* Letter About Admissions Essays
* A Few Pointers on Admissions Essays
* Interview with Admissions Interviewer
* References
Dear Parents of High School Seniors,
Congratulations! Your child is entering the final stretch of the long path to high school graduation.
But what a crazy year awaits! For the fun and excitement of senior year comes with the intense pressure of writing that all-important college admissions essay.
And for many students, that can be a very scary proposition.
But it needn't be.
I can help.
The Process
First, I meet with the student to chat about the admissions prompts in a friendly, low-key way. This is a crucial first step. Most young writers suffer from writer's block--particularly in a high-pressure situation like this one--and benefit greatly from a friendly mentor who can help them discover that the ideas they need for their essay are actually inside of them, just waiting to come out.
Next, the student writes a first draft on his own. This is essential: not only because the student is required to write the essay in his own words, but because the student's unique personality must shine through in the writing voice.
Once the student has produced a draft, we enter the revision phase. It is often said that "Writing is rewriting," and there is truth in those words. In the revision stage, I help the student discard inferior elements of her first draft while retaining and building upon the better elements. I also help students whittle their compositions down to meet those challenging word limits--it's always fun to see students light up when they see their overly-long drafts go through a diet that makes them leaner and stronger. The revision process proceeds through successive revisions until the essay is as good as it can possibly be. Of course I edit for grammar and style as we proceed, and I do a final copyedit before declaring the essay complete.
For more information, please write with your phone number, and I will call you as soon as I can. And please don't delay -- the best essays are not written in a last-minute panic--and who wants panicked kids anyway?
All the best,
Jon
B.A., J.D.
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A Few Pointers on Admissions Essays
* It's natural for kids to feel that they ought to boast of their achievements, but who likes a braggart, really? There is an artful way for writers to display their ability without sounding conceited.
* The writing should sound natural and the student should not exaggerate in the hope of impressing the school with his or her extraordinary wisdom. Do not write: "I experienced a life–changing epiphany when I helped that shabby old man across the street and learned lessons in gratitude, simplicity, and compassion that I will carry with me always." Puh–leeze. Don't force it! Efforts to do so will be as transparent as glass.
* Students should write heartfelt, sincere essays that reveal who they are in an authentic way. That's the ballgame, in my opinion. Show a clear mind and a good heart in an essay, and you've done a great job.
Of course I share these and other tips with students in the course of guiding them through the process.
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Useful Advice on Admissions Essays from College Interviewer
Here is a short but worthwhile interview with a gent who interviews candidates for Brown University.
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References *
Jon ... provided invaluable help to my daughter ... as she was starting to write her college applications and essays. Jon is a fantastic writer who helped [my daughter] brainstorm and bring her ideas to paper. He was instrumental in guiding her to organize her thoughts and let her voice shine through her writings, and he has a whole process for doing exactly that. It quickly became obvious that Jon had a lot of experience in this type of exercise. [My daughter] could not have done it without him, and I recommend Jon without hesitation! ~ M.T., mother of S.I. senior.
“Jon … was the tutor for my son since grade 10 and also assisted in his college application. We were very pleased with Jon’s services. [My son] won a few awards in public speaking and debate, and had recently been admitted to UC Berkeley.” ~ J.T., father of Mills High grad and three-year student of mine.
* General letters of reference appear on my References page.
“Jon … was the tutor for my son since grade 10 and also assisted in his college application. We were very pleased with Jon’s services. [My son] won a few awards in public speaking and debate, and had recently been admitted to UC Berkeley.” ~ J.T., father of Mills High grad and three-year student of mine.
"Jon was such a godsend (if we may say so) when it came to college
applications. He started the process early with our daughter and went through
many iterations of editing with her for the admissions essays. However, the
most important part for us as parents is that he took out time from his very
busy schedule and walked through what we had documented as honors and
achievements all through her high school years so that she was best presented
on the applications. As a result, she was accepted by most of the schools she
applied to including UC Berkeley, UCLA, NYU and UC San Diego." ~ S.W. and Q.X., parents of Lowell High student who studied with Jon for four years.
"Jon was able to remove the road blocks which my son was
experiencing then. It was enlightening to learn that my son opened up to him,
which was very important to the process. ... Jon genuinely cares about the
student, and as much for the parents, too. He was very professional in his
approach and with his timelines, and we felt his warmth. He helped my son stand
out in his essays, yet in a humble way. My son is truly blessed to have Jon guide
him." ~ Marian P., San Ramon, concerning son offered admission to UCLA, UC San Diego, and many other schools.
"For the two–and–a–half years that we spent together, Jon helped me in every aspect of the whole “iron triangle” for college admission — tests, admissions essays, and extracurricular activities. ... I believe it was my college admission essays and extracurricular activities that influenced their decision the most. I had worked on the essays with Jon ever since the beginning of the summer of my junior year. Whether it was my UC application essays or my Common App essays, Jon gave me great insights into what college admission officers are looking for in order to help me start the essay, and [helped me] perfect my essay in order to make it appeal the most to the admission officers while making it sound natural and personal at the same time." ~ H.L., longtime student admitted to UCLA and offered admission by other fine colleges
"For the two–and–a–half years that we spent together, Jon helped me in every aspect of the whole “iron triangle” for college admission — tests, admissions essays, and extracurricular activities. ... I believe it was my college admission essays and extracurricular activities that influenced their decision the most. I had worked on the essays with Jon ever since the beginning of the summer of my junior year. Whether it was my UC application essays or my Common App essays, Jon gave me great insights into what college admission officers are looking for in order to help me start the essay, and [helped me] perfect my essay in order to make it appeal the most to the admission officers while making it sound natural and personal at the same time." ~ H.L., longtime student admitted to UCLA and offered admission by other fine colleges
* General letters of reference appear on my References page.
