At Ivy Coach, we specialize in helping students maximize their chances of admission to highly selective colleges. But does this mean we ghostwrite our clients’ college essays for them? Of course not! To do so would be a gross breach of ethics — and not to mention a surefire way of sending our students’ applications straight into the rejection pile. So, does our team of former elite college admissions officers play no role in shaping the direction of essays, editing drafts, and providing final proofing before they’re uploaded to the application portal? That’s another resounding no. All of these duties fall squarely within our purview as college admissions counselors.

Let’s review how our approach sets up students for the greatest chance of success in the elite college admissions process without ever crossing the line into plagiarism or misrepresentation.

Everyone Has an Editor — Even Professional Writers

There’s no such thing as a successful writer who isn’t backed by a talented editor. Just ask the world’s most successful authors, screenwriters, and journalists. Good writing has always been about rewriting with careful attention to detail and loyalty to the intended audience. This is true of TV writers, who have producers and executives to make sure their screenplays are within the capabilities of the production studio. This is true of college professors, who pass their papers by their peers for review before publication. And yes, it couldn’t be more true of the college admissions process, where the most well-prepared students get feedback from trained experts before sending their essays away to be judged by colleges.

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Craft Competitive Essays 

Our editorial process starts with identifying a singular hook that will shape our students’ entire application, from the activities listed to the content of the essays. A singular hook is a unique passion, pursuit, discipline, or cause that provides your prospective schools with a roadmap for how you will engage with their many resources and opportunities. Your hook can take many different forms, covering everything from the environmental science research you conducted at your local university or the public housing project you spearheaded with the help of the local government to the book you wrote about your town’s unexpected history.

When the student has their hook, they have the content we’ll need to help them craft the many puzzle pieces that will make up their admissions essays. We then discern which topics will be addressed within each essay and provide paragraph by paragraph direction for how each essay should be approached. Just as any editor worth their salt would do, we strongly revise, provide targeted feedback, offer tweaks, and equip the students with the tools they need to produce the most strategic essays possible.

Do NOT Let Anyone Write Your College Essays For You

Families of college-bound students, take note: Never, and we repeat never, let someone, college consultant or otherwise, write your child’s college essays for them. Why? For one thing, it’s unethical! Your child should be proud of the work they produce for their college applications and should feel empowered to take control of their admissions destiny. But, perhaps more to the point, hiring a ghostwriter will certainly backfire. College admissions officers are well-trained in the art of knowing when a student’s voice is actually their own. No matter how well-written your essays might be, colleges will be able to sniff out your disingenuousness, and all you’ll be left with is a rejection letter.

Cutting corners might seem like the easy way out, but we assure you that it’s better to pour your heart and soul into your application, whether you’re a natural-born Shakespeare or not! And if you’re worried your writing skills aren’t strong enough to earn an acceptance letter, you’ve already come to the right place. Ivy Coach’s brainstorming and revision process will ensure not a single mistake slips through the cracks. To get started with us, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.