Many students struggle with finding their authentic voice, worried they need to sound overly formal or impressive rather than genuine. Others face organization issues—starting strong but losing focus, or cramming too many ideas into one essay without clear development. Writer's block is also common when students feel pressure to have a "perfect" story, and revision can be tough without feedback on what's actually working in their writing.

Tutors provide personalized feedback on your essay drafts, helping you identify what's working and where you need stronger examples or clearer organization. They guide you through the writing process—from brainstorming and outlining to revision—and help you develop your unique voice rather than trying to write what you think admissions committees want to hear. With one-on-one instruction, you get targeted support on your specific challenges, whether that's structure, argumentation, or finding the right tone.

Your initial session focuses on understanding your goals, timeline, and any essay prompts you're working with. The tutor will likely ask about your writing strengths and challenges, review any drafts you have, and help you identify what story or experience you want to highlight. From there, they'll create a personalized plan for your sessions—whether you need help brainstorming, organizing ideas, developing your argument, or refining your final draft.

Most effective application essays follow a clear arc: an engaging opening that draws readers in, body paragraphs that develop your main idea with specific examples, and a conclusion that reflects on what you've shared. Your essay should have a clear thesis or central idea—what are you trying to show about yourself?—and each paragraph should support that idea with concrete details rather than general statements. Strong structure helps admissions officers follow your thinking and understand who you are.

Most students benefit from writing 2-3 substantial drafts, with feedback and revision between each one. Your first draft is about getting ideas down; the second focuses on organization and development; the third refines voice, clarity, and polish. With personalized tutoring, you'll get targeted feedback on each draft so your revisions are strategic rather than random—you'll know exactly what to strengthen and why.

Your authentic voice emerges when you write about something that genuinely matters to you and use language that feels natural to you, not overly formal or trying to impress. Share specific details and examples from your own experience rather than general statements—this makes your writing distinctive and memorable. A tutor can help you identify when you're slipping into "essay voice" versus sounding like yourself, and guide you toward writing that's both compelling and genuinely you.

Brooklyn has many selective private schools with different missions and values, so it's important to research the specific schools you're applying to and understand what they're looking for. Some schools emphasize community service, others focus on intellectual curiosity or leadership, and your essay should reflect how you align with their particular values. A tutor familiar with Brooklyn's private school landscape can help you tailor your essay to each school's priorities while keeping your authentic story at the center.