Introduction
College Essays
Need some help thinking of a creative way to separate yourself from other applicants through your essay? Are you looking for a professional proof reader or are having trouble writing more than just the topic? Either way, ES can help! We will pair you with an instructor that has a background in English and writing. If you do not live in the Philadelphia area, we are happy to set up a virtual appointment to review your essay with you!
Diagnostic Review
$100
This is a strategic option for students who have a draft and would like some initial feedback. Is the message of the essay clear? Does it flow effectively? Is it ready to submit? We’ll help you find out! The diagnostic review allows students to email an essay specialist a copy of their essay and receive general feedback in 48 business hours about overall strengths of the piece, as well as areas of opportunity. Suggested service(s) will also be noted, if applicable, to ensure we can help students feel confident their essays are ready for admission teams to review.
Essays by the Hour
$170
Are you unsure of where to begin and need help brainstorming a great idea? Have you started your essay, but are not quite ready for a final review? Come meet with one of our Essay Specialists 1-to-1 to review the essay you have started. After the initial 1-to-1 session, in which the essay will be reviewed in detail, an essay timeline can be established to help determine how much more 1-to-1 time will be necessary.
Intensive Feedback
$240
Think your draft is strong and ready for submission? The Intensive Feedback option offers students the opportunity to have two essay specialists thoroughly review a draft asynchronously. They will provide detailed feedback about the whole of the essay, as well as individual aspects within 72 business hours. We’ll confirm if it’s ready for submission or would benefit from further attention.
A-to-Z Essay Package
$1190
The A-to-Z Essay Package provides students with guidance throughout the entire essay-writing process. The package is structured to have seven 1-hour appointments that will begin with brainstorming and end with one polished, application-ready essay! All sessions are 1-to-1 with an Essay Specialist to foster a focused and productive learning environment, and the package also offers Intensive Feedback (see above) once a full essay begins to form.
Introspective Writing
Introspective Class A: Habits and Tools for Writing a Personal Statement
Students will be able to:
- Name the advantages of making a habit of writing, and list methods to generate the habit
- Access tools and describe methods for getting ideas written without worrying about sentence-level perfection
- Define the different phases of the editing process and list the steps within each
Introspective Class B: Framing Your Stories
Students will be able to:
- Identify the goal of a college essay, personal statement, and other introspective writing
- List examples of their desirable traits and define what they look like in practice
- Describe life experiences associated with creating or honing particular traits
Introspective Class C: Noticing and Reorganizing
Students will be able to:
- Recall the steps of the editing process
- Identify elements of written language and the subjects of sentences
- Reorganize sentences based upon the nouns within
- Restructure sentences to fit within their context, evaluating subject-verb choice and active vs. passive voice
Introspective Class D: Syntax and Style
Students will be able to:
- Accurately insert various punctuation marks (apostrophe, colon, semicolon, dash, period, comma) to vary writing
- Adjust clarity of relationships between ideas by inserting transition words, zooming in and out on details, and modifying vocabulary connotation
- Decrease word count by removing long prepositional phrases and wordy structures
Academic Writing
Academic Class A: Habits and Tools for Writing Academic Essays
Students will be able to:
- Name the advantages of making a habit of writing, and list methods to generate the habit
- Access tools and describe methods for avoiding and managing writer’s block
- Describe the different phases of the editing process
- List the primary types of academic writing
- Define primary rhetorical elements (purpose, audience, and values)
Academic Class B: Noticing and Drawing Relationships
Students will be able to:
- Recall the primary types of academic writing and name the elements of each
- Identify underlying structures of academic writing examples
- Identify words and phrases that indicate relationships (transition words, rhetorical structures, etc.)
- Notice and name values and assumptions within texts
Academic Class C: Editing Structure
Students will be able to:
- Recall the steps of the editing process
- List methods of organizing their workflow during the editing process
- Categorize existing ideas into a structure using the branch, stem, and leaf method
- Identify the subjects of sentences
- Reorganize sentences based upon the subjects and relationship words therein
Academic Class D: Syntax and Style
Students will be able to:
- Accurately insert various punctuation marks (apostrophe, colon, semicolon, dash, period, comma) to vary writing
- Adjust clarity of relationships between ideas by inserting transition words, inserting definitions, and clarifying assumptions
- Restructure sentences to fit within their context, evaluating subject-verb choice and active vs. passive voice
