Education Access
When they’re working to secure their places in higher education, I challenge students to clarify exactly what admission officers need to know about them.
No two answers are alike, but they all share at least one thing in common: they arrive in a moment of clarity and promise that propels students through the rest of the application process with focus and confidence.
Once a student articulates what they want the world to know about them, their most inspiring stories start arranging themselves into a captivating self-portrait. Their identity – illustrated through their unique perspective and experiences – becomes a bridge that connects them with their audience.
I support students who want to transform themselves from names and numbers on application forms into three-dimensional people who grab and hold the attention of admissions officers.
This work may look like writing essays and prepping for interviews, but it’s something else entirely: seeing and sharing the version of you that's ready to shine wherever you take your talents next.
It’s a joy to help students tap the power living inside their experiences, their perspectives, and their identities.
FAQ
Q: What’s this work?
Q: Who’s it for?
Q: How does it happen?
Q: What’s it done for your partners?
Q: I’m applying to a graduate/professional program. . .
Q: I’m a parent of a high school student, and I’d like to speak with you.
Q: How does the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling on affirmative action affect this work?
Q: What’s this work?
A: Supporting students as they write essays and prepare for interviews as part of their applications to colleges, universities, graduate schools, art schools, and other professional programs.
Q: Who’s it for?
A: For students who want support as they work hard and challenge themselves in the admission process.
As a former first-generation college student, I particularly love the opportunity to support today’s first-gen students and others who face systemic challenges in the admission process.
Q: How does it happen?
A: Here’s a rough sketch of how my partners and I often collaborate on their essays:
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We talk by phone or Zoom, and I learn how they do their best work
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They build a plan and a schedule
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We talk regularly along the way
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I comment on their work and share detailed reactions
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They revise and refine their work
Then we repeat those last two steps until their essays touch, inspire, and captivate their audience.
To support prep for interviews, I start by sharing what I look for when I conduct admission interviews as a volunteer for the college I attended. Where we go from there depends on a partner’s needs.
Q: What’s it done for your partners?
A: I’ve partnered with many talented, hardworking students over the years. They’ve received invitations and scholarships to attend colleges, universities, and graduate and professional programs. The work has opened doors to them.
Their success in the application process is a product of their hard work as students and as applicants.
I take particular pride in the fact that many of my student partners say our work together helped them build confidence and walk into their new schools knowing they belonged there. I’m also touched by those who say that our partnerships changed how they approach writing and communicating.
Q: I’m applying to a graduate/professional program. . .
A: No doubt: they’re different from college/undergraduate applications.
I advise undergraduate applicants to show admission officers who they are and what they’ll contribute to their academic community.
But applicants to graduate or professional programs are asking to enter a more focused phase of their education. Their applications should reflect this focus, showing admission officers their connection with and fascination for the specific field they’re applying to study.
My tips for writing admission essays focus on undergraduate applicants. But with an awareness of the need for additional subject matter focus, they can also help students shine in their applications to graduate and professional schools. (Grad and professional school applicants: show your audience a multi-dimensional portrait of yourself, as the tips suggest. But be sure to make your academic/professional interest the most important element of your portrait.)
My advice on admission interviews is written for college applicants. The role of and process for graduate and professional school admission interviews varies widely between fields and institutions.
Q: I’m a parent of a high school student, and I’d like to speak with you.
A: Absolutely. It’s essential that high school students, their parents, and I share our needs and preferences and agree on expectations and process. It's also important for parents and students to assess whether I'll be able to support them effectively. If you'd like to talk, please send a message.
Q: How does the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling on affirmative action affect this work?
A: It prevents schools from considering race in admission decisions.
But admission offices will continue to consider the experiences, challenges, and other factors that shape the lives and perspectives of their applicants.
It has always been essential to show schools who you are. In the wake of the ruling, it’s more important than ever.
Q: How and when should I reach out about working together?
A: How: send me a note.
When: I can only support a handful of students each application season. I have to plan this work. With that in mind, I recommend you get in touch at least four months before your applications are due.