Ivy League PhD Writing Coach: Perfect Your College Essay

Andrea D.

Colleges want you to write a personal story. They may CALL it a statement or an essay. But it's a story--one that must be memorable, sparkling with witty/compelling/provocative turns of phrase and plot that can only come from YOU. 

Yet finding your unique, personal voice is tough. Most of the academic writing you've done in high school discourages it, teaching you to instead develop an "objective" voice that conveys authority over your readers. But your college story needs to connect you to admissions officers. Your story must build empathy by inviting your readers into the interesting--and imperfect--life you are leading.

Please know 2020 is an especially difficult year to apply to college. Per the pandemic, standardized tests are largely thrown to the wayside and your story is now of utmost importance.

I can help. I have been helping others craft personal/professional writing for decades. I started out with a BA and MA in Performance Ethnography from UNC-Chapel Hill. This special discipline is dedicated to collecting and retelling personal stories. I then worked for CNN where I interviewed lots of people and brought their experiences to national audiences. Back in graduate school at PENN for my PhD, I studied autobiographical writing (wrenching writing about illness--brutal!) and its influence in broader culture. While raising my children, I have worked as an independent writing coach and taught classes on "how to write like a human" to corporate executives. Concurrently, I did a stint as a consultant to college administrators where I wrote lots of personal speeches and blogs for admissions officers--the same folks who will be reading your personal application stories.

Remember: You are living a story. Work hard and tell it best.