Believe it or not, college essays can be fun to work on. It’s a chance for students to “illustrate” their college applications and share personal stories to make an impression on admissions staff who might read 50 essays a day. It’s a sometimes-transformational opportunity for a kid to tell their story beyond grades, standardized test scores and extracurricular activities. Getting started can be intimidating. I help relieve related tension and teach the skills your student needs to write an application-worthy essay that they – and you – can be proud of. It’s a flexible process tailored to each student.
What I offer:
Brainstorming and coaching – As a freelance writer and children’s author, I have been writing for and about children for decades. Part of that process has been interviewing hundreds of young people over the years about their experiences, feelings and things that matter most to them. I’ll ask questions and provide coaching to help your student identify and explore topics that matter to them and fit well into their application. It’s a fun, judgement-free zone full of self-reflection and positive reinforcement.
Outlining – I’ll guide your student to create the structure for the essay with a template to start. I’ll challenge them to be free in their writing, leave self-consciousness behind and guide them to include sensory details to bring their thoughts, feelings and experiences into vivid, sharp and colorful focus.
Editing – My work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Highlights, American Girl magazine and a variety of National Geographic publications, including Nat Geo Kids and Traveler magazines. I’m well versed in professional editing and writing. I’ll work with your student to make editorial suggestions and move through a series of drafts with a focus on ensuring the final essay conveys the student’s voice, speaks to the prompt(s) and is succinct and impactful.
Getting started
The first step is an initial conversation by phone, zoom or in person, at no cost. Then, we move into coaching, outlining, or editing – wherever in the process your student is ready to start. I work on an hourly fee of $150, which includes both coaching sessions (zoom, phone or in person) and editing.
Contact Kitson to get started.
From those who have worked with Kitson:
“Kitson offered indispensable guidance throughout my college application process. With her sharp eye, she prompted me to write concise and creative essays. Her expertise helped me create far stronger applications, and I am extremely thankful for her help.” Misa, 2023 applicant
“I got into all my colleges: Virginia Tech, George Mason University, Trinity Washington University, West Chester University and Rochester Institute of Technology. I wanted to thank you!!! Couldn’t have done it without your help.” Y., Class of 2025
“We were so fortunate to have Kitson‘s timely assistance with our daughter‘s college essays. She clearly understood the admission process and how to help our daughter draft the most compelling essays possible. The cherry on top was that Kitson also took the time to provide tips on how to become a more effective writer.” Mike and Mila, parents
“Kitson was wonderful at providing concrete suggestions to my daughter when editing her college essay. Having her assistance relieved a lot of the anxiety that comes with the college admission process. We were thankful for her help.” — Carter, a parent
“Kitson really makes sense of the whole college essay process, from breaking down the prompt to encouraging an authentic personal response, to challenging my word and punctuation choices. The finished product represented the real me, and I know it helped to match me with schools that appreciated who I was and how I thought. She took time to help me develop thoughts, approaches and and honest personal response. I could not recommend her help enough.” Nick, Class of 2025
“Kitson helped me to improve my tone throughout my college essay. She made an effort to go through my paper and clearly color code different tones, which helped me to make my writing sound more conversational and engaging. She also helped me to find the appropriate length of an introduction, and create a smooth transition between the introduction and main story.” D., 2023 applicant