We will use proven National Writing Project strategies that will help you beyond this process—in college and with all types of writing. Your topic needs to be uncovered, not created.

This stage is all about you: Embrace the messiness and turn off the editor in your head in this stage. You will write and write and write. And much of what you write will ultimately be cut. This is the process.

We will correspond via email and Google Docs about what is working and how you might revise to improve your story.

This is where the real work begins. We will discuss what needs to be added, substituted, rearranged and deleted as you revise your draft to get it within the required word count. You will have to avoid falling in love with every word and be willing to make some tough choices and changes. We only keep what we can’t live without. Each sentence must earn its right to be in your story.

Once you have a stellar story, you will transfer your Google doc to Word, so we can make sure your essay is correctly formatted, with proper punctuation and grammar.

Now you are ready to submit your essay to the Common Application website or send it to the colleges of your choice.