The College Essay Is Not About the Topic
The mistake most students make before writing a single word — and how to avoid it.
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One-on-one coaching for students and families. Instructional consulting for school systems. Both grounded in 15 years of doing the work.
Two kinds of work. Same commitment to getting it right.
Curriculum support, instructional coaching, leadership development, and strategic planning for districts, CMOs, and education nonprofits.
College essays, test prep, academic coaching, graduate school advising, and career exploration. One-on-one. Start to finish.
Fifteen years in education — as a classroom teacher, academic leader for a two-school district, and consultant working with school systems in 12 states. Doctorate from Vanderbilt.
The work is split between two things: one-on-one coaching with students and families, and organizational consulting with school systems and education nonprofits.
Every engagement is different. Here's the range.
Personal statements, supplemental essays, UC PIQs, and the strategy behind every word.
Most students don't have a writing problem — they have a clarity problem. They know the experiences that matter, but they can't see the through line. Coaching starts by finding the story underneath the story: the real thing an admissions reader will remember.
We work through personal statements, every supplemental essay, UC PIQs, scholarship essays, school list strategy, and full application review. Everything is built around the student's voice — not a template.
Diagnostic-driven, one-on-one prep that builds skills — not just familiarity with practice tests.
We start with a diagnostic — not to get a number, but to see exactly which skills are solid and which ones are costing points. Then we build a study plan around the gaps, not around a generic curriculum.
Sessions use workbooks I wrote from 4,000+ hours of one-on-one tutoring. Every session ends the same way: the student knows what they missed, why they missed it, and what to practice before next time.
Learn more about test prep →Building the systems behind consistent performance — time management, task initiation, follow-through.
Most students I see for this aren't lazy. They're smart kids who can't get started, can't stay organized, or can't finish what they begin. That's not a motivation problem — it's a systems problem. We build the systems: how to plan a week, break a project into steps, manage three deadlines at once, and actually sit down and do the work.
The goal is habits that outlast our sessions. Not reminders from a parent. Not willpower. Actual structure.
Learn more about academic coaching →Find your story, build your application, and write essays that sound like you.
We start with what matters to you — not what you think admissions wants to hear. The goal is to find the through line across your experiences and turn it into essays that are specific, honest, and memorable.
We cover personal statements, every supplemental essay, school list strategy, and application review. You'll have someone in your corner for the whole process.
Targeted, skill-based prep that actually moves your score.
We start with a diagnostic to figure out exactly where you're strong and where you're leaving points on the table. Then we build a plan around the specific skills and strategies that will make the biggest difference.
You'll work through structured lessons, not just endless practice tests. Every session ends with a clear understanding of what you missed and how to fix it.
Learn more →Personal statements, application strategy, and interview prep for grad, law, and medical programs.
Grad school essays aren't college essays. The stakes are different, the audience is different, and the writing needs to do different work. We figure out how to explain what you've done, what you want to study, and why this program — in language that's clear, not academic.
We cover personal statements, short-answer responses, diversity statements, CV review, and interview prep.
Learn more →Structured self-assessment and strategy for figuring out what comes next.
When you don't know what you want to do, "follow your passion" doesn't help. We use actual exercises — skills inventories, values ranking, industry mapping — to figure out what kind of work fits you. Not vague soul-searching. Concrete options.
We also cover internship strategy, resume and cover letter writing, and how to reach out to people in fields you're interested in.
Learn more →Build the habits and systems that make consistent performance possible.
If you've ever thought "I know what I need to do, I just can't make myself do it" — that's an executive functioning challenge, not a motivation problem. We build the systems: weekly planning, task breakdown, priority management, and follow-through strategies.
Learn more →Walkthroughs, curriculum reviews, teacher professional development, and academic strategy.
A two-day training doesn't change instruction. I do the slower, harder work: walkthroughs with real feedback, curriculum reviews that identify what's actually being taught vs. what should be, content-focused PD in math and ELA, and hands-on support when teachers are implementing new materials for the first time.
I've done this across 50+ schools in 12 states — 40+ training sessions on curriculum implementation alone. Available on a project basis or ongoing contract.
Learn more →Coaching and team development for school and district leaders.
Most principals get the same recycled PD every year. This is different. I coach leaders on the specific things that improve instruction: how to observe a classroom and give feedback a teacher can use, how to read data and make real decisions from it, and how to lead on content — not just logistics.
One-on-one coaching, team development, and leadership pipeline work. All through organizational partnerships.
Learn more →RFP writing, program evaluation, strategic planning, and applied research.
I write grant proposals and RFP responses. I design and run program evaluations. I do site visits and turn what I see into reports that leadership can actually use. Qualitative research, quantitative research, strategic planning — whatever the project requires.
Previous work includes published research on instructional leadership quality across multiple districts, and proposal development for national education partnerships.
Learn more →Free intro call. No pitch. Just a conversation about what would actually help.
Book a Call View AvailabilityPlaybooks, trackers, and guides. Free. No email required.
On admissions, test prep, and the questions that come up most.
The mistake most students make before writing a single word — and how to avoid it.
When to start, what to prioritize, and how preparation should evolve over time.
How to support your student through the process without taking it over.
Why supplements matter more than you think — and what admissions readers actually look for.
How to think through what's next when the options feel overwhelming.
Tell me a little about what you're looking for. I'll follow up within 24 hours.