"Starting with a blank piece of paper" is a good thing - you, the writer, are in charge! So why is it so difficult to write a personal statement? We think there are a couple of things that make writing the essay challenging. First, it is personal. Yuck, who wants to write about their feelings? Second, there is pressure that the essay has to be "perfect". This is a myth. The essay needs to be authentic, but not perfect.
We work with students using a 3-step approach to identify a personal story, explain what they have learned, and explore why what they learned matters. We start big, iterate, and end up with a compelling narrative that reveals the student's personality and defining characteristics.
Given the personal nature of essay writing, many students like coaching in a one-on-one setting. Students will meet with our essay specialist in person for several sessions, and share drafts and feedback via email until the essay is completed. We also offer the College Application Bootcamp, a component of which is to complete the Common App essay, in the summer.
Don't wait until the last minute! Call us at (415) 250.1963, contact us via the form on the right, or register for the College Application Bootcamp here!