1 (866) 811-5546, to speak to an advisor, call us at +1 (866) 811 5546 or have us call you:.

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