College Essay Assistance: Help Your Teen Tell Their Story

College essay assistance that actually helps is hard to find. There is a version of help that writes the essay for the student — which is both academically dishonest and counterproductive, because the essay that comes out does not sound like them, and admissions officers can tell. Then there is the version I offer: college essay assistance that helps your teenager find, sharpen, and tell their own story in the most compelling way possible. Helping people tell their story is one of my favorite things to do.

What College Essay Assistance Actually Looks Like

College applications can be stressful, and a strong essay that conveys growth, passion, and genuine personality can make a real difference come acceptance and scholarship time. Here is exactly how the college essay assistance process works:

1. Send an email to [email protected] (do not forget the o in the middle) with your name, the school you are applying to, the essay prompt, the word count, and the due date. Write COLLEGE ESSAY in the subject line.
2. Once I reply, share your rough draft via Google Documents to the same email address with the “can edit” option checked. Send your best rough draft effort — do not worry about it being perfect. Include any specific questions or concerns.
3. I will return a marked-up copy with suggestions, questions, and revisions regarding thesis, voice, organization, and adherence to the prompt. I will NOT write your essay — but I will provide the feedback so YOU can tell a compelling story.
4. You rewrite from my changes and can send it back for a quick second edit to confirm it is on the right track.

What Good College Essay Assistance Does — and Does Not Do

The essays that stand out are the ones that sound like the actual person who wrote them. Admissions officers read thousands of essays. They can tell immediately when an essay was written by someone else, or when a student has been coached into sounding impressive rather than genuine. Real college essay assistance is not about making the essay sound more sophisticated — it is about making it sound more clearly and compellingly like you.

• Voice. Does this sound like the actual student writing in their own first person?
• Specificity. The best essays name the specific moment, the specific place, the specific detail. Vague essays do not stick.
• Growth. The essay should show who this person is becoming, not just what they have done.
• Adherence to the prompt. Many students write a great essay that does not actually answer what was asked. College essay assistance addresses this directly.

Pricing for College Essay Assistance

The flat fee for college essay assistance for a standard-length essay (500-600 words) is $50, payable via Venmo. Each additional draft is $25. A phone brainstorming session is available for $25. Contact [email protected] for essays significantly different in length.

A Note on Integrity

I believe absolutely in academic integrity. I will not write a student’s essay. What I will do is help a student with a genuine rough draft shape it into something that tells their story clearly and well. The story has to be theirs. The voice has to be theirs. My job is to help them find both. Email [email protected] to get started.

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Helpful External Resources

• Common App — college application essay prompts

Frequently Asked Questions: College Essay Assistance

What does Brooke Romney’s college essay assistance include?

College essay assistance from Brooke Romney is a marked-up Google Docs edit with suggestions on thesis, voice, organization, and prompt adherence. She does not write the essay — the goal is to help you tell your own story compellingly. Email [email protected] (subject: COLLEGE ESSAY) with school, prompt, word count, and due date to get started.

How much does Brooke Romney’s college essay editing cost?

College essay assistance is $50 for a standard 500-600 word essay. Each additional draft is $25. A phone brainstorm is $25. Email [email protected] for essays significantly different in length.

What makes a strong college application essay?

A strong college essay conveys growth, passion, and genuine personality through a specific story only that applicant could tell. College essay assistance is most effective when the applicant has a rough draft in their own voice — which is then refined, not replaced.