hi·er·o·phant (n.) a person who interprets sacred mysteries or esoteric principles

Workshops for Students and Parents

Workshop dates are set when I reach a minimum of 3 people. The best way to attend a workshop is to assemble a group and reach out to me.

If you prefer to wait, I can let you know when I’ve reached a quorum, but I cannot guarantee a date. $$$ Prices listed are per person.

From Topic to Final Draft: Personal Essay Crash Course (2 hours, $250)

In this super-efficient workshop, I’ll get you up to speed with everything you should know about the personal essay (often referred to as the “Common App essay.” What are admissions committees looking for? How can you stand out if you haven’t accomplished something earth-shattering? I’ll help you understand the repetitive, overlapping prompts then we’ll discuss the objective of the essay (humanize yourself). I’ll cover the best ways to come up with interesting topics and the general structure (include at least 30% self-reflection). Using examples from real student essays, we’ll look at the differences between tone, voice, and style and how to apply them to your essay. My goal in this workshop is for you to finish feeling confident with a clear sense of how to approach the essay and what it’s supposed to achieve.  

Please note: If you’re already well-informed about the personal essay, this course may be too basic for you. 

Topic Ideation: Write About
This, Not That (1.5 hours, $200)

“Is my topic okay?” Students always ask this and the answer is never a simple yes or no. There are a few obvious topics to avoid (sports injuries, service trips, study abroad), but most topics can work if you know how to frame them. Sometimes you add a B plot (secondary angle), or weave in a memory, or juxtapose your athlete self with your artist self. Most “good topics” are not a single subject, but several elements woven together in an unexpected way. We’ll do exercises to generate ideas and spend some time workshopping them live.

Supplemental Essays: How to answer “Why this School?” (2 hours, $250)

Supplemental essays stump most students and they end up writing generic, unmemorable responses about loving the campus or wanting to ‘expand knowledge’ or meeting ‘like-minded individuals.’ Your supplemental essays should be as compelling (and original) as your personal essay. Your reason for wanting to attend NYU (or BC or USC) should be mostly academic, but not completely. Your reason is not going to be found in the school’s mission statement or on the description page of your intended major. It’s found in a mixture of your unique interests and what the school offers. It’s easy to crack these essays once you understand how to do smart research and present yourself as someone who will add to the school community.

For Parents: Be a Better Coach (2 hours, $300) 

For my private clients, I spend a lot of time explaining where essays fall in the admissions process to parents. In this workshop, I’ll give you the context for why schools ask for the types of essays they do. I’ll cover the Common App personal essay, the UC application, Georgetown, standard supplemental essays (Why this school?), and well-known supplementals (like UChicago’s famously creative prompts). My goal is for you to feel confident that if your child asks for your input on their essays, you have a sense of what to read for. 

Please note: This is not a general college admissions workshop—it’s tailored very specifically to essay writing.