college essay advising

College Essay Advising 

Editing services , standard essay editing $10 0.

Standard essay editing with 48-hour turnaround

Real-Time Essa y Editing $15 0

Get expert feedback on your writing from a Crimson editor in real-time.

Scholars’ Mate $20 0

Real-time Brainstorming Session 

One Real-Time Essay Editing Session

Crimson Quick-Fix $300

One Standard Essay Editing Session

Crème de la Crim $400

   Real-time Brainstorming Session 

Three Standard Essay Editing Sessions

   One Real-Time Essay Editing Session  

50 Successful Harvard Essays

Fifty all-new essays that got their authors into Harvard - with updated statistics, analysis, and complete student profiles - showing what worked, what didn’t, and how you can do it, too.

With talented applicants coming from top high schools as well as the pressure to succeed from family and friends, it’s no wonder that writing college application essays is one of the most stressful tasks high schoolers face. To help, this edition of 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays, edited by the staff of the Harvard Crimson, gives readers the most inspiring approaches, both conventional and creative, that won over admissions officers at Harvard University, the nation’s top-ranked college.

Experience the Excellence of Harvard Crimson College Essay Advising!

The Harvard Crimson College Essay Advising program is an exceptional college essay consulting and editing service offered exclusively by the distinguished writers of The Harvard Crimson, the nation's oldest continuously published daily college newspaper. Tailored to high school seniors, this program provides a unique opportunity to connect with some of the nation's finest collegiate writers, gaining direct feedback through personalized 1-on-1 advising and essay editing sessions.

How It Works

The Harvard Crimson College Essay Advising program is your gateway to top-notch college essay consulting and editing. Led exclusively by writers from The Harvard Crimson, the oldest continuously published daily college newspaper in the nation, our program provides high school seniors with inva luable 1-on-1 advising and essay editing sessions.

Whether you're just starting or already on your fifth draft, our program caters to students at any stage of the college essay writing process. Our experienced coaches will guide you through brainstorming sessions to develop a strong foundation for your essay. If you're furt her along, our team leverages their journalism expertise to offer targeted editing sessions, refining your work to perfection. 

We prioritize personalized support by pairing you with a mentor who aligns with your academic interests, extracurricular activities, and target colleges. With flexible scheduling, you can easily coordinate session times directly with your mentor, ensuring a convenient and tailored experience.

What Yo u Get

Upon signing up, you gain access to our exclusive Personal Narrative Essay Module. This comprehensive guide serves as you r roadmap to crafting an exceptional college essay. From finding the perfect topic to employing effective writing techniques, our module covers it all. W e strongly recommend reviewing this invaluable resource before diving into 1-on-1 brainstorming sessions. Subsequently, our mentors will provide expert guidance through several 1-on-1 editing sessions until your essay is college-ready.  Don't miss this unparalleled opportunity to elevate your college essay and captivate admissions officers.

Join the Harvard Crimson College Essay Advising program today and unlock your potential for success.

BRAINSTORMING

Engage in guided idea generation to generate a unique and memorable essay topic

Get detailed suggestions to improve your writing from our trained Crimson Journalists

Receive invaluable advice from students who have first-hand experience with the college admissions process 

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.

The free, all-in-one guidance platform to help you with every step of the college process

Your account unlocks all these free tools to help you apply to college with confidence

Advising livestreams

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.

Q&A with experts

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.

School-Specific Essay Services

Supplemental Essay Package

• Size and scope of package is customized to the needs of each student and his/her application goals.
• Takes students from brainstorming, freewriting and story sculpting all the way through the final polish.
• Includes our custom Supplemental Essay Organization Map that identifies overlap in supplemental essay assignments and maps out a step-by-step schedule to keep students on track.
• Lessons taught throughout the process emphasize life-long writing skills and are applicable far beyond the application process.
• Includes final review from our staff copyeditor.
• Hourly and flat-fee packages available. Inquire about rates below.

Advising Services:

• Common Application Statement
• Supplemental Essay Consulting
• Comprehensive Essay Packages
• University of California Essays
• University of Texas Essays
• Early Bird Package for Juniors
• Resume & Activity Review
• Assessments & Revisions
• College Application Videos
• Post-Grad Essays
• Specialized Services

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COLLEGE ESSAY AND APPLICATION ADVISING

WRITING , EDITING , AND

Marketing communications.

College Essay Advising

These sessions helped my daughter to draft, revise, and polish a final piece. A writing professor myself, I was impressed by Anna’s ability to inspire and support my daughter without interfering with her own voice. Best of all, my daughter truly enjoyed working with Anna and felt terrific about her essay. — Amy B. , Milton Academy

F or many, the idea of sitting down to write the college essay can be daunting and anxiety provoking. Yet with the right planning, support, and structure, the essay-writing process can be an incredibly gratifying—and successful—experience.

Through our college essay advising, we guide the student through the essay-writing process, from the original brainstorm to the polished piece. We provide detailed oral and written feedback, critiquing elements such as voice, style, organization, content, and grammar. Always, our goal is to help the student produce his or her best work—original, compelling essays that reflect the student’s authentic voice and experience.

In addition, our coaches help map out a schedule for bringing the student’s work to completion.That said, this process takes time and is best accomplished the summer before senior year (though advising is available year-round).No two students are alike, and the number of advising sessions varies from student to student. Additional time will be necessary if the student wishes to work on college supplement essays in addition to the Common App essays.

Our Approach

Time-tested methods:

Our Uncommon Essay Approach is a step-by-step process that teaches students to brainstorm, freewrite, sculpt and polish their final drafts to a high shine. We know it works because we have been using it for over a decade. Also, these people say it does !

Continuous Support:

We work to accommodate busy schedules, providing ongoing support for both students and parents to help them better navigate the essay writing process and maintain their sanity.

Strategic Personalization:

A stellar essay begins with a strong topic that speaks to who an applicant is at his or her core. We work with students to unearth their best stories and put fresh spins on classic subjects. We refuse to let you hand in a bland essay.

Deadline Setting and Mediation:

When you are juggling a full academic schedule along with a mountain of application essays, time management is key. We serve as the liaisons between student and parent and are the evil deadline setters and expert nags. You will still love us in the end.

Active Stress Management:

We help students proactively combat writer’s block and manage admissions-related stress. Sometimes this involves writing exercises. More often it involves ice cream.

Lifelong Skill Building:

Students who work with CEA exit the advising process with sharper writing, research and organizational skills, which will come in handy on campus and beyond. We will prepare you for challenging coursework whether you like it or not.

High Ethical Standards:

We advise, students write. Though our process is thorough and intensive, students are responsible for getting the words on the page. When filling out their applications, all students know their work is their own.

This process can be time-consuming and challenging, so we have to make it fun – both for you and for us. We will make jokes. We might send you videos of cats jumping into boxes. We will probably Skype you while eating ice cream at some point.

Meet the Founder

Stacey Brook

Stacey Brook is an accomplished writer and admissions expert who has spent almost two decades helping students conceptualize, edit and refine their college essays. During her college years, Stacey discovered she had both a knack for consistently reinventing the creative personal statement and a perverse love of bridging the gap between stressed-out teenagers and their parents. She received her first exposure to the admissions process in the Dean’s Host program at Boston University’s College of Communication, serving for two years as the program’s coordinator. She was also the ’04 commencement speaker for the College, winning a coveted scholarship from Burson-Marsteller Public Relations.

Stacey has since spoken at schools around the world on the subject of the college essay and has advised thousands of students on their admissions essays. She is a member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and is on the faculty at nytEducation: The School of The New York Times, teaching students to wrangle their school-specific supplemental essays. Her writing has been published in numerous publications including  The New Yorker, Money Magazine and  USA Today  and she pens a regular admissions column for The Huffington Post . Stacey also honed her branding skills, personal and otherwise, as copywriter for world-renowned ad agency, Cline Davis & Mann. She lives in New York, NY where she spends most of her spare time eating her way through the city like it’s her (second) job.

Stacey’s favorite children’s book is Strega Nona , which taught her at an early age that pasta is magic, and her favorite YA book is King Dork , which prepared her for a life of music fandom and proud nerddom.

Meet the Team

Rebecca Myers

Rebecca Myers is a poet and creative nonfiction writer who thinks it doesn’t get more exciting than the essay: immediate, personal, variable, challenging. Rebecca graduated with Honors from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in English and Creative Writing, then earned a Masters in English from The University of Georgia. She went on to study with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Sharon Olds and receive her MFA in poetry from New York University. She has taught composition, literature, and creative writing courses at both large universities and small liberal arts colleges, and is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of English at Wells College in upstate NY.

Her published personal essays have covered subjects as diverse as that summer she spent working food service at Disney World (purple polyester is about as breathable as you’d imagine) to her toddler’s refusal to sleep (he’s fond of waking her up by banging two puzzle pieces against her face like a defibrillator). Most recently, her poetry and creative nonfiction have been published in Creative Nonfiction ,  Best New Poets 2015 , The Rumpus , The American Literary Review , Gulf Coast , and featured as part of an NPR Radiolab segment on the periodic table.

Becca’s favorite children’s book is Goodnight Gorilla which in retrospect, might be why her son refused to sleep for three years, and her favorite YA book is The House on Mango Street , whose moving vignettes were an early introduction to the space between poetry and prose.

Kat Stubing

Kat Stubing is a writer and operations specialist who has worked for grassroots and nonprofit organizations, theaters, newspapers, magazines, and digital publications reaching audiences all over the world. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a BA in Media and Communication Studies, where she received an Award for Academic Excellence from the College of Arts and Humanities. As an undergraduate, Kat studied Journalism for a semester in Leicester, England, where she discovered her passion for narrative writing and travelling. Kat has explored the streets of Cardiff and Chirk in Wales, Rome and Mirabella Eclano in Italy, and Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand. She believes travelling is the key to self-discovery and a broader mindset.

Her poetry has been published in Beyond Words Literary Magazine , Allegory Ridge , Hare’s Paw , The Closed Eye Open , and Wingless Dreamer .

Kat’s favorite children’s book was Coraline , since she, too, was a curious child with an affinity for the mysterious and spooky. Her favorite YA book was The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants , which underscored the power of open hearts and minds.

Carolyn Balbo

Carolyn Balbo is a client relations specialist who has worked with clients for over 30 years. Carolyn has vast experience working with people as a group sales associate, retail sales assistant, parent liaison/association officer, executive function coach, occupational therapist, and college admissions specialist. Carolyn is passionate about helping families navigate the college essay and admissions process, and enjoys speaking with parents as they assist in their child’s journey.  As a graduate from Franklin & Marshall College, Carolyn majored in History. She continued her education at Columbia University with a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, earning an academic award for Excellence in Pediatrics.  As an occupational therapist, Carolyn worked in a school setting with children with Autism. Carolyn is a proud mom of two children in their twenties. 

Carolyn has guided many high school students through the undergraduate college process, including her own children. She understands firsthand the stress that high school students and their families face as they start the college application process. Carolyn is an avid spectator of competitive swimming and loves to travel. You will likely find her driving numerous hours on a weekend to watch a swim meet! Carolyn currently lives in Virginia, but is originally from the New York Metropolitan Area. Carolyn would describe herself as fun and energetic while maintaining a calm demeanor when working with others. She loves a funny story, a good laugh, taking long walks while listening to books on tape, and spending time at the beach.

Carolyn’s favorite children’s book is Ookpik The Arctic Owl , which taught her at an early age the love of travel, and her favorite YA book series is Harry Potter , which prepared her for life’s adventures and finding “All is well” in the end.

Rachael Fendrich

Rachael Fendrich is a communications specialist and has worked as a copyeditor for over 10 years. She earned her BA in English with a minor in Philosophy from Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo. While studying there, she realized her passion for literature and the power of the argumentative essay. She went on to earn her MA in English at Cal Poly, teaching Rhetoric and Composition during her studies and continuing as a lecturer after graduating.

As an editor, she loves the structural world of grammar and linguistics, but also has an eye for rhetoric and how word choice and tone affect the reader. Rachael spent two years writing and editing textbooks for children with learning disabilities at Lindamood Bell’s Gander Publishing. Her experience there taught her that language is not merely text on a page; language can create images in the reader’s mind that persuade them to believe a story’s purpose or argument—this is especially true in the college entrance essay.

Rachael’s favorite children’s book is Miss Nelson is Missing! It taught her to appreciate teachers and all their talents. And her favorite YA book is Abel’s Island ; the titular character’s adaptability and inner life helped her escape into a world of imagination (also she had a pet rat, so that makes sense).

Josh Hawkins

Josh Hawkins has nearly 20 years of academic, professional, and freelance experience as an editor-from college essays to college textbooks and everything in between-with a special place in his heart for making complicated or convoluted material consistent and easier for everyone to read and understand. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia with a BA in Journalism and worked for a time as a freelance writer and magazine editor before embarking on a career in book publishing. During extended stints in the editorial departments at McGraw­Hill and Oxford University Press, Josh acquired new titles and developed projects in the areas of communication, journalism, film, and television. Since 2010, he has worked full time as a medical editor and group supervisor in the world of pharmaceutical advertising; he has been the Lead Editor at CEA since 2013.

Josh’s favorite children’s book is The Big Tidy-Up by Norah Smaridge, which led to a lifelong love of cleanliness and funky ’70s design, and his favorite YA book is Husky by Justin Sayre, which reminded him what it felt like to grow up feeling “different.”

Caryn Schwartz

Caryn Schwartz has been an editor—of school assignments, newspaper articles, college applications and more—for eight years. She earned her BA from Vassar College in English and Chinese, and then promptly took off to join the college consulting industry in Shanghai. She has worked with high school, undergraduate and MBA applicants. After five years in China, which included stints editing for the  People’s Daily  and Penguin’s North Asia office, she has made her way to NYC to work in book publishing. These days she reminisces fondly about Chinese breakfast foods and tries to read everything.

Caryn’s favorite children’s book is Half Magic by Edward Eager because she’s never met a “magic gone sideways” tale she didn’t love. Her favorite YA book is E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars , which she proudly discovered BEFORE it blew up on TikTok.

Melanie Ashkar

Melanie Ashkar is a freelance editor and opera singer from the Washington, DC area who received her BA in music and linguistics from the University of Virginia (Phi Beta Kappa). A lifelong lover of words, Melanie is a creative writer whose curiosity about language led her to earn a Master of Science degree in linguistics from Georgetown University, specializing in syntax. She went on to complete a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from Mannes College, The New School for Music, and continues to sing professionally.

A natural explorer, Melanie has lived across the U.S. from New York City, NY to Salt Lake City, UT, and has visited 38 states and four continents. Her keen editorial eye emerged as early as her elementary school years, when she began editing newspapers, essays, resumes, and more. She has worked for five years as an academic editor, and is passionate about helping writers find the best words to convey their ideas while maintaining their unique voice and style.

Melanie’s favorite children’s book is Little House on the Prairie , which awoke her adventurous spirit, and her favorite YA book is The Golden Compass , one of many fantasy novels that has sparked her imagination.

Michael Ventura

Michael Ventura is a freelance designer, animator, and illustrator with a love of all things creative. He graduated with Honors from Northampton Community College with a degree in New Media Design, and graduated Cum Laude from Lesley University with a degree in Animation and Motion Media. He has six years of freelance experience working on websites, promotional materials, short films, and mini-series. Michael likes to bring his creativity and love of design to the CEA team, and his work can be seen around this website; as well as in our college essay writing tip videos and our College Essay Academy YouTube series!

Michael’s favorite children’s book is Stellaluna , which taught him that it’s okay to be different (and that bats are super cool); and his favorite YA book is The Hobbit, or There and Back Again which sparked his imagination and his love for fantasy and adventure.

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 College Essay 

Application advising.

Allison Karpf

[email protected]

(201) 675-0349

Background information.

Allison Karpf is a former high school English teacher. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley, a master's degree in Education from Stanford University, and a NJ English Teaching Credential. She taught English 12 Honors at Ridgewood High School, NJ, and Advanced Placement American Literature, as well as other courses, at several additional top high schools.

For more than a decade, Allison has helped students find their voices and create compelling narratives for their college essays. She guides them through each step of the college process: Common Application, college list, and all essays. She either meets students face-to-face locally in the Northern New Jersey/NYC area or works nationally and globally over FaceTime/Zoom.

Students she has advised have consistently been accepted to their top choice colleges: * Amherst, Auburn , Bates , Boston College (Carroll School of Management) , Boston University , Brandeis (Dean’s Scholarship) , Brown , Bucknell , Carnegie Mellon , Case Western Reserve (University Scholarship/Baker-Nord Scholars Program for Humanities Students) , Clemson , Colby , College of Charleston , Colgate , Colorado College , Columbia, Columbia Business School , Cornell , Cornell Engineering (Meinig Family Cornell National Scholar) , Dartmouth, Dickinson , Denison , Duke , Elon (Engagement Scholarship) , Emory , Fairfield , Fordham (Gabelli School of Business) , Georgetown , George Washington (Presidential Academic Scholarship) , Georgia Tech (Stamps Scholar) , Gettysburg , Hamilton , Haverford , High Point (Presidential Scholarship), Holy Cross (Magis Scholarship) , Johns Hopkins (Hopkins Scholarship) , Indiana University (Kelley School of Business/Hutton Honors College) , Ithaca , James Madison, Lafayette , Lehigh , Marist , McGill , Middlebury, MIT Sloan School of Management , Mount Holyoke , Muhlenberg, NYU , NYU Stern, Notre Dame , Northeastern (University Honors Program/Global Scholars Program) , Northwestern, Oberlin , Ohio State , Pace, Penn State , Penn State-Smeal College of Business , Princeton , Providence , Purdue , Reed , Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Leadership Award) , Rice University (Trustee Distinguished Scholarship) , Rochester Institute of Technology , Santa Clara , Seton Hall, Skidmore , Southern Methodist University , Stanford, Stevens Institute of Technology, Swarthmore , Syracuse (Dean’s Scholarship/ Falk College Department of Sports Management) , TCNJ, Texas Christian , Tufts , Tulane , University of California-Berkeley , University of California-Davis , University of California-Irvine , University of California-Los Angeles , University of California-San Diego , University of California-Santa Barbara , University of California-Santa Cruz , University of Chicago , University of Colorado-Boulder , University of Connecticut, University of Delaware , University of Florida , University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (James Scholar Honors Program/Campus Honors Program and Chancellor’s Scholar) , University of Maryland , University of Massachusetts-Amherst (Commonwealth Honors College/Chancellor’s Award), University of Miami , University of Miami-Ohio , University of Michigan , University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill , University of Pennsylvania , University of Richmond (Department of Music Scholarship ), University of South Carolina , University of Southern California, University of Tampa , University of Texas-Austin , University of Vermont (Henderson Scholarship and Trustees Scholarship), University of Virginia , University of Washington (Honors Program) , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Vanderbilt , Villanova (Presidential Scholarship) , Virginia Tech , Wake Forest , Washington University-Saint Louis , Wellesley , West Point, William and Mary , Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Presidential Scholarship) , Yale, among others

*Colleges in bold indicate one or more students from the classes of 2021, 2022, and 2023 were accepted.

Parent statements:

“I would have to sing the praises of Allison who worked with my son on his college essay. Allison is the right mix of knowledgeable, supportive and directive. She had a gentle way of coaxing him to think about a unique way to tell his story. Allison was very helpful and patient with my son as he brainstormed different topics and reworked drafts until he finally arrived at what he felt was a solid essay in his voice, while feeling confident and in-charge of the process. And of course, he is attending his first choice university this fall. Thank you Allison.” 

“Allison has been a tremendous help and fabulous resource during the intimidating and overwhelming college application process! She knows the inside and outside of this area, and helped us to navigate with the deft and sensitivity of a true insider. My son pushed hard under her care, as she challenged him to create an inspiring and I-grabbing application. His college options far exceeded our expectations, and we know that Allison made all the difference for us.”

"We just heard from my son's last school yesterday. He was accepted at TEN out of TEN schools! He also received a $92,000 scholarship from his #2 choice. I'm sure Allison's stellar essay help was a huge part of it. Thanks again!"

“Allison provided an excellent service with college essays. She even helped late evenings and early mornings when needed. She is very responsive and answers on time. I highly recommend her to anyone who needs help with college applications. She is an excellent advisor.” 

“My son would not be in college today, but for Allison’s efforts and focus. With her suggestions, she was able to get him to complete his essays and edit them. The essays were top notch. (I am a lawyer and was on law review, and he wouldn’t listen to me. She was able to make the process fun and take the stress out of it.) It was a huge relief to know that Allison was helping him. I was able to relax, and not be as worried. I highly recommend Allison. My son got into his first choice college—early.”

Student statements:

“Thank you for all the help. Really feel those essays made a difference. I found that with Allison's guidance, my essays went the extra mile. The whole experience eased my mind during the hefty application process. I was accepted to ten colleges.”

“Allison is the best! She is super easy to reach, and very diligent. The essay writing process was so overwhelming, but her calm tone and great editing skills made the whole ordeal manageable and—­­­­­quite frankly—enjoyable.”

“Allison did a great job of helping me translate my ideas and strengths into a solid personal essay. Her recommendations brought a lot of clarity to my writing so my personality could really shine through. I got into 8 out of 8 schools that I applied to, and will be attending my first choice, the University of Chicago!”

"I want to thank you for all your help through my application process and teaching me how to write. I went from long, vague, wordy summaries to concise yet elaborate and powerful essays. I was accepted into all ten of the universities I applied to, including Princeton, a likely letter from Cornell, acceptance to Northeastern's University Honors Program, and a Presidential Scholarship from Villanova. This scholarship was awarded to only 25 of 1800 applicants. I also received a National Merit Special Corporate-Sponsored Scholarship. Once again, thank you so much, and I would have never been this successful throughout the college application process without your help!"

References/Fees available upon request.

(201) 675-0349     

Empower every student to achieve post-secondary success

College contact provides 1:1  near-peer advising to make college-going  real   for all students.

Universities Represented

Students assisted, how we support students, we improve post secondary outcomes by providing 1:1 near-peer advising at scale..

Carefully Matched Mentors

 Students are matched with relatable near peer mentors to increase motivation,  improve self efficacy, & provide 

encouragement

College-Going Curriculum

Our curriculum includes the key components of post secondary planning and personalization based on each student's unique backgrounds & goals

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Affordable pricing allows schools to offer our  1-1 advising at scale making the high touch support of a private counselor accessible to  all students

How It Works

Students from partner organizations gain access to our platform.  Students create accounts and provide information about their goals and mentor preferences.

Students are hand-matched to mentors based on their unique preferences. Students can elect to be matched with mentors based on demographics, major interests, school of attendance, & more.

Students meet with their mentor consistently to complete our post-secondary preparation curriculum.  This includes career path exploration, evaluation of college options, essay & application help, and financial  planning support.

Our Students Have Been Accepted to 140+ Universities 

of our students get into their #1 choice

Students have used college contact , near-peer mentors on our platform, highly-ranked, state & regional.

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& more!

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Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay

How to Write an Effective Essay

Writing an essay for college admission gives you a chance to use your authentic voice and show your personality. It's an excellent opportunity to personalize your application beyond your academic credentials, and a well-written essay can have a positive influence come decision time.

Want to know how to draft an essay for your college application ? Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing.

Tips for Essay Writing

A typical college application essay, also known as a personal statement, is 400-600 words. Although that may seem short, writing about yourself can be challenging. It's not something you want to rush or put off at the last moment. Think of it as a critical piece of the application process. Follow these tips to write an impactful essay that can work in your favor.

1. Start Early.

Few people write well under pressure. Try to complete your first draft a few weeks before you have to turn it in. Many advisers recommend starting as early as the summer before your senior year in high school. That way, you have ample time to think about the prompt and craft the best personal statement possible.

You don't have to work on your essay every day, but you'll want to give yourself time to revise and edit. You may discover that you want to change your topic or think of a better way to frame it. Either way, the sooner you start, the better.

2. Understand the Prompt and Instructions.

Before you begin the writing process, take time to understand what the college wants from you. The worst thing you can do is skim through the instructions and submit a piece that doesn't even fit the bare minimum requirements or address the essay topic. Look at the prompt, consider the required word count, and note any unique details each school wants.

3. Create a Strong Opener.

Students seeking help for their application essays often have trouble getting things started. It's a challenging writing process. Finding the right words to start can be the hardest part.

Spending more time working on your opener is always a good idea. The opening sentence sets the stage for the rest of your piece. The introductory paragraph is what piques the interest of the reader, and it can immediately set your essay apart from the others.

4. Stay on Topic.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep to the essay topic. If you're applying to 10 or more colleges, it's easy to veer off course with so many application essays.

A common mistake many students make is trying to fit previously written essays into the mold of another college's requirements. This seems like a time-saving way to avoid writing new pieces entirely, but it often backfires. The result is usually a final piece that's generic, unfocused, or confusing. Always write a new essay for every application, no matter how long it takes.

5. Think About Your Response.

Don't try to guess what the admissions officials want to read. Your essay will be easier to write─and more exciting to read─if you’re genuinely enthusiastic about your subject. Here’s an example: If all your friends are writing application essays about covid-19, it may be a good idea to avoid that topic, unless during the pandemic you had a vivid, life-changing experience you're burning to share. Whatever topic you choose, avoid canned responses. Be creative.

6. Focus on You.

Essay prompts typically give you plenty of latitude, but panel members expect you to focus on a subject that is personal (although not overly intimate) and particular to you. Admissions counselors say the best essays help them learn something about the candidate that they would never know from reading the rest of the application.

7. Stay True to Your Voice.

Use your usual vocabulary. Avoid fancy language you wouldn't use in real life. Imagine yourself reading this essay aloud to a classroom full of people who have never met you. Keep a confident tone. Be wary of words and phrases that undercut that tone.

8. Be Specific and Factual.

Capitalize on real-life experiences. Your essay may give you the time and space to explain why a particular achievement meant so much to you. But resist the urge to exaggerate and embellish. Admissions counselors read thousands of essays each year. They can easily spot a fake.

9. Edit and Proofread.

When you finish the final draft, run it through the spell checker on your computer. Then don’t read your essay for a few days. You'll be more apt to spot typos and awkward grammar when you reread it. After that, ask a teacher, parent, or college student (preferably an English or communications major) to give it a quick read. While you're at it, double-check your word count.

Writing essays for college admission can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. A well-crafted essay could be the deciding factor─in your favor. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll have no problem creating memorable pieces for every application.

What is the format of a college application essay?

Generally, essays for college admission follow a simple format that includes an opening paragraph, a lengthier body section, and a closing paragraph. You don't need to include a title, which will only take up extra space. Keep in mind that the exact format can vary from one college application to the next. Read the instructions and prompt for more guidance.

Most online applications will include a text box for your essay. If you're attaching it as a document, however, be sure to use a standard, 12-point font and use 1.5-spaced or double-spaced lines, unless the application specifies different font and spacing.

How do you start an essay?

The goal here is to use an attention grabber. Think of it as a way to reel the reader in and interest an admissions officer in what you have to say. There's no trick on how to start a college application essay. The best way you can approach this task is to flex your creative muscles and think outside the box.

You can start with openers such as relevant quotes, exciting anecdotes, or questions. Either way, the first sentence should be unique and intrigue the reader.

What should an essay include?

Every application essay you write should include details about yourself and past experiences. It's another opportunity to make yourself look like a fantastic applicant. Leverage your experiences. Tell a riveting story that fulfills the prompt.

What shouldn’t be included in an essay?

When writing a college application essay, it's usually best to avoid overly personal details and controversial topics. Although these topics might make for an intriguing essay, they can be tricky to express well. If you’re unsure if a topic is appropriate for your essay, check with your school counselor. An essay for college admission shouldn't include a list of achievements or academic accolades either. Your essay isn’t meant to be a rehashing of information the admissions panel can find elsewhere in your application.

How can you make your essay personal and interesting?

The best way to make your essay interesting is to write about something genuinely important to you. That could be an experience that changed your life or a valuable lesson that had an enormous impact on you. Whatever the case, speak from the heart, and be honest.

Is it OK to discuss mental health in an essay?

Mental health struggles can create challenges you must overcome during your education and could be an opportunity for you to show how you’ve handled challenges and overcome obstacles. If you’re considering writing your essay for college admission on this topic, consider talking to your school counselor or with an English teacher on how to frame the essay.

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Richard utz named interim dean of ivan allen college of liberal arts.

Richard Utz, senior associate dean and professor, has been appointed interim dean of Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, effective April 20. Dean Husbands Fealing, who served in that role since 2020, has been appointed assistant director of the National Science Foundation Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences. 

Utz is an experienced academic leader who has served as a senior associate dean in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and as chair of the School of Literature, Media, and Communication (LMC). Under his leadership, LMC experienced remarkable growth, including increased external research funding, faculty productivity, and student enrollment. Notably, he championed the expansion of the School's curriculum to include interdisciplinary minors in Black media studies, science fiction, and social justice, and a master's degree in global media and cultures.   

As senior associate dean, Utz has demonstrated commitment to faculty affairs processes and professional development, implementing comprehensive resources and mentorship programs to support faculty growth and success. He played a pivotal role in shaping the Ivan Allen College strategic plan and organized impactful events that fostered integration between the arts, humanities, and social sciences with STEM fields. Utz also worked to garner funds for LGBTQ+ projects and international summer internships for students. 

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Utz is a highly respected scholar with expertise in medievalism, literary and language studies, and the interconnections between humanistic inquiry and science and technology. He has authored many publications on these topics, including three monographs, 21 edited essay collections, and over 80 journal articles and book chapters, earning international acclaim for his contributions to the field. 

“We are fortunate that Richard has agreed to step into the interim dean role,” said Steven W. McLaughlin, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “He is a pillar of the Ivan Allen community, with impressive campus leadership credentials. Ivan Allen couldn’t be in better hands as we bid farewell to Dean Husbands Fealing and begin the search for the next dean.” 

Utz will serve until a new dean is named. The search committee will be chaired by Dean of Libraries Leslie Sharp. An external firm will be identified to lead a national search. More information about the search committee and process will be provided soon. 

Writer: Brittany Aiello, Faculty Communications Manager, Organizational and Academic Communications

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Clark honors college menu, clark honors college, student column: grief 101.

Maya McLeroy is a sophomore in the Clark Honors College, majoring in journalism and advertising. 

When I left home 18 months ago for my first year in college, my grandfather gave me four things: an alarm for my keychain, a small notebook, a quick hug, and five words in a shaky voice that had always been steady: “Take care of yourself, Maya.”

Clark Honors College, just two hours southeast of my family’s farm, was becoming my new home. The places are vastly different and I knew it would take a while to get used to the rhythm of college life.

My entire life was marked by meals at my grandparents’ house next door – I fondly remember “Pop” starting so many mornings with a breakfast of waffles for me and my younger brother. The scent of fruit ripening and the low hum of tractors during harvest are fixtures in my memory.

I was ready to trade that for UO’s sweeping sea of green and yellow, dodging people in the passing period between journalism and Italian classes, and takeout dinners with my roommate on the floor of our cramped dorm room.

I missed my family, but I found anchors to keep me grounded. I love poetry and I thrived in my Honors College 101 class with Professor of Practice Barbara Mossberg, known to her students fondly as “Dr. B.” Pop knew how much I wanted to explore in creative writing with her and I could always count on his texts, asking for updates about the class that ended with strings of exclamation points and “YOU GOT THIS” for emphasis.

Pop was always so thoughtful. When I was in high school, he and my grandmother gave me three books of poetry written by Louise Glück. Those books made me want to write with the emotional intensity she displayed. I sharpened my skills by writing about Pop – how he had a constant need for answers, how the wheels of his brain would never stop turning, and how sometimes I’d get embarrassed when he’d approach total strangers and just start talking to them.

If you didn’t know him and sat next to Pop at dinner, you would leave being his best friend. And speaking of food, this man never met a meal he wouldn’t eat. He would hum, compliment the chef, and then nod off at the table only to wake up in time for dessert.

When everyone was getting ready to leave the table, he’d wag his finger and say: “Ah ah ah. I have one more sip left.” He’d wait a few minutes, then take one long, dramatic sip of whatever was in his glass, and everyone was then excused.

I turned to Pop when my father was diagnosed with cancer during my freshman year of high school. Everything felt like it was in disarray when my dad’s health scare occurred. But Pop oozed optimism. He had worked in the medical field as a pathologist and explained everything about Dad’s treatment. And, of course, he’d make waffles for us while my parents went to medical appointments.

I still remember exactly how that morning – just one month after I’d started college – unfolded. I had waffles for breakfast in the dining hall, followed by an office hours visit with Dr. B where she gave me a copy of her book on poetry. We talked about my future in writing. And then I got a phone call and walked outside to see my mom pulled up to the curb with tears streaming down her face. She told me Pop had died that morning. I realized then that I hadn’t responded to the last text he’d sent me.

I spiraled, not knowing how to cope with such a massive loss. I had no idea what to do with grief. My mom had always told me that in U.S. culture, we don’t always deal with grief well. She learned this when my older brother, Max, died when he was 18 months old. My parents were sent dozens and dozens of hams by friends and family.

“A lot of people don’t feel comfortable sitting with grief,” she’d say. “But they do know how to send hams.”

With Pop gone, I needed a grief textbook I could dog ear, highlight, and annotate. If there was a “Navigating Loss 101” or a “Where To Put Your Pain” workshop offered, I would have signed up and sat in the front row.

I turned instead to Dr. B’s HC 101 class called, “Epic Influencers: Poetry, Leadership, and You,” where most of the essays I turned in often ended with stories about Pop. Part of being in the Honors College is knowing you can count on the faculty to be there for you. 

“Tell me more about him,” Dr. B said in her feedback to me. So I did.

I wrote about how I remember that Pop whistled everywhere he went. I wrote about how following his death that I kept waiting for the sound of him to fill the room. And I wrote about how I would give anything to hear him say, “Let me have one more sip” one last time.

When my uncle was cleaning out Pop’s office, he found a poem I’d written while studying abroad on UO’s pre-freshman trip to Siena, Italy, which was led by Professor Kate Mondloch, a CHC faculty-in-residence. While there, I spent most of my free time sitting around a dinner table, eating food shiny from olive oil and laughing with new friends. On walks home, I noticed even more tables on the street with people packed in like sardines. I was absorbed by the sounds of their laughter, of glasses clinking, and of their harmonizing voices singing the songs of their contrade . I spent so much time thinking about these tables that I wrote a poem about them.

Pop had printed out the poem, underlined some of the stanzas in pencil, and kept it on his desk. It read, in part:

but for now, let me stay at the table a little while longer to sip one last drink & share one last toast & one last glimpse with the people I’ve grown to love along the way. my heart’s been cracked open; my life’s grown so much bigger; I’ve become someone new; just by staying seated at the table.

At the time, I thought I was writing that poem purely about my month in Italy, from the perspective of an 18-year-old girl entering the next chapter of her life. Now when I read it, I do so through the eyes of my grandfather.

It took losing Pop to realize I’d been writing about the lessons he taught me this whole time. And it’s taken 18 months since his death to finally feel comfortable with my grief.

Sometimes, I still cry when I write about him, and there are moments when missing him hits me completely out of the blue. But I’ve learned that the only way to combat the grief is to look at it head on. The way to fill the hole loss creates is to make sure we don’t lose this moment, here, right now.

I hold on to all the beautiful things happening in Eugene, the things I’d tell Pop if I still had the chance: making waffles for my friend group on Sundays; writing poems and sharing them with Dr. B; and thinking about how the daffodils outside Chapman Hall have faces and that they are all pointed toward the sun.

The best lesson I learned from Pop is that time spent with others is, forever, time well spent. There is always something else we could be doing with our time – responding to texts and emails, checking our social media feeds, or worrying about that next assignment from class. But what if we stayed at the table, just a little while longer?

KEEP READING THE CHC POST

Richard Utz Named Interim Dean of Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts

Richard Utz, senior associate dean and professor, has been appointed interim dean of Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, effective April 20. Dean Husbands Fealing, who served in that role since 2020, has been appointed assistant director of the National Science Foundation Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences. 

Utz is an experienced academic leader who has served as a senior associate dean in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and as chair of the School of Literature, Media, and Communication (LMC). Under his leadership, LMC experienced remarkable growth, including increased external research funding, faculty productivity, and student enrollment. Notably, he championed the expansion of the School's curriculum to include interdisciplinary minors in Black media studies, science fiction, and social justice, and a master's degree in global media and cultures.   

As senior associate dean, Utz has demonstrated commitment to faculty affairs processes and professional development, implementing comprehensive resources and mentorship programs to support faculty growth and success. He played a pivotal role in shaping the Ivan Allen College strategic plan and organized impactful events that fostered integration between the arts, humanities, and social sciences with STEM fields. Utz also worked to garner funds for LGBTQ+ projects and international summer internships for students. 

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Utz is a highly respected scholar with expertise in medievalism, literary and language studies, and the interconnections between humanistic inquiry and science and technology. He has authored many publications on these topics, including three monographs, 21 edited essay collections, and over 80 journal articles and book chapters, earning international acclaim for his contributions to the field. 

“We are fortunate that Richard has agreed to step into the interim dean role,” said Steven W. McLaughlin, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “He is a pillar of the Ivan Allen community, with impressive campus leadership credentials. Ivan Allen couldn’t be in better hands as we bid farewell to Dean Husbands Fealing and begin the search for the next dean.” 

Utz will serve until a new dean is named. The search committee will be chaired by Dean of Libraries Leslie Sharp. An external firm will be identified to lead a national search. More information about the search committee and process will be provided soon. 

Writer: Brittany Aiello, Faculty Communications Manager, Organizational and Academic Communications

Office of the Provost

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