Starting May 2025, I’ll be available for help with college essay coaching in Northern Virginia and by Zoom.
I love helping students get started on their Common App essays, work through their supplemental essays, and refine all types of writing.
Using years of experience and implementing brainstorming and revision strategies advised by The College Essay Guy’s approach, I can help you:
- begin brainstorming about your values
- identify possible ideas to explore in your essay and possible approaches
- narrow your choice of topic
- develop your ideas
- plan, structure, and draft a compelling essay
- edit for flow, effective word choice, grammar, variety and voice
- proofread a polished essay ready to submit
I also assist students with their supplemental essays. Most schools require at least one, and some have several with very specific word counts. Be sure to give these thorough attention and not leave them until the last minute!
When can we meet?
The earlier the better!
I can help at any stage of the process up to a week before the application date.
The ideal time to start thinking about your main college application essay is in the summer between 11th and 12th grade when you don’t have the demands of schoolwork.
We can start as early as late May, after AP and IB exams have been completed.
If you plan to submit your applications by November 1, reach out before October to get started!
Prices rise and availability decreases after the beginning of September.
How do I work?
I focus on helping you feel comfortable and confident about your accomplishments and the way you are introducing yourself to prospective colleges.
My approach is to meet students where they are with compassion while helping them feel confident as writers.
Writing the personal statement is a process of discovery. I aim to help you feel supported and heard as the process unfolds.
I am flexible to meet each student’s individual needs. Some meet with me just once or twice and get the foundation they need to finish on their own. Others seek support throughout the application process utilizing asynchronous feedback and multiple sessions over two or three months.
Where & When?
I offer in-person tutoring at public libraries in Arlington, Alexandria City, and Falls Church as well as tutoring via Zoom and phone, usually while working in a shared Google doc.
Higher rates apply for students seeking in-person tutoring in Fairfax County, Washington DC, Prince George’s County, or Montgomery County.
The first session for those just getting started typically lasts 90 minutes. This includes conversation, note-taking, reading and discussing sample essays, brainstorming, and sometimes the beginning of an essay outline.
Follow-up sessions for the main personal statement and for supplemental essays range in duration from 1-2 hours in person or 40 minutes and up on Zoom.
Group workshops
Feel more comfortable working with a friend? Have a small group that would like to start the process together? Workshops can be designed and scheduled for your individual group.
Workshops can be customized. One option for pairs or groups of three is an initial session of 2-2.5 hours (instead of 90 minutes) and then work individually. I can also lead a one-day event of 4.5-5 hours — morning and afternoon sessions with a break for lunch — that will establish a strong foundation for writing the essay. We can also spread out two sessions over different days, include peer review, combine shorter 1:1 sessions back-to-back. Let’s get creative!
Email me to discuss the specific needs of your group!
Why get help?
Approaching the college essay can be daunting! Students I’ve worked with say they emerge from our collaboration feeling clearer about their values and goals and more confident about their writing in general. Even those who’ve started working on their main essay in composition class have had aha moments in our sessions that have led to stronger storytelling and a more authentic voice.
For those who haven’t started thinking about topics yet, my jump-start group workshop will give them a stellar foundation from which to build their essay.
In individual tutoring, it’s helpful for students to have the undivided attention of one person who is not their parent or teacher to look at the whole picture of the student. Together we can consider what to include in the main essay and what else to highlight in the supplemental essays. We’ll take it all into account!
Students I’ve worked with have gotten into MIT, Stanford, University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins, University of Minnesota, University of Florida, Purdue University, James Madison University, and George Mason University.
How much?
Email haneyjessicaclaire (at) gmail (dot) com to request a current rate sheet.
My general Tutoring page includes information on rate ranges.
With 8 years teaching experience and 18+ years experience as a writing tutor, my rates are competitive for tutors in the DC area for general writing tutoring but lower than comprehensive college coaches.