College Essay Boot Camp

College admissions boards take a number of factors into consideration during the intensive selection process. Extracurriculars, GPA and academic performance are important, but many students underestimate the significance of a well-written admissions essay.

Fortunately, HelloCollege offers a college application essay writing workshop to help refine your written language skills and impress your top-choice schools. From topic selection to the final edit, our experienced coaches guide you through the ins and outs of crafting an exceptional essay.

What Is HelloCollege’s Essay Boot Camp?

Our college essay workshop is designed to steer you through the process of composing a compelling story. It starts with an online assessment to help you select the ideal topic and set you up for success. This is followed by formal education to teach you the critical components of a great essay. Then you begin a rough draft with the help of our professional writing coaches. Through the final editing and review steps, we maximize your potential and help you produce a final product ready for any college admissions office.

The key to a quality admissions essay is to avoid procrastination. HelloCollege offers this multi-day college essay writing workshop to students entering their senior year, which allows plenty of time to complete a Common Application essay.

The Benefits of Taking a College Essay Prep Course

An admissions essay workshop is worthwhile for a number of reasons. Writing can be difficult for some, and writing about yourself can be an even greater challenge. With expert instruction, however, you can gain a valuable perspective and receive practical advice to create a standout essay. Additionally, our seasoned professionals are familiar with the higher-education application process—they know what it takes to present yourself as an exceptional candidate.

The qualified individuals at HelloCollege help you clearly and skillfully express your value to colleges and universities. Ready to get started? Our college essay writing class is offered as an individual service or part of our comprehensive College Admissions Program. Schedule a free consultation today or contact us to learn more.

Hello Team

We’re passionate about your college success

We don’t treat you like a number. We know each student has their own important needs. We used that passion to create a personal approach that helps all students with their unique college admissions journey.

Chris Bench

Director of Essay Services

Chris Bench, the Director of Essay, is a seasoned essay coach with a decade of experience. Holding an BA from Kenyon and an MA from University of Chicago, Chris's expertise shines through, particularly in the realm of commas, where his opinion is unwavering.

Sarah Bellardini

Marketing Specialist & Essay Coach

Sarah Bellardini is a comedy and animation writer with nearly a decade of experience working in television. She graduated with a degree in Film & TV from Boston University.

Brooke Kent

College Counselor & Essay Coach

Brooke Kent, a summa cum laude graduate of Rice University, a researcher for the White House Transition Project, and the former executive writer for the director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, has spent two decades helping students tell their stories in a personalized, persuasive, and achievement-focused way. Her philosophy is simple: Your Story. Our Support. Your Solution.

Will Wagner

Essay Coach

Will is an admissions essay expert, published author, and editor working on everything from national magazines to websites.

Alisha Braun

Essay Coach

Alisha has worked in higher ed for 13 yrs, teaching at MSU and USF. She has her Ph.D. in Educational Policy from Michigan State.

Sara Walsh

Essay Coach

With eighteen years of experience in international schools, Sara holds a B.A. in English from Notre Dame and an M.A. from SUNY New Paltz.

Andi Taylor

Essay Coach

Andi has over three years of experience working in a college admissions office. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics.

Steven Flores

Essay Coach


Steven Flores is a writer and educator with 11 years of experience in higher education, including 4 years of one-on-one essay coaching. He is currently an AOP Fellow at UW-Milwaukee.

Gina Twardosz

Essay Coach

Gina Twardosz is a curious lifelong learner with a BFA in English Writing and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction.

Elena Van Lare

Essay Coach

Elena Van Lare is an Academic Dean and English Teacher with over 30 years of experience working with young adults from Grades 6 to college. She earned her M.Ed. from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY.

Lauren Johnson

Essay Coach

Lauren Kay Johnson is an Afghanistan veteran, writing coach, and author of an award-winning memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has written for The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Boston Globe Magazine.

Margaret Wickham

Essay Coach

Margaret has a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire and an M.A. from Lesley University. She has worked as a high school counselor in several states as well as abroad, and in a previous life she led an editorial department at an ed-tech company.

Joelle Santiago

Essay Coach


Joëlle Santiago is a graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University, and an adjunct professor at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She has four years of experience as an Essay Coach.

Nik Nadeau

Essay Coach

Nik is a Korean adoptee, memoirist and poet based in Minneapolis. His creative nonfiction won the 2024 Annie Dillard Prize, and he was a finalist for the 2024 Iowa Review Award in Nonfiction.

Lauren Nash

Essay Coach

Lauren is a versatile professional with a background in theater, literature, and pre-medical studies. A former actor and writer in Los Angeles, she now works as a STEM tutor and admissions essay editor in New Orleans.

Allison Hadley

Essay Coach

Allison Hadley brings her background in academia and her love of storytelling to helping college applicants hone their essays. She earned her PhD in Italian Language and Literature from Yale University in 2018, focusing on the intersection of literature, theater, and the urban form.

Bertrand Cooper

Essay Coach

Bertrand has a B.A. in U.S. History from Fairleigh Dickinson and an Ed.M. in Education Theory & Policy from Rutgers GSE. His essays on poverty, policy, and culture have been featured in the NYT and The Atlantic. He loves writing and teaching and shall never retire from either.

Stewart Lewis

Essay Coach

Stewart Lewis is an author, musician, film producer, and former creative writing professor at University of Maryland and Belmont University. He holds an MFA from the University of Southern California, and his latest YA novel is becoming a movie.

Josh Kalscheur

Essay Coach

Poet, teacher and editor Josh Kalscheur is the author of Tidal (Four Way Books). His work has appeared in The Nation, Boston Review, and Slate, among others. He currently serves as a Lecturer at UW-Madison.

Sam Hobson

Essay Coach

Sam is a PhD candidate who holds a B.A. from the University of Chicago and an M.A. from the University of Michigan. Sam has taught writing for 10+ years and loves being outdoors.

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