I love to work with clients as a graduate school personal statement coach. Not only do I get to find out about new fields and interests, but I get to learn about you, the client: your passions, your background, and of course, your goals. 
Here’s a story: When I wrote my personal statement for my master’s degree applications, it started out at least three times longer than the required length. It took me weeks to winnow down the text. I printed draft after draft, circling my main points, highlighting what I needed the admissions committee to see first. Eventually, after much mental wrangling, I got the essay down to the required length. Finally, I showed the essay to mentors and friends, who offered other suggestions.
Of course, if I’d had the services of a graduate school admissions essay coach, I might have been able to get through those first long drafts much more quickly!
After I got into graduate school, other friends started approaching me for advice and editing on their essays. “I’d be happy to help,” I alway said.
I found I had an eye for helping people pull from their past in order to point to their future.
As a graduate school admissions essay coach, I work with applicants for a wide range of fields, including:
- psychology, mental health, counseling, therapy, and social work programs
- Physical therapy, nursing school, CRNA applications, and other hands-on medical fields
- law, business, and other professional programs
- STEM, business, economics, and computer science programs
- Environmental studies and environmental management
- PhD programs in the humanities, social sciences, and other fields
Why such a wide range of programs?
We all have a story to tell, and the admissions essay or statement of purpose tells that story. My job as a coach is to help you tell it in a way that puts your best foot forward. Regardless of your field, certain tips and tricks apply to essays from a variety of fields. That’s what admissions essay coaching helps you focus in on: showing rather than telling, answering the two most important questions a personal statement should address, and many common writing strengths and weaknesses.
Emily’s feedback on my PhD personal statements allowed me to improve my logic and flow while retaining my own voice. I am confident that she played a big role in my admission to schools like Yale, Columbia, and Stanford.
-J. Z.
How does personal statement coaching and editing usually work?
Sometimes, a client jumps in with an essay draft ready to go. More often, we’ll start with a coaching call about the essay prompts, your interest in the field and program, and your career goals. As your personal statement coach, I’ll talk with you about the two main questions an admissions essay should address, and how you can tailor your answers to your school or schools of choice.
Then, I’ll edit the first draft of your essay. For this first read, I’ll focus on essay structure, the flow of ideas, and how you describe your background and fit for a school. I’ll also note matters of grammar and style, but am more focused on the big picture.
I’ll send my comments back to you by email and we’ll have a second conversation, going over tricky moments or areas where more detail might help convey your interest in the school. After this, the flow and structure of the essay usually becomes clear, and you can move on to a second draft that’s very close to finished!
For the second edit, I’ll pay more attention to the grammatical details, assuming that the basic structure is now in place. I’ll help you tighten up sentences and attend to style, grammar, punctuation, and typos.
After you make changes following this edit, some clients finish our work together. Others ask me for one final read to catch typos or have a second set of eyes make sure that nothing is amiss (like accidentally saying the wrong school’s name!)
What are the fees for personal statement coaching and editing?
Most clients choose a combination of both editing and coaching. I offer a half-hour complimentary phone or video call to discuss your needs! Contact me by email or set up a calendar appointment at a time convenient to you, and we’ll talk about your needs and pricing.
I want to be sensitive to the financial needs of prospective graduate students. Please talk to me about pricing arrangements if you need to work something else out.
Fine Print
I will not write personal essays or statements for any client. But I will work with you to help you get to the best possible essay for your interests and your schools.
I also can’t guarantee admission to any school or program, but will work with you to help you put your best foot forward!
Read more about my policies here.
