College Essay Coaching Program Overview
- Spencer Harrison
- Mar 21
- 5 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Week 1 - Introduction & Brainstorming
Overview of the Consultation
In the initial consultation, the following will be covered:
An overview of the full college essay process and timeline.
An assessment of writing habits, strengths, and weaknesses.
Identification of potential career and major interests.
An introduction to journaling as a brainstorming tool.
Student Responsibilities Between Sessions
Students are expected to:
Complete daily journaling for a minimum of 15 minutes.
Journal about career and major plans, moments of inspiration, and early experiences.
Answer prompts such as: When were you inspired? What was your first exposure? What are your key achievements?
Write freely to generate as many ideas as possible.
Week 2 – Direction & Structured Outlining
Consultation Overview
During this session, we will:
Review the journaling work completed in Week 1.
Discuss what aspects were easy or challenging.
Identify the strongest career and major direction.
Build a structured outline for Draft 2.
Student Responsibilities
Students will:
Write Draft 2, approximately 650 words.
Follow the structure: Career goals (325 words) and Qualifications (325 words).
Include long-term goals, sources of inspiration, and relevant experiences.
Week 3 – First Full Draft
Consultation Focus
In this consultation, we will:
Review the previous draft.
Focus on the relevance of each example to the career goal.
Evaluate the sequence of the narrative.
Student Responsibilities
Students will:
Revise the next draft based on the narrative and the relevance of examples.
Week 4 – Looking Toward the Future
Consultation Overview
During this session, we will:
Review the previous draft.
Introduce mid- and long-term plans.
Student Responsibilities
Students will:
Add 325 words to the draft discussing what excites them about studying their major at college, including courses, clubs, and activities, as well as what they look forward to in their career.
Week 5 – Restructuring & Strengthening Your Core Narrative
Consultation Focus
In this consultation, we will:
Review the previous draft.
Evaluate areas of the working draft that may need to be cut.
Student Responsibilities
Students will:
10. Revise the draft to include 200 words on inspiration, 200 words on qualified experience, and 200 words on medium and long-term plans.
Week 6 – Storytelling Techniques & Sensory Detail
Consultation Overview
During this session, we will:
Review the previous draft.
Discuss storytelling techniques, focusing on the five senses: visual, auditory, tactile, smell, and taste.
Student Responsibilities
Students will:
11. Revise the draft by incorporating sensory information into their experiences.
Week 7
Consultation Focus
In this consultation, we will:
Review the previous draft.
Discuss storytelling techniques related to metacognition—what the student was thinking and feeling at the time, and what they have learned in retrospect.
Student Responsibilities
Students will:
12. Revise the draft by adding metacognition and reflection.
Week 8
Consultation Overview
During this session, we will:
Review the previous draft.
Discuss storytelling techniques involving figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, and hyperbole.
Student Responsibilities
Students will:
13. Revise the draft by incorporating figurative language.
Week 9
Consultation Focus
In this consultation, we will:
Review the previous draft.
Discuss writing techniques, including the order of sentences, transitions, and syntax.
Student Responsibilities
Students will:
14. Revise their sentence style.
Week 10
Consultation Overview
During this final session, we will:
Review the previous draft.
Discuss proofreading techniques, focusing on grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Student Responsibilities
Students will:
15. Proofread the final draft.
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Overview of the 10-Week Program
This 10-week college essay coaching program is designed to guide students from uncertainty to a polished, compelling personal statement through a structured and intentional process. Each phase builds on the previous one, ensuring that students not only complete a strong essay but also develop clarity, depth, and confidence in their writing.
1. Brainstorming & Journaling (Weeks 1–2)
Description of the Stage
The program begins with structured brainstorming and journaling. Students write consistently in response to prompts about their academic interests, career goals, and meaningful life experiences. The focus is on generating raw material rather than producing a polished draft, allowing students to explore multiple ideas and uncover patterns in their experiences.
Why This Matters
Students often struggle because they attempt to start with a “perfect” idea. Journaling removes that pressure and helps them discover authentic, meaningful content. This stage ensures the essay is grounded in real experiences and provides a strong foundation for the rest of the process.
2. Direction & Structured Outlining (Week 2)
Description of the Stage
After generating ideas, students identify the most compelling themes and choose a clear direction for their essay. They then organize their thoughts into a structured outline that connects past experiences with future academic and career goals.
Why This Matters
A strong essay requires both good content and clear organization. The outline acts as a roadmap, helping students stay focused and ensuring their essay is cohesive rather than scattered or repetitive.
3. Iterative Drafting & Revision (Weeks 3–5)
Description of the Stage
Students write multiple drafts of their essay, each time refining their ideas, structure, and examples. Early revisions focus on big-picture elements such as clarity, relevance, and organization, rather than grammar or word choice.
Why This Matters
Effective writing is a process. By focusing on revision, students learn how to improve their work step by step instead of expecting perfection in one attempt. This leads to a more thoughtful, well-developed essay and builds long-term writing skills.
4. Narrative Development & Future Orientation (Weeks 4–5)
Description of the Stage
Students strengthen their narrative by connecting past experiences to future goals. They expand on their academic interests, college plans, and long-term aspirations while refining the overall flow of the essay.
Why This Matters
Admissions officers want to understand both who a student is and where they are going. This stage helps students present a clear sense of direction, making their essay more purposeful and compelling.
5. Advanced Writing Techniques (Weeks 6–8)
Description of the Stage
Once the structure is strong, students enhance their writing using techniques such as sensory detail, deeper reflection, and elements of voice and style. These additions make the essay more vivid and engaging.
Why This Matters
Many essays have solid content, but fewer are memorable. These techniques help bring experiences to life and show deeper insight, allowing the student’s personality and perspective to stand out.
6. Sentence Craft & Final Refinement (Weeks 9–10)
Description of the Stage
In the final stage, students refine sentence structure, improve transitions, and polish language for clarity and flow. The process concludes with careful proofreading for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Why This Matters
Strong ideas must be presented clearly and professionally. This final step ensures the essay reads smoothly and leaves a strong impression, demonstrating attention to detail and care.
Final Outcome
By the end of the program, students produce a polished, submission-ready essay that clearly communicates their story and goals. Just as importantly, they develop a repeatable writing process that will benefit them in future academic and professional work.
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