Meeting students where they are

My process is collaborative, individualized, hands-on and detail-oriented. I am direct, discreet, sensitive and kind in my approach. I support all types of learners and meet them where they are. My relationships with my students are built on trust and compassion. I offer them a safe space to be their genuine selves. These young adults are usually experiencing a considerable amount of stress during this time in their lives. I try to tap into what is important to them, what they feel would be beneficial (even therapeutic) to explore. Connecting with them and getting them to open up and be transparent and comfortable is key, so is trusting me, themselves and the process. This way, I can draw out their best and most authentic voices. Much of what comes up for them during our time together makes them feel vulnerable, which inevitably leads to exceptional writing -- and a real way for the admission teams to get a sense of an applicant beyond grades, test scores, sports, jobs, volunteering, and activities.

I recommend that students don't start writing their personal statements until I meet with them. However, I do encourage them to soul search for a topic or theme that's of special interest to them. Although it's ideal to begin and complete this process together, I'm happy to adjust my approach based on student needs.

From my experience, working through the 650 word personal statement takes about 8 hours. Once that's done, we move on to complete the additional supplemental essays required. The process begins with an initial input session and involves meeting once or twice a week as needed to complete all of the required writing for the application deadlines. However, the cadence will be driven by how much work a student is willing to put in. Most students prefer to write during our meetings, while others are best served by writing independently based on what we discuss during our meetings. I’m rarely just an editor, but can limit my work to editing if desired. The sweet spot for a session is about 90 minutes as writing can be mentally fatiguing. I tell my students that although I push them to work hard and have high expectations, they’ll be surprised at how enjoyable and productive our meetings are. The writing journey is a marathon, and I use strategies to keep them locked in so they finish strong -- confident and proud of what they've produced. My goal is that we create a body of work that’s personal and compelling.