COLLEGE CONSULTING & ESSAY WRITING
make your college admissions app stand out.
About Me
Megan is a graduate from UC Berkeley (2018) where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, and has been working as a College Counselor and Essay Editor ever since. In 2021, she completed her Certificate in College Admissions and Career Planning through UC Berkeley Extension. She has worked with a handful of prep companies around the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, and is able to share that breadth of experience with her students without the corporate fluff (and exorbitant fees).
Authentic Expression
Why I'm Different
An exceptional SAT score or a perfect GPA is not enough to create a personal connection with an admissions officer. But what can is a piece of authentic personal writing. Unlike standardized test scores or academic achievements, a genuine essay offers a glimpse into the applicant's unique personality and life experiences.
However, the approach of most prep companies is primarily profit-driven. They tend to accept the first idea a student proposes, make only superficial edits for organization or word choice, and then quickly move on. This method might be efficient for producing a high volume of essays, but it lacks the depth and reflection needed to truly engage a reader.
My experiences with these prep companies has shaped my college coaching philosophy. I believe in taking a slower, more thoughtful approach, one that focuses on building a real connection with each student. This approach goes beyond just writing an essay; it involves understanding the student's unique story and helping them express it authentically.
The goal is not merely to craft a compelling narrative, but to delve deep into the student's experiences, thoughts, and aspirations. By doing so, we create essays that are not only well-written but also resonate with the readers on a personal level, making the application stand out in the competitive admissions process.
The Process
- july - august
Part of what makes the personal statement writing process so challenging is that students have been taught to hide themselves behind academic analysis and formal writing. Through brainstorming and active listening in a low-stress environment, I invite students to recall authentic stories that we will develop into engaging essays.
- august - september
By now, each student will have a wealth of material to write their personal statement if they don’t already have a rough draft. Generally, by mid-September, students will have a strong working draft that we will spend the rest of the month revising for clarity, organization, and powerful diction.
- october
Most students will have hit their stride and are ready to hit the ground running on their school-specific supplemental essays. We focus on any early-application schools the student may be applying to. Most students are able to complete not only their early schools, but start on their regular deadline schools as well.
- november - december
These tend to be tricky months for most students - school assignments are piling on, senioritis is creeping in, and the glow of the holidays is imminent. Luckily, because we front-loaded our brainstorming in the summer, many students find that they are able to complete the rest of their supplements with very little stress, and even have time to actually enjoy their holiday breaks.
- january
After applications are submitted, some students may be asked to submit additional essays, a Letter of Continued interest in the case they are waitlisted, or asked to participate in an interview. I am avaialbe by appointment to provide support.
Services
How I Help My Students
- early high school advising
By-appointment guidance on class selection, extra curricular time management, and summer program applications.
$200/hour
- university package
For students who plan to apply to 2 or fewer schools that are considered Ivy League, as well as those applying to Stanford and/or Case Western.
$9,000
- university+ package
For students who plan to apply to 3 or more schools that are considered Ivy League, including Stanford and/or Case Western.
$10,000
After only one meeting with Megan, I knew she would connect with my daughter as a mentor, advisor and peer. Over the course of the engagement, Megan struck the right balance of encouragement and push to motivate my daughter to make steady progress on her essays. She communicated with me throughout with status updates and proactively asked for my help when needed or when my daughter was not immediately responsive to her outreach. Megan's guidance on my daughter's writing was of course most important and reflected her ability to raise the quality and creativity of my daughter's essays while working with her inherent style. I'd certainly recommend Megan for any parents looking for a counselor with the skill to get the most out of their child in what can be a stressful but important process.