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Award-Winning College Essays Tutors serving Des Moines, IA

Joshua

Certified Tutor

7+ years

Joshua

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Joshua's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
College Essays
Literature

The college essay is really a design problem: how do you structure 650 words so an admissions reader remembers you? Joshua went through this process himself as a STEM applicant who needed to stand out beyond test scores, and he walks students through brainstorming, drafting, and sharpening a narrati...

Education

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science

Test Scores
SAT
1560
Jessica

Certified Tutor

Jessica

PHD, Medicine
Jessica's other Tutor Subjects
College Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
Honors Chemistry

I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...

Education

Nova Southeastern University

PHD, Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelors, History

University of Pennsylvania

undergraduate

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Jai

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Jai

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Jai's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Electrical Engineering
ACT Writing

I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...

Education

Stanford University

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Test Scores
SAT
1590
ACT
35
Kate

Certified Tutor

Kate

Masters, Environmental Engineering
Kate's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Pre-Calculus

I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Masters, Environmental Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1580
Erika

Certified Tutor

Erika

Master of Public Policy, Public Policy
Erika's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am...

Education

Harvard University

Master of Public Policy, Public Policy

Test Scores
ACT
32
Jeffrey

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Jeffrey

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
Jeffrey's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Calculus
Geometry
Calculus
Algebra

I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and com...

Education

University of Notre Dame

Bachelor of Science

Rice University

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering

Test Scores
ACT
34
Rhea

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Rhea

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Rhea's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1550
ACT
36
Sharon

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Sharon

Master of Science, Journalism
Sharon's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, and I will be starting a graduate program at Columbia in August. I am about to complete a year of service with City Year, an education non-profit that places young adults into under-served schools. As a City Year member, I worked full-time in the classro...

Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Master of Science, Journalism

University of Chicago

Bachelor in Arts

Test Scores
SAT
1550
Tony

Certified Tutor

Tony

Bachelor of Science in Biology
Tony's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Biology
High School Biology

I am a recent graduate of Yale University and incoming first year medical student at Columbia University. Originally from the DC area, I have always had a passion for science and medicine and pursued a degree in Biology while at Yale. During the 2008-2009 academic year, I tutored science, math, Engl...

Education

Yale University

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Pinelopi

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Pinelopi

Bachelor in Arts in Psychology
Pinelopi's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Geometry
Calculus

I am a Duke University graduate with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. I have experience tutoring all levels of Spanish language, all sections of the SAT, as well as algebra, pre algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus! I love kids & I have a very flexible schedule and a lot of patience! Let me help you...

Education

Duke University

Bachelor in Arts in Psychology

Test Scores
SAT
1530

Frequently Asked Questions

College essay tutoring focuses on helping students craft compelling narratives that showcase their unique voice and experiences to admissions committees. A tutor works with you through the entire process—from brainstorming and outlining to drafting, revising, and polishing—while providing detailed feedback on structure, clarity, and persuasiveness. This personalized 1-on-1 instruction ensures your essay reflects your authentic self while meeting college application standards.

Many students struggle with finding a compelling topic that feels both meaningful and distinctive, or they write in a voice that doesn't sound like themselves. Others get stuck organizing their thoughts into a coherent narrative, or they overthink the essay so much that writer's block sets in. A tutor can help you work through these obstacles by asking guiding questions, offering organizational strategies, and helping you develop authentic voice rather than trying to write what you think admissions officers want to hear.

Your first session is about understanding where you are in the process and what you need most. Whether you're starting from scratch or revising a draft, a tutor will ask about your college list, the prompt you're responding to, and any concerns you have about your writing. You'll likely discuss potential essay topics or review existing work, then create a plan for moving forward—whether that's brainstorming, outlining, or tackling a revision challenge.

Rather than just marking errors, a tutor provides constructive feedback that helps you understand why certain changes strengthen your essay—whether that's clarifying your thesis, improving flow between paragraphs, or ensuring your examples truly support your main idea. This personalized guidance teaches you revision strategies you can apply to future writing, not just this essay. Many students find that working through feedback with a tutor is far more effective than trying to interpret comments alone.

Your authentic voice—the way you naturally think and speak—is what makes your essay stand out to admissions officers. A tutor helps you identify and strengthen this voice by asking questions about your perspective, encouraging you to use specific examples from your life, and pointing out when language feels forced or inauthentic. The goal is to help you sound like yourself while still meeting the formal expectations of a college application essay.

Absolutely. Most students need to write several essays for different schools and prompts, and a tutor can help you manage all of them. While each essay requires a unique response, many of the skills transfer—strong organization, clear thesis development, and authentic voice apply across all your essays. A tutor can help you tackle different prompts efficiently and ensure each essay showcases a different facet of who you are.

This depends on where you're starting and how many essays you need to write. Some students benefit from a few sessions focused on brainstorming and outlining, while others work with a tutor over several months to develop multiple essays. Most students find that consistent, focused sessions—whether weekly or bi-weekly—allow enough time for meaningful revision and feedback. A tutor can help you create a realistic timeline based on your college application deadlines.

Varsity Tutors connects you with experienced tutors who specialize in college essays and understand what admissions committees are looking for. You can share your timeline, essay prompts, and specific areas where you need support, and you'll be matched with a tutor who's a great fit for your needs. From there, you can schedule sessions that work with your schedule and start working on your essays right away.

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