Start with the student
Conversation comes before composition. We identify the experiences and values that belong at the center of the essay.
College essay coaching
Find the story only you can tell.
Thoughtful, one-on-one guidance for students who want an application that sounds like them—and gives admissions readers a clear reason to remember them.
The strongest essays aren’t the most polished. They’re the most personal, specific, and true.
16years in higher education administration
3years as an Associate Dean of Admissions
6years in admissions recruiting at St. Olaf
1:1personal, student-centered coaching
01 / The approach
Inside knowledge. Human guidance.
Admissions readers move quickly, but they notice authenticity. The work here is to uncover the moments, details, and point of view that make a student’s story unmistakably their own.
Shape a clear story
We build structure, sharpen the opening, and connect reflection to detail—without sanding away personality.
Revise with purpose
Every round has a job. Feedback is direct, actionable, and grounded in how an admissions reader experiences the page.
Founding client offer
The Application Story Package
Focused support for the personal statement and school-specific supplements—designed to move a student from a blank page or rough draft to a cohesive, confident submission.
- One 60-minute story discovery session
- Personal statement strategy and coaching
- Support for supplements for up to 8 schools
- Three rounds of feedback on the main essay
- Two rounds of feedback on each supplement
- Final application story consistency review
$1,250or two payments of $650
Book a free 30-minute fit call
02 / À la carte services
Choose only the support you need.
Focused options for families who want expert guidance on one part of the application process—or a flexible place to begin.
Starting at $200/hr · No minimum
Hourly Advising
Flexible, one-on-one guidance for the questions, decisions, and application work that matter most right now.
- 5-hour block $900
- 10-hour block $1,800
- Bundled hours include an approximately 10% discount.
Starting at $450
College List & Fit Discernment Session
A guided session to build a balanced college list around fit: values, culture, finances, and outcomes—not rankings alone.
Starting at $350
Mock Interview + Feedback
A realistic practice interview with honest, detailed feedback from someone who sat on the admissions side of the table.
Starting at $75
Single Essay Review
Per-essay review with two rounds of focused feedback on structure, clarity, specificity, reflection, and voice.
- Personal statement from $150
- Supplemental essay from $75
Starting at $450
Athletic Recruiting Guidance
Specialized guidance for student-athletes and families, backed by Stacey’s admissions experience working with college coaches. Navigate coach communication, D1/D2/D3/NAIA differences, recruiting timelines, official visits, and the balance between athletics and academic fit.
Why this work
Guidance from the other side of the admissions desk.
Stacey brings 16 years of higher education administration experience, including six years in admissions recruiting at St. Olaf College and three years as Associate Dean of Admissions. She understands what admissions readers need from an essay—and how easily a student’s real voice can get buried under pressure to sound impressive.
Her coaching helps students make smart strategic choices while keeping ownership of every idea and every sentence. Families get clarity, honest feedback, and a calm process during a season that rarely feels calm.
The student writes the essay. The coaching creates the conditions for them to write it well.
03 / The process
A clear path from ideas to final draft.
No mystery, no endless editing loop. Each stage has a specific purpose and a concrete next step.
- Fit callWe talk through goals, timeline, and where the student is in the process.
- Story discoveryA guided conversation surfaces possible themes, moments, and connections.
- Draft & feedbackThe student writes; feedback focuses on clarity, specificity, structure, and voice.
- Final reviewWe check the full essay set for cohesion, repetition, and a strong final read.
Questions families ask.
Will you write or rewrite the essay?
No. The student owns the ideas, language, and final work. Coaching may include questions, margin comments, structural suggestions, and examples of a principle—but never ghostwriting.
Do you guarantee admission?
No ethical consultant can. Admissions decisions depend on many factors outside any coach’s control. The goal is a stronger, more authentic application—not a promised outcome.
Can you help if there is already a draft?
Yes. Students can begin with a blank page, a partial draft, or a nearly finished essay. The first conversation identifies what kind of support will be most useful.
Is this just proofreading?
No. Grammar matters, but the work goes deeper: topic choice, narrative structure, reflection, detail, voice, and how the full set of essays works together.
What happens on the fit call?
It is a low-pressure conversation about the student’s goals, application list, timeline, and current progress. You can ask questions and decide whether the coaching style feels right.
Ready to make the blank page feel possible?
Start with a free conversation about the student, the timeline, and what support would make the biggest difference.