FAQ

Q. What makes you different from other college-essay counselors?
A. My deep professional experience as a multimedia storyteller (filmmaker, cartoonist, musician, journalist, marketer) gives me an intuition for details and moments in an essay that readers will remember. I empower students to notice these moments in their lives that reflect their unique character, and to capture that in writing. In addition, my decades of experience as a professional editor mean that I can spot writing errors and ambiguities that many others—even strong writers—may be unable to see or resolve. Such errors can diminish the student in admissions officers' eyes, while error-free writing keeps the focus on the student's story, accomplishments, and voice. In short, I have a firm command of the whole writing arc, from strong vision to flawless mechanics. I use this comprehensive skill set to help students at each stage, whether they are generating ideas or cutting for word count.

Q. Can't I just use ChatGPT to write my essay?
A. You could, but you probably shouldn't. Here are a few reasons why: 

• As a representation of your unique mind and path, a ChatGPT essay is at best misleading. Your college essays should reflect who you are, how you think, and how you write. ChatGPT compiles countless other writers' material (often without their permission or compensation). 

• A ChatGPT essay is unlikely to give you a competitive edge. Would you want to read hundreds of essays "written" by ChatGPT? If your answer is no, you probably don't want to write your essay with ChatGPT. It is certainly not the way to stand out in a college admissions process that seems to get more competitive each year.

Q. Can you help me/my child get into [XYZ University]?
A. I work to help students brainstorm, revise, and finalize their best work, so they can claim as much ownership as possible in a process that may otherwise feel capricious. I have helped hundreds of students gain admission to top US colleges and universities. See Results and Testimonials.

Q. Do you guarantee college admission, or admission to particular schools?
A. No. College admissions depend on many factors. Admissions decisions are beyond the control of anyone except the school committees themselves. 

Q. There is a college counselor at my/my child's school. Why should I/we work with a professional essay mentor?
A. Most school counselors are experienced, caring, and skilled professionals who will play a vital role in students' college application journeys, especially in helping select schools that best reflect individual qualifications, goals, and personal preferences. I do not provide professional advice on selecting schools, and I encourage students and families to work with their school counselor and other trusted advisors for this. 

But that fact is that most school counselors have too many students in their care to work rigorously with each applicant on their essays: 1:1 brainstorming, organizing, and revising, line by line, over multiple drafts. I support your school counselor with this time-intensive, personal, and vital aspect of the application. 

Essays are the only part of the college application where students can write their own story in their own voice, making a direct connection with admissions readers. Writing a strong essay is an opportunity for students to not only claim greater ownership of the application process but also to build their self-worth, communication skills, and sense of purpose—for college, career, and life.

College applications can be stressful for families. Many students find it helpful to brainstorm ideas and work on drafts for their essays with someone who is not their parent. For parents, too, it's often a relief to hand off this task to a professional. I care about each student I work with and help them to do their best work.

Q. Can you help me/my child select colleges to apply to?
A. I do not provide this service professionally. If you would like additional support with the college-application process, beyond the help I provide in creating strong essays, please contact me for a referral.

Q. Do you provide services for a package fee, or do you charge by the hour?
A. I charge by the hour, which allows for the fact that different students require different levels of support to complete their essays. It also encourages students to use their session(s) with me efficiently, doing as much preparation on their own time as possible. I offer discounted rates during the off season (February 1 through June 30). For current pricing, please contact me. 

Q. Do you meet in person with students or online?
A. I typically meet with students via Zoom. If a student/family prefers in-person meeting(s), we can discuss that. I am located in the San Francisco Bay Area, near Berkeley.