My College App Coach
I specialize in helping students identify their goals and passions so that they can write unique and compelling essays, creating a cohesive and persuasive college application.
With decades of experience as an educator and college app coach, my style is warm, open and encouraging. College applications can be stressful, but with my guidance, we can be effective and successful, removing the stress for the student and for the whole family.
A commonly held assumption among students and parents is that great grades, stellar extracurriculars and strong recommendations are sufficient to ensure admission into top-choice colleges. It’s important to remember, however, that there are thousands of other students with similar awesome achievements and grades as you. As colleges are flooded with more and more qualified applicants each year, differentiating yourself with an exemplary college essay and activities list is absolutely critical for a successful application.
A great college essay is not just well-written. It is not simply an account of all the awesome things that you have accomplished as a student. It needs to be far more. It needs to showcase the student’s unique story, showing what inspires them, what they are passionate to learn, what values they hold, what growth they’ve experienced, how insightful they are, and – most importantly – what qualities and unique aptitudes they’ll bring to the college. The purpose of the essay is to show this unique story – one that is totally different to any other student. Admissions officers read thousands of very similar essays. My job as a coach is to help the student create an essay that holds the admission officer captivated, making them desperately want to admit that student to their college.
My students have gained acceptances into many highly selective schools, including Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, Johns Hopkins University, Duke, NYU, Amherst College, Williams College, Vanderbilt, Emerson College, Washington University in St. Louis, Tufts, Penn State, Michigan State, Boston University, and the University of Southern California.
My Coaching Style
The college essay is a critical part of the application process. Having good grades, strong recommendations and great extracurricular activities is just one part of your application. The essay does far more than showcase your writing skills or tell the admissions officers what you’ve achieved. It is imperative that your essays pull together all this information about you and show your unique story – your goals, your skills, your values, your curiosity, and what you’ll bring to the university you choose to attend. It’s critical that your application shows admissions officers what sets you apart from the thousands of other students with great grades and extracurriculars.
My coaching focuses on finding this unique story – the angle that ‘sells’ you to admissions officers, showcasing your qualities that make you stand out. Discovering and expressing your unique story is the point that most students miss, and at which I excel. Together, we will create a compelling application that stands out amongst all the others. The process is a fun and rewarding challenge that helps you to become a strong, assertive, engaging writer. Throughout this process, you will discover new things about yourself, and you will have an application that makes you stand out to admissions officers.
I offer packages for students who want to complete a specific set of college applications – the UC schools, Common App plus supplemental essays for one school, and additional packages to add more Common App colleges. I also offer individual services for students with more specific needs, such as helping to give the final polish to a Common App essay or proofreading your UC Personal Insight Questions.
Feel free to contact me to discuss your unique goals. I can help you plan your application strategy, and we can come up with a plan that helps you achieve your goals.
Testimonials
Helena – parent
As an international student, it was daunting for my son to work his way through the application process for US colleges. When we found Nicola, the weight lifted from his shoulders. Nicola guided him and encouraged him with great professionalism, helping him to create a narrative in his essays and supplementary essays that was coherent and authentic. He is looking forward to starting at his dream college in the Fall!
Juliana – student
I was so lucky that a friend who got into Cornell after working with Nicola recommended that I contact her for help with my applications. Nicola helped me create an activities list that made sense. I was totally stuck on topics for my Common App essay. She took time to listen to my ideas and helped me find topics that inspired me to write. It was especially challenging for me as English is my second language. I got into both of my ‘reach’ schools, which I never thought was possible. I couldn’t have done it without her!
Mateo – student
Writing great college essays is tough, but Nicola really helps you excel at it. She gave me relevant, clear, and honest advice while still retaining my voice all throughout my final drafts. By the end of it, I was confident in my college essays, and I couldn’t have done it without her support. Through her help I was able to get admitted to Texas State University at San Marcos with a merit scholarship, where I am currently studying. If anyone should be your go-to for college essay revisions, it’s her.
College Application Packages
I offer a variety of packages to suit the needs of individual students. Every student and family has different goals, and I am very happy to adapt packages to tailor them to your student’s plans. The first step is to contact me for a free consultation so we can chat about your student.
As a parent myself, having gone through the college application process several times, I understand the pressure and anxiety that this process can create. My philosophy is to make this as stress-free as possible and to create a plan that works for your goals, schedule and budget. Click on any button to schedule a time to chat.
UC Package
$1995
⭐ University of California Package
One-on-one comprehensive support to create a compelling UC Activities & Awards List
One-on-one coaching and full guidance to write the four required Personal Insight Question essays
One-on-one coaching for completing additional application sections
Common App Personal Statement Coaching
$1195
One-on-one coaching to write your Common App Personal Statement
Parent Consultation
$245
90-minute Parent Strategy Session for College Admissions Planning
Ideal for parents of students in grades 7–11 who want a clear, strategic plan for the college admissions process
Common App Package
$2995
⭐Most Popular Package
One-on-one comprehensive support to create a compelling Common App Activities List
One-on-one coaching to create a unique and compelling Common App Personal Statement essay
One-on-one coaching to write supplemental essays for two colleges
One-on-one coaching for completing additional application sections
Additional colleges can be supported through the Add-On Supplemental Essay Package below.
Add-On Supplemental Essay Package: Three Colleges
$1495
One-on-one coaching to write supplemental essays for three additional colleges
Add on to a previous package, or create a personal package for one-on-one coaching for your specific number of supplemental essays
Contact me to create a personalized additional college package for your required number of schools
Please note that packages are non-transferable and non-refundable
About Me
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Some interesting facts about me:
I am a published Bloomsbury author of many books about education, learning, and emotional intelligence.
I spent fourteen years in the UK as a teacher, vice-principal and school principal.
I grew up in the English countryside, where my passions were horses, books, and books about horses.
I moved to California and raised my three children here, with their menagerie of dogs, cats, chickens, and rabbits.
I love college coaching! There is nothing more satisfying than working one-on-one with students to help them express their unique stories.
I believe that college applications should be rewarding. I love to bring the joy back into the process for my students and their families.
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My College App Coach 