College essay coach in Portland Oregon

Take a deep breath.

It’s just an essay.

KATU’s Hannah Olsen welcomed me back to Afternoon Live to talk about writing college essays in 2024.

This 8-minute segment offers some of my tips and food for thought for college applicants!

I offer:

$200 } 2-call sequence.

  • Send your current draft when you schedule a 20-minute review + diagnosis call.

  • During the review + diagnosis call, we’ll quickly review your accomplishments, develop an action plan, and schedule your 1-hour checkup.

  • At the 1-hour checkup call, we’ll get into the nitty-gritty of whatever creative block is coming up. (There’s always something!)

  • As needed, you can schedule an additional 1-hour checkup ($150/per)

Who’s this guy?

Admission counselor at Emerson College from 2010-2016.

Taught college writing 2016-2021.

College essay coach 2016-present.

Passionate writer since age 5.

Needless to say (but I’ll say it:)

I do not ghostwrite college essays.

Take it from me…

…as someone who worked in undergraduate admissions for nearly a decade: your college essay can play an enormous role in determining whether or not you’re accepted into your dream school. Sure: it might not, but it also really might. And with the world of higher ed evolving so rapidly (SCOTUS decisions, FAFSA changes, AI policies, ambiguity around standardized testing…) you’ll want to shore up your odds.

You also want your essay to feel true. To come from you. To represent the story of your journey into college. Your friends might be willing to buy or prompt-engineer a “perfect” college essay, but you want to be accepted to college on your personal merits.

Writing a winning college essay yourself shouldn’t require months of your life or a thousand dollars. I want to help you craft a personal statement you’re proud of by giving you only the support you need.

Students who wrote their essays with my support have gone on to attend Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, CCPA Roosevelt, The Hartt School, Ithaca College, Marymount Manhattan, The New School, Pace University, Shenandoah Conservatory, SUNY Cortland, Trinity College, University of South Carolina, and University of Utah, among many others.

In students' words:

  • MJ is my FAVORITE PERSON!! Seriously, his teaching methods have worked so well for me and his style and personality are just the best. He really expanded my mind and got me thinking about why I want to go to college in a way that got me more excited, and I feel more clear than ever.

    TS, college applicant