I'm a writer, editor, and academic, and college essays sit right at the intersection of what I do best, namely, helping someone turn their experience into a clear, memorable story. I studied history at Princeton and am now an MPhil candidate on a prestigious fellowship at Cambridge, so I've been through selective admissions from the inside — the applications, the interviews, and the close work with professors who sit on committees like these. I also work as a journalist and editor and I edit the work of established, high-profile writers for a living. I bring that same editorial eye to every essay I work on. My students get results, often in the most crowded applicant pools, where there's no built-in hook or adversity story to fall back on and the essay has to carry real weight. I'm direct, hands-on, and never overbearing: I'll give you concrete ways to brainstorm, help you find the story only you can tell, and get you to a finished essay you're proud of. Testimonials Paula: "I hired Alex to help my son Tyler with composing a common app essay but after I saw how much he was helping Tyler, scheduled sessions to help Tyler write all his essays. We came to him a month before the common app deadline, and he helped Tyler brainstorm and write a common app that was so compelling that college admissions staff from two of the schools he applied to gave us a phone call after he got in to specifically mention it was one of the most moving admissions essays that they had seen. Tyler got into almost all the schools he applied to, almost every school with a scholarship, and now is attending one that gave him a full scholarship. I cannot—I repeat CANNOT—thank Alex enough. He is one of the smartest, quickest editors and tutors I have ever had the pleasure of coming across." Ahrav: "I've always gravitated towards and excelled in STEM subjects, so writing a common app that would make me stand out against the sea of other STEM applicants was to me the most daunting thing. Alex made the process so much easier. He gave me tangible techniques for brainstorming and ultimately worked with me to synthesize my interests in music and mathematics, weaving them into a cohesive, unique narrative that I was proud of. He was never overbearing or under-involved; rather, he guided me through the process in a way that both strengthened my writing skills and helped me overcome the hurdle of putting pen to paper. Ultimately, I got into my dream school of Dartmouth. I can't recommend Alex enough!" Daniel: "Alex was such a great help. I had issues with essay structure and thought organization, and he helped me sort out my argument in the clearest way possible. I never realized how easy and thoughtless essay planning can be when done right. Plus, I got into one of my top choices, UC Berkeley. I highly, highly suggest his help if you're struggling with getting your thoughts out."