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Write an Outstanding College Application with 1-on-1 Coaching

I help students express their strengths, experiences, and goals so that they can craft authentic and impactful personal and supplemental essays for the Common App, UC, and more. (Former Ivy League admissions reader/interviewer.)
Melissa Amaral, M.Ed.
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(99)
Star Educator
Class

What's included

10 live meetings
7 hrs 30 mins in-class hours
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be expected to make progress on their college essays between meetings, which could include outlining, drafting, or revising their essays. Students may also be assigned self-reflection questions to complete at the start of our course.

Class Experience

College application essays are unlike your typical high school essays. Most students have not had much experience writing about themselves in a way that showcases their best qualities along with their writing ability. In my three years of working in admissions at an Ivy League university, I have read about two thousand college applications that run the gamut from unremarkable to extraordinary. How do you write an essay that stands out?

In this class, I help students anywhere in the college essay writing process, from identifying essay topics to polishing their final draft. The goals of the class will be determined by the student each week.

This class is ideal for a student who:
- needs help brainstorming or selecting essay topics
- is looking for feedback on a completed essay draft
- is struggling with college-specific supplemental essays or short-answer questions

What you can expect from me:
- I will ask a lot of questions to better understand the student and their goals. 
- I will help the student identify the theme(s) of their essay, deepen their self-reflection, and make new connections.
- I will point out spelling and grammatical issues.
- I will offer suggestions about the organization and flow of the essay.
- I can help students identify appropriate word choices.
- I will work with the student to determine what their next steps will be and review any updates submitted in a timely manner before class.

Please message me with any questions or to request a meeting time. I look forward to working with you!

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Students may choose to share their work through a Google Doc, which would require a Google account. Alternatively, they may attach pdf files of their work in the classroom or share their screen during class. Students also have the option of using Google Sheets to organize their essay topics and progress.
Supply List
The learner will be expected to provide their essay prompts.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined March, 2021
5.0
99reviews
Star Educator
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have over a decade of experience working in a variety of roles in higher education. Most relevant is the three years I spent working in admissions at an Ivy League university. I have also volunteered as an alumni admissions interviewer for my alma mater, Brown University. Other roles include academic advising, academic coaching, and teaching.

Reviews

Live Group Class
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$72

weekly
1x per week, 10 weeks
45 min

Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 15-18
1-2 learners per class

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