Question 1

How does pricing work for college application support?

Accepted Answer

College application support is generally structured based on the number of schools a student is applying to and the supplemental essays required by each school.

A common level of support is approximately $4,500 for around 5 schools, which typically includes development of the Common App essay, activities list guidance, resume support, and detailed support for supplemental essays for each school.

Since essay requirements differ across colleges, some students may require more or less support depending on the number and length of supplemental essays, as well as how much work is completed independently between sessions.

Each student receives the same structured level of guidance, including brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and detailed revision to ensure essays are clear, thoughtful, and well-developed.
Hourly support is also available for families who prefer additional flexibility or guidance on specific components of the application process.

After reviewing a student's school list and timeline, I can provide a more tailored estimate of the expected level of support.

Question 2

What does the college application support process look like?

Accepted Answer

Students are guided through a structured process that typically begins with organizing activities and experiences, developing a resume, and identifying potential themes for the Common App essay.

From there, we work through brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising the Common App essay. Once the main essay is developed, we move on to supplemental essays required by each school. Support includes reviewing prompts, developing ideas, structuring responses, and refining drafts to ensure clarity and strong presentation.

Students are encouraged to complete work between sessions so that time together can be used efficiently for feedback, revisions, and guidance.

Many students begin during the summer before senior year to allow sufficient time to work through essays and application materials at a steady pace.

Question 3

When should my student be starting the college application process?

Accepted Answer

It is best to start as early as they can. The earlier the better. What students don't realize is that the college application process moves faster than they think. Time flies. Deadlines creep up very quickly, especially when you're also distracted with school. It is best to start in June or July before school starts. This gives students the time they need to book sessions with me and work through as much of their essays as they can before school starts and they have to worry about other work.

Question 4

How many hours should my student book a week?

Accepted Answer

Most seniors book 90 minute sessions, twice a week to ensure they are prepared and for optimal results prior to application submission deadlines. This is also dependent on how much work students are willing to complete independently between sessions.

Question 5

How long does the college application process take?

Accepted Answer

Most students benefit from allowing approximately 4–6 months to work through the college application process in a thoughtful and organized way.

Early Action and Early Decision deadlines typically fall in November, with Regular Decision deadlines in January. Beginning during the summer before senior year provides students with sufficient time to develop their essays, organize application materials, and avoid unnecessary time pressure once school begins.

Starting earlier also allows students to approach essays more thoughtfully and revise their work carefully.

Question 6

How long does it take to complete a college essay?

Accepted Answer

Essay timelines vary depending on the student and the complexity of the prompt. On average, the Common App essay takes approximately 10–15 hours to fully develop, including brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revision.

Supplemental essays also vary in length and complexity. Some schools require short responses, while others require longer essays (for example, 500–650 words), which may take a similar amount of time as the main Common App essay.

The goal is to ensure that each essay clearly reflects the student’s experiences, voice, and strengths through thoughtful development and revision.

Contact

Frequently asked questions