Writing a strong essay isn't just about sounding polished. It's about being real.

As a Yale graduate, former attorney, and longtime humanities teacher, I work closely with students to help them explore colleges, identify meaningful stories, clarify their ideas, and write essays with confidence. My approach combines careful listening, skillful guidance, and deep respect for each student’s individual voice.

Schedule a Consultation

I’ve spent 13+ years supporting students in crafting powerful, authentic essays that secure places at highly competitive universities.

Comprehensive Coaching

I begin by getting to know students: their stories, their values, and the experiences that have shaped them. The strongest college essays don't emerge from a formula. They emerge from reflection, conversation, and a deeper understanding of what matters most to a student.

Together, we identify the stories that are worth telling and develop essays that feel honest, memorable, and unmistakably theirs. Through thoughtful feedback and revision, I help students move beyond lists of accomplishments to create writing that offers genuine insight into who they are and how they think.

Along the way, I can help students explore colleges, refine their application strategy, and make sense of an often overwhelming process. From the Common App and UC Personal Insight Questions to supplemental essays, scholarship applications, and activities lists, I provide support through every stage of the writing journey.

Essay Workshop

Some students already have strong drafts and are looking for thoughtful feedback before submitting their applications. I offer standalone review sessions for students who want another set of experienced eyes on their essays, whether for clarity, structure, voice, or overall impact.

Even strong writers benefit from reflection, conversation, and revision.

Beyond the Application

The application process often continues well beyond the first round of essays. Scholarships, honors colleges, transfer applications, graduate programs, and special academic opportunities all ask students to make a compelling case for themselves, and that writing matters just as much.

I help students extend and adapt the voice, stories, and ideas we’ve already developed together for these additional applications. Over the years, my students have earned honors college placements, merit scholarships, and recognition from universities and selective programs across the country.

Reviews

Margaret helped me tremendously throughout my college essay writing journey. She gave amazing advice on story flow, grammar, and organization. She patiently critiqued my drafts multiple times, offering valuable feedback with each revision. With her guidance, I was able to finish writing my essays early in September. I am extremely grateful to have had such an incredible coach and mentor reviewing my college applications.

— Leah, Cal Tech

Margaret is an incredibly talented, patient, and kind teacher — and person. She was so helpful throughout the college application process, especially when it came to brainstorming and finding a strong central theme that connected my different life experiences. At the same time, she was honest about what information distracted from the main message, which made my essays much stronger. She is an expert at cutting down essays to meet strict character and word limits without losing their meaning or voice.

Most importantly, she was endlessly patient and willing to read countless revisions of the same essay. Margaret also knows the secret to writing impactful and memorable UC essays; with her guidance and support, my essays helped me gain acceptance to UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Davis. I am so grateful to have worked with her during my senior year.

— Prasanna, UCLA

Margaret is an absolutely exceptional asset to anyone applying to colleges. Brainstorming and getting started are the most difficult parts of this intimidating process. Luckily, Margaret helped me identify meaningful stories to help demonstrate my strengths and growth. Once I had ideas and rough drafts, Margaret took the time to help clarify my ideas. With her help and structure, I submitted essays I was proud of to countless colleges and was accepted into many notable schools, including UCSD, Scripps College, Smith College, and, of course, the University of California, Berkeley, where I currently attend.

My time spent with Margaret was essential to the quality and completion of my essays, especially as someone who occasionally struggles with deadlines.

— Monelle, UC Berkeley

Margaret not only helped me with essay writing, but she also taught me how to craft my narrative. It was through the hours she spent coaching me and posing questions to deepen my story that I created the personal narrative I still refer to today.

Anyone who chooses to work with Margaret would be lucky to have her as a coach and to get to know her as a person! She approaches every student’s story with care and authenticity.

— Lucía, Harvard

Margaret was absolutely instrumental in my receiving a full-ride scholarship to a top liberal arts college. She went above and beyond in supporting me during the college application process. She taught me about QuestBridge, a scholarship program that helps high-achieving, low-income high school seniors match with top universities. I am eternally grateful for her guidance and cannot recommend her skills in aiding students with college applications enough!

— Jade, Vassar

Margaret helped me so much throughout my college application cycle. She was kind, patient, and truly cared about my work and the process. She helped me feel more confident about my work by offering diligent, helpful critiques on each draft she reviewed, in a considerate, open-minded way, while still making sure my work reflected my voice. I truly couldn’t recommend her more.

— Liv, NYU

More reviews

College Admissions

Students I’ve worked with have been admitted to these colleges and universities

Amherst College | Arizona State University | American University | Barnard College | Boston University | Brandeis University | Bryn Mawr College | California Institute of the Arts | California Institute of Technology | Cal Poly Humboldt | Cal Poly Pomona | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo | Cal State Long Beach | Cal State San Marcos | Carleton College | Carnegie Mellon University | Case Western Reserve University | Chapman University | Colorado College of Mines | Columbia University | Cornell University | Drexel University | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Fordham University | George Washington University | Georgetown University | Gettysburg College | Grinnell College | Han University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands) | Harvard University | Harvey Mudd College | Haverford College | Howard University | Kenyon College | Lewis & Clark University | Loyola Marymount University | Mt. Holyoke College | New York University | Northeastern University | Northwestern University | Oberlin College | Occidental College | Otis College of Art & Design | Pitzer College | Point Loma Nazarene University | Reed College | Rutgers University | Rhode Island School of Design | Rochester Institute of Technology | San Diego State University | Santa Clara University | Sarah Lawrence College | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Scripps College | Smith College | Stanford University | Syracuse University | Tufts University | Tulane University | United States Air Force Academy | United States Military Academy | United States Naval Academy | University of Arizona | UC Berkeley | UC Davis | UC Irvine | UCLA | UC Merced | UC Riverside | UC Santa Barbara | UC Santa Cruz | University of Colorado Boulder | University of Oregon | University of Pennsylvania | University of San Diego | University of San Francisco | University of Southern California | University of Virginia | University of Washington | Vanderbilt University | Vassar College | Washington University in St. Louis | Wellseley College | Willamette University | Yale University

Amherst College

Arizona State University

American University

Barnard College

Boston University

Brandeis University

Bryn Mawr College

California Institute of the Arts

California Institute of Technology

Cal Poly Humboldt

Cal Poly Pomona

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Cal State Long Beach

Cal State San Marcos

Carleton College

Carnegie Mellon University

Case Western Reserve University

Chapman University

Colorado College of Mines

Columbia University

Cornell University

Drexel University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Fordham University

George Washington University

Georgetown University

Gettysburg College

Grinnell College

Han University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands)

Harvard University

Harvey Mudd College

Haverford College

Howard University

Kenyon College

Lewis & Clark University

Loyola Marymount University

Mt. Holyoke College

New York University

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Oberlin College

Occidental College

Otis College of Art & Design

Pitzer College

Point Loma Nazarene University

Reed College

Rutgers University

Rhode Island School of Design

Rochester Institute of Technology

San Diego State University

Santa Clara University

Sarah Lawrence College

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Scripps College

Smith College

Stanford University

Syracuse University

Tufts University

Tulane University

United States Air Force Academy

United States Military Academy

United States Naval Academy

University of Arizona

UC Berkeley

UC Davis

UC Irvine

UCLA

UC Merced

UC Riverside

UC San Diego

UC Santa Barbara

UC Santa Cruz

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Oregon

University of Pennsylvania

University of San Diego

University of San Francisco

University of Southern California

University of Virginia

University of Washington

Vanderbilt University

Vassar College

Washington University in St. Louis

Wellseley College

Willamette University

Yale University

Let’s begin the conversation.

Free Consultation

20–30 Minute Introductory Conversation — Complimentary

A chance for us to get to know one another, discuss your student's goals, and determine what kind of support would be most helpful.

Individual Coaching Session

90-Minute Coaching Session — $300

Ideal for students who would like focused support with brainstorming, essay development, application strategy, or feedback on a draft.

College Essay Jumpstart

$695

A thoughtful, individualized coaching process designed to help students identify meaningful stories, develop a clear narrative, and begin drafting authentic, compelling essays.

Includes:

Two 90-minute coaching meetings
Written feedback on one essay draft
Email support between meetings

Additional coaching and application support are available based on student needs.

Comprehensive Application Coaching

Starting at $3,500

For students and families seeking ongoing support throughout the college application process, from college exploration through final submission.

Includes:

College list guidance
Personal statement development
Supplemental essays
Activities list review
Scholarship and honors applications
Ongoing meetings and email support

Contact me to discuss whether comprehensive coaching is the right fit.