What Does A College Essay Consultant Do?

Does the idea of writing your college essay fill you with dread? Are you not even sure where to start or what to say? If you’re looking for someone to support you through the intimate, vulnerable process of writing your college application essay, you’re not alone. College essay help can come from different sources– your English teacher, a parent, or a professional college essay coach (also known as a college essay advisor or a college essay consultant).

Many students realize that having an objective, professional college essay coach allows them to write a more persuasive and authentic essay than if they attempted to do so on their own. Because the essay is such an important part of the college application, it can be a wise investment to hire a college essay advisor.

That said, there are some misconceptions about what a college essay coach does. As a member of the IECA, my work as a college essay coach is based on ethical principles that ensure each piece of writing is composed of each individual student’s ideas, words, and voice. College essay coaching should have the student at the center of the work, with the consultant offering guidance and insight.

WHAT DOES A COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY COACH DO?

There are four main roles of a college application essay coach:

• brainstorming
• researching
• revising content
• editing

BRAINSTORMING

A college essay coach will guide students through a brainstorming process to help them come up with ideas they might want to use in their writing. This brainstorming includes teasing out a student’s interests, motivations, personality quirks, and goals. It also looks to highlight particularly meaningful experiences that have shaped the student’s identity.

RESEARCHING

Many students want to tailor their essays to showcase how their experiences or ideas relate to the schools to which they are applying. A college essay coach can help students learn how to research different majors, schools, or careers that align with the student’s goals. In this way, the student can write a more compelling essay, where the reader can see how the student’s interests and experiences have prepared them for the next step in their academic career.

REVISING CONTENT

When most people think about what a college essay coach does, revising content is probably what comes to mind. Like an English teacher assessing a student’s paper, an essay coach will identify places in the draft where a student can elaborate, clarify, provide additional examples, or rework ideas for better cohesion and flow. Whether this step is done asynchronously or in conversation with the student writer will depend on the college essay coach’s work process. (Neither is better or worse– it’s dependent on the personality and style of the essay coach.)

EDITING

Wait? Isn’t editing the same thing as revising content? No! Editing refers to assessing an essay for grammatical and mechanics errors. This is a polishing step that can refine a good essay into a great essay. By identifying syntax errors a student can fix, the essay coach helps remove distractions from the writing so the reader can focus on compelling content.

WHAT DOES A COLLEGE ESSAY CONSULTANT NOT DO?

You’ve probably already noticed that writing is not listed as one of the four main roles of a college essay coach. And that’s true! Any college application essay coach with any integrity will NOT write an essay for a student. 

Let me be clear: a college essay consultant does NO rewriting at all– whether it is phrases, sentences, or the whole darn thing. College essay coaches are not ghostwriters. 

Do not ask a college essay coach to write any essay for your student. It is grossly unethical– and not just for the consultant. 

The Common App requires students to check a box that indicates all work is their own. Professional college essay consultants with integrity want to ensure that a student can make that assertion with no grey area.

CAN A COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY ADVISOR EDIT MY WORK AFTER I’VE WRITTEN IT?

While most college application essay coaches and college consultants who do essay work prefer to guide students through the entire process, from brainstorming to final edits, there is also the option to have a college essay coach edit and provide feedback on a near-final draft.

In this case, the college essay advisor would read what the student has written, offer suggestions for grammatical and syntax errors, and provide some food for thought about how the essay could be improved. 

Because the consultant has not had the opportunity to develop a relationship with the student, they are less likely to offer suggestions that will include or reveal compelling personal information in the essay.

HOW MUCH DOES A COLLEGE ESSAY COACH COST?

College essay coaching costs vary widely. Some coaches offer a package of services that may or may not limit student meetings or hours worked, and other coaches may work only hourly. 

Remember that you are seeking professional services, and fees will reflect the experience of the provider. Coaches with graduate degrees, university teaching experience, professional and specialized work experience will expect to be compensated for their expertise.

If you choose to pay for college admissions essay assistance, have a clear understanding of the consultant’s process, expectations, and fees up front. A consultant should be able to provide you with a current fee schedule when you inquire about college essay coach costs.

CURIOUS ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ESSAY HELP FROM ME?

I’m happy to speak with you on a complimentary 15-minute phone call. We can discuss your needs, where you are in the college application essay process, and how we could work together.  Simply click here to find a time on my calendar that works for you, and we’ll chat soon.