Is your teen grappling with college applications, especially the essays?

If so, I understand! College applications can fuel anxiety, leading teens to worry, procrastinate, agonize over what to write in their essays, and even resist help from their parents.

Don't worry; this is where I come in. I'll work as your teen's writing coach until the apps are done.

Although I won't write your teen's essays for them, I'll provide the guidance and accountability they need to do it themselves and do it well.

According to your teen's preference and schedule, we'll work together in real-time on Google Meet and/or asynchronously in Google Docs.

First, we'll work through the essay topics and brainstorm ideas. Next, I'll prompt your teen to build detailed, effective outlines. Here, we're conquering the huge, scary megatask of drafting by dissolving it into a series of small, manageable microtasks. At that point, your teen might feel ready to go off and complete the drafts alone—if not, I'm more than happy to sit with them as they draft, providing help and encouragement until each microtask is done. Finally, when your teen is happy with their essays, we'll do a polish for grammar and clarity, making sure each sentence allows your teen's unique voice to shine through.

All throughout this process, I'll be helping your teen practice executive skills, like setting and sticking to reasonable deadlines. I know this is a stressful time for your teen, but it's also a wonderful opportunity to boost their confidence to handle complex tasks.

Prices & scheduling:

This type of writing coaching usually takes place in lots of short bursts. For example, on one day we might work on Google Meet for 40 minutes on planning and outlining, and the next day I might take 10 minutes to do a grammar polish on your teen's completed draft. I'll tally up my time spent coaching your teen and, when all the apps are done, I'll email you with a request for payment at the rate of $45 per hour (prorated to the minute).

To get started, please email me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com and let me know which days and times are best for your teen to meet with me online, as well as what time zone you live in. (I'm on Eastern Time.). Even if your teen prefers asynchronous coaching, I'd like to start with a quick real-time meeting to say hi and to learn about their specific needs.

I look forward to guiding your teen through this important phase of their academic journey!