What we do
Let's face it, getting into college has only gotten tougher over the past few decades. The number of applications has skyrocketed, and admission rates—especially at top colleges—have conversely plummeted. Perfect grades and test scores are less of a guarantee than they used to be because, quite simply, there are more excellent students vying for the same number of spots.
It is daunting, but more and more the key to a successful application is standing out, and that's where application essays come in. A personal statement can add character and passion to give context to all those numbers. Admissions officers are looking for students who know who they are and what they want to do with their academic careers. Admissions officers read personal statements not to check grammar, but to find unique and compelling stories.
At collegeessaywhisperer.com, we know that everyone has a story to tell. Our goal is to give you the tools you need to find your voice and craft a narrative that shows you have direction and focus.
Who I am
Hi! Hello! I'm John, the college essay whisperer.
I have a BA in linguistics from Brown University, where I also extensively studied creative non-fiction writing, and an MS from Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism, where I focused on long-form narrative writing. I know the nuts and bolts of grammar and syntax as well as the art of understanding and connecting with an audience.
My teaching, tutoring, and editing experience goes back over twenty years, and I have worked with students, clients, and writers of every age and stripe imaginable. College application essays have been, by far, my most popular subject, and I have worked with hundreds of applicants.
My students have been admitted to prestigious universities such as the Ivies, MIT, Berkeley, and even foreign programs such as Tokyo University.
I use my extensive experience with a wide variety of writers to understand everyone I work with as an individual. A good coach not only teaches skills and fundamentals, but learns each student's strengths and weaknesses, helps them develop a personal style, and instills them with confidence and drive.
Work with me and you'll write the best essay you can, and you'll be able to click that submit button knowing you've put your best foot forward.