Why You'll Succeed With Me

When I take on a student, I study your entire application: I will analyze your four-year file to determine the best topics to write about, interview you to discover the best anecdotes and opening lines, and, of course, line-edit and proofread each draft to make sure your words sing on the page, adhere to every grammar rule, and meet any character limit.

BEEN-THERE, HANDS-ON APPROACH

I graduated from Columbia University magna cum laude with a Comparative Literature degree in 2009. (I was also accepted to Stanford University, UCLA, UC Berkeley & Wellesley College).

My personal admissions essay beat 40,000 high school seniors to win the $100,000 Campbell’s Soup scholarship.

I’m young enough that I totally understand how hellish and competitive the high school and college application system is, but experienced enough that I can transform your essay into the perfect finishing touch.

When I applied to college, I went through the process completely by myself, because my immigrant parents couldn’t help and couldn’t afford to pay for help. This means I’ve read all the insider books about application essays and know every excruciating detail about crafting the best essay and application. I’m not a pretentious academic or disconnected editor.

UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

I’ve been writing professionally for 10 years as a freelance reporter for the New York Times, the New York Observer, The Moscow Times, Manhattan, New York, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, and more.

In addition to writing features and profiles, I’m also a senior copywriter and have concepted and strategized for brands including Victoria’s Secret, Gilt Groupe, Saks Fifth Avenue, Alex and Ani, and Armani Exchange.

My dual journalism & copywriting career makes me especially suited to improve your admissions essay. Thanks to my reporting background, I can determine which topic from your life will stand out most to an admissions officer. And with my branding experience, I can strategize how to market yourself as the perfect fit for each college. (Yup, that means different essays for different colleges).

CUSTOMIZED EDITS

With my 4-Step Editing System, you can pick and choose which services you need à la carte.

The customized editing options work for any student, from the ambitious sophomore who could use a branding session to narrow down her topic (Step 1) to the aspiring novelist senior who just needs help proofreading & cutting 500 words (Step 4).

Every edit lives on Google Docs, documented and preserved in the cloud. I am available for in-person meetings in the New York area and Skype/Google Hangout meetings everywhere else.