What does a college essay package include?
Introduction
Getting to Know You:
• I will send you a questionnaire prior to our first meeting. Questions include things like: What are your favorite classes in school? What are your hobbies, interests and activities? How would you describe yourself? I will review the questionnaire prior to our first meeting.
• During our first meeting, we’ll also review the questionnaire together. Oftentimes, I have a bunch of follow up questions to ask, so I can get to know you better.
First Meeting
Brainstorming:
• During our first meeting, we’ll review the common application essay prompts. I will provide examples of topics that my prior clients have written about to give you ideas. Together, we’ll come up with a list of topics that you could write about!
• We’ll discuss your top choices and choose the best and most original topic.
Creating an Outline:
• Just because you have a topic doesn’t mean you know how to write about it! I will help you create an outline. We’ll discuss ideas for the introduction, your body paragraphs and your conclusion.
• We can also skip this step if you’re a strong writer and just want to jump in.
Next Steps
Rough Draft:
• At the end of our first meeting, we’ll take out our calendars and decide on a date when you’ll have a rough draft completed. I usually estimate one week, but I’m flexible depending on your needs.
• It’s writing time! You’ll use the outline we created to write your rough draft on a Google document. You will have lots of ideas from our first meeting, so just go for it! (I’m always a text/phone call away if you get stuck)
Revise and Edit:
• After you’ve shared your rough draft with me, I will review it. I will make comments ranging from grammar, vocabulary as well as providing direction about places in your essay where you can add more detail, take out detail, etc. The maximum word count for this essay is 650 words, so I will be making suggestions about where to cut words and/or where to add detail.
• After you receive my comments, you will use my suggestions to revise and edit your essay. This process of “revise and edit" will go back and forth (3-4 rounds average) until we both feel that your essay is solid and strong.
• Another meeting? We may or may not need to meet again during this time. This is flexible depending on how the essay is coming along.
Final Essay - Let’s Celebrate!:
• Once you and I both feel that the essay is strong, detailed, and is a true reflection of who you are as a person, you will be done with the common application essay.