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UChicago Lecturer, NY Times Contributor, Elite College Essay Coach
Shane D.

4.9 (91 ratings)

315 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $395
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About Shane

Bio

I specialize in helping top students write memorable college essays. I also offer tailored coaching, tutoring, and editorial support for anyone looking to improve their writing skills or complete almost any kind of writing project.

QUALIFICATIONS
I've been a professional writer, editor, tutor, and teacher for almost thirty years. My writing has appeared in Harper's, National Geographic, The NY Times Magazine, and on the award-winning radio program This American Life. I've taught, read, and...

I specialize in helping top students write memorable college essays. I also offer tailored coaching, tutoring, and editorial support for anyone looking to improve their writing skills or complete almost any kind of writing project.

QUALIFICATIONS
I've been a professional writer, editor, tutor, and teacher for almost thirty years. My writing has appeared in Harper's, National Geographic, The NY Times Magazine, and on the award-winning radio program This American Life. I've taught, read, and given talks at numerous academic institutions, including Emerson College, Evanston High School, NYU, Northwestern, SAIC, Notre Dame, UChicago, and UChicago Lab School.

My qualifications include writing related fellowships from Columbia U, Goucher College, Bread Loaf, and the Chicago Area Writing Project, plus nearly half a decade served as Director of a busy full-service writing center at a college prep high school.

But beyond these professional highlights, I suspect what most sets me apart as an effective writing coach is the fact that—due to a childhood learning difference—I didn't learn to read and write until I was almost ten. And yet I went on to become an accomplished writer and writing teacher. What's the point? Just that I get not getting it. I know what that's like. Meaning: it's never hard for me to grasp why one of my clients might struggle with some literary concept or convention. But the point is also that, with enough support, absolutely anyone can become a stronger writer, reader, and public speaker. And I humbly hold myself up as proof.

APPROACH
Writing is a process and that's how I teach it, guiding my clients through all the steps, from brainstorming and freewriting to outlining, drafting, revising, polishing, and proofreading.

RESULTS
My college essay students have gained admission to some of the most prestigious institutions in the U.S, including:
Barnard
Bowdoin
Columbia U
George Washington
Harvard
Northwestern
Pitzer
Princeton
Santa Clara
Scripps
Stanford
UChicago
UMichigan
Wellesley

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Education

Oberlin College — Phi Beta Kappa
Creative Writing
Columbia University Graduate School of the Arts — Fiction Fellow
Graduate Coursework
Goucher College — Creative Nonfiction Fellow
Masters

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $395
  • Rate details: I give discounts for referrals that lead to new work and for long-term regular clients. Ask for details.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 3/19/2019

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

ADHD

ADHD

For years while running a college prep writing center, I worked one-on-one with scores of students with learning differences (including ADHD, dyslexia, and trauma-based processing issues), an experience that taught me to always stay patient and flexible as I work to find just the right approach for each student's unique learning needs. Additionally, in many cases, I also got the chance to work in tandem with our school's special needs counselors, helping students develop new ways to stay organized and break down their most challenging assignments into more manageable and focused chunks.
Dyslexia

Dyslexia

Due to my own early struggles with ADHD and dyslexia, I didn't learn to read and write until I was almost ten. And yet I went on to become a professional writer and writing teacher with a unique sensitivity to—and gentle touch with—students who struggle to learn. Which is to say, I get not getting it and I'm living proof that, with enough support, a diagnosis of ADHD or dyslexia need not hold anyone back. Also, for years while running a HS writing center, I got the chance to work one-on-one with scores of students with learning differences (including ADHD, dyslexia, and trauma-based processing issues), an experience that taught me to always stay patient and flexible as I work to find just the right approach for each student's unique learning needs.
English

English

With a background as a professional writer, editor, and teacher, I've been helping English and Literature students in high school, college, and graduate school with their academic writing for almost twenty-five years. My qualifications include published work in prominent national publications such as the National Geographic and the New York Times Magazine; undergraduate and graduate level teaching and guest-lecturing at elite institutions such as Northwestern University, The School of the Art Institute/Chicago, and the University of Chicago; and a recent four-year stint where I ran a busy drop-in writing center at a college prep high school, working one-on-one with dozens of students every week on all types of writing projects for their classes in English, Literature, History, and a variety of other subjects.
Literature

Literature

With a background as a professional writer, editor, and writing teacher, I've been helping students in high school, college, and graduate school with their academic writing for almost twenty-five years. My qualifications include published work in prominent national magazines such as National Geographic and the New York Times Magazine; undergraduate and graduate level teaching and guest-lecturing at elite institutions such as Northwestern University, The School of the Art Institute/Chicago, and the University of Chicago; and a recent four-year stint where I ran a busy drop-in writing center at a college prep high school, working one-on-one with dozens of students every week on all types of literary analysis projects for their classes in English, literature, history and a variety of other subjects.
Public Speaking

Public Speaking

My public speaking experience includes years of work as a corporate facilitator responsible for preparing individuals and groups for in-house presentations and theatrical performances. My experience also includes years of running a high-school writing center where my duties often involved helping students turn their end-of-year research projects into public presentations. Additionally, I've worked extensively as a writer, producer, and director of documentaries for radio and television, work that often asked me to coach the narration of various voice actors, including Bill Kurtis for some of the documentary cable television shows I worked on for A&E.
Writing

Writing

With a background as a professional writer, editor, and writing teacher, I've been helping students in high school, college, and graduate school with their writing for almost twenty-five years. My qualifications include published work in prominent national magazines such as National Geographic and the New York Times Magazine; undergraduate and graduate level teaching and guest-lecturing at elite institutions such as Northwestern University, The School of the Art Institute/Chicago, and the University of Chicago; and a recent four-year stint where I ran a busy drop-in writing center at a college prep high school, working one-on-one with dozens of students every week on all types of writing projects for their classes in English, history, literature, journalism, and a variety of other subjects.
Proofreading

Examples of Expertise

Shane has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 4 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Shane ’s answers ›
Shane D.'s Photo

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Ratings and Reviews

Rating

4.9 (91 ratings)
5 star
(87)
4 star
(0)
3 star
(1)
2 star
(3)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

College Essay Guru

Shane helped my high school-age daughter with college application essays. He was perfect for the job. He is knowledgeable about the college application process and how the essay should fit in. Even more importantly, he was wonderful at connecting with my daughter. We were impressed with his patience and empathy, which were key in helping her discover her story and express it. We could not have been happier. If you have a high school student facing the dreaded college essay, or any kind of writing project, call Shane.

Pablo, 15 lessons with Shane
Tutor responded:

Thanks, Pablo! The pleasure was all mine. So glad to hear Ella got into Scripps early decision, her number one school! Update: Two for two! I know you can’t post a second review, Pablo, but wanted to give a shout out here to Eva as well, for all the hard work she did to follow in her sister’s footsteps and get into her first choice early decision school (Wellesley!) as well. Thank you for trusting me with this work once again and giving me the chance to coach such a terrific pair of sisters!

Very insightful

Shane has great insights that go beyond writing. He gave extensive feedbacks in content, structure, sentences and word usages. A very responsive and responsible tutor, indeed!

YH, 1 lesson with Shane

Thorough and Engaging

He really helped my daughter shape her essays to convey the best version of herself, interests, qualifications and value added to each University. Each session brough out her confidence as a writer and how she would frame her application package.

Takira, 2 lessons with Shane
Tutor responded:

Thanks, Takira! Working with Bree was a joy. So motivated and ready to work on her revisions! Fingers crossed as we wait to hear back from schools on admissions.

Very helpful during the writing process

Shane provides a very open and flexible writing process. He offers amazing in-depth reviews, great big-picture advice, and thought-out feedback. I greatly enjoyed my time with him. Thank you, Shane!

Rakesh, 6 lessons with Shane
Tutor responded:

You're very welcome, Aron! It was my pleasure working with you on your UCalifornia association essays. Looking forward to hearing about all the schools you get into over the next few months!

No Task Too Small or Too Big for Mr. D

Focusing on the individuality of each student there is no task too small or too big for Mr. D. I wish every high school could have an English teacher as meticulous as him. His life experience helps my kid to learn to be resilient and adaptive too. His suggestions are to the point and delivered in a delicate way that makes my kid easy to accept. My kid is particularly happy about the fact that his suggestions let her feel she still has ownership of her writing

Li, 9 lessons with Shane
Tutor responded:

Thanks, Sarah! Meiqi is in an incredible writer with a wildly creative mind. It was an honor to work with such a talent — I still can’t believe, after reading some of her short stories and novel excerpts, that she’s still in high school! Looking forward to getting back to our weekly sessions after Meiqi’s AP tests and maybe starting to work on some college essay with her later this summer.

Great first lesson!

I learned a lot even in the first lesson! He was very well prepared and taught me a lot about narration, storytelling and how to keep my essays focused on just one or two things, not everything about myself in every essay. I would definitely recommend Shane as a tutor!

Hannah, 2 lessons with Shane
Tutor responded:

Thanks, Hannah! The fact that you found me in Chicago all the way from Berlin along with the fact that you're trying to write these essays in English, you second language, still just blows me away. Keep up the good work, you're doing great!

Excellent tutor

My lesson with Shane was invaluable! I just received notice that I was accepted into the master's program for psychology at the University of Cincinnati and I can't thank him enough for helping me craft an essay that truly reflected my experience and goals and brought out my voice. My application would not have been as strong without Shane's insights and guidance.

Jessica, 1 lesson with Shane
Tutor responded:

That’s fantastic news, Jessica! Congratulations, so glad I could help on that application essay. But also, as you go through your new grad program, keep me in mind as I also offer writing-related support for students in high school, college, and beyond working on all sorts of papers for their classes in school.

Expert writing tutor with tried and true experience to help students with their skill acquisition and confidence building, all the while making the sessions thoroughly enjoyable.

Shane is incredibly effective at helping students improve their writing. I have seen great progress with my child. He understands her challenges and approaches her with her unique needs. They are working on essay writing, but also on reading and understanding texts. I can see how much he care. He also follows up with me to make sure the sessions are going well. Which they are! My daughter always comments to me how much Shane is helping her.

Anonymous, 9 lessons with Shane
Tutor responded:

Thanks so much for your good words, Victoria, the pleasure has been all mine.

Enthusiastic and patient tutor!

Shane is an awesome tutor who can really guide you step by step through the writing process. He is incredibly patient and experienced as well. I can certainly tell that he has worked with a wide range of students and has developed an efficient model of teaching.

Celine, 16 lessons with Shane
Tutor responded:

Thanks, Celine! I'm looking forward to reading your next story!

Caring and knowledgeable

Shane helped me immensely in shaping my college essays. He is very patient and his critiques are right to the point. Shane helped me express what I wanted to seamlessly in words. I would recommend Shane for whoever looking for college essay help or anything in general. Thank you Shane!

Melanie, 2 lessons with Shane
Tutor responded:

No problem, Melanie, it was a pleasure working with you. Your determination and willingness to work hard will surely serve you well at whatever school you eventually choose. That fact that you got into both of your top early schools—Columbia University and the University of Chicago!—says everything about who you are as a student.

Hourly Rate: $395
Contact Shane