Darla T.
5.0
(10)
Studied at Brigham Young University
Works at freelance
Successful clients at
Available Thursday at 3:00 AM UTC
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About Darla
I didn’t start out thinking I could get into any four-year university, especially BYU. I grew up in a small farming community with parents who had not attended college. Higher education was never emphasized in my upbringing. I attended a community college because I wasn’t sure I was “BYU material.” After earning my associate’s degree, I got a full-time job and figured my college journey was over. But thanks to a few amazing mentors who believed in me, I found the courage to apply to BYU as a transfer student. They gave me feedback on my essays, helped me through the application process, and cheered me on every step of the way. I got in—and graduated from BYU. Now, I love being that same kind of support for other students. I spent 10 years as a professional editor and have helped more than 15 students (including my own kids!) with their BYU applications. I focus especially on the essays—helping students go beyond generic answers to tell real, meaningful stories that show who they are. If you’re applying to BYU and want someone who understands the process and knows how to help you stand out, I’m here for you.
Why do I coach?
After earning an associate's degree, I started my career working at author Stephen R. Covey's firm, The Covey Leadership Center, as an administrative assistant. I was surrounded by highly educated people and I started to dream of completing a bachelor's degree. I doubted myself a lot, but the people I worked with saw my potential and mentored me to think bigger about my future. Brigham Young University was down the street from the Covey offices and was the logical place for me to apply. I had grown up as a BYU sports fan but being a student had always felt out of reach for me. My mentors helped me figure out the application process. They reviewed my essays and guided me on who to ask to be my recommenders. Overall, they kept me going when I was overwhelmed with the process and wanted to give up. Without their coaching, I never would have achieved my dream of being a first-generation college graduate. After I helped my first child with her college applications and I had successfully worked as an editor for many years, I realized I could use my experience and skills to help applicants the same way my mentors helped me. I am a natural encourager and love helping high school seniors write essays that share their unique and personal story.
Work Experience
College Essay Coach
freelance
September 2017 - Present
Each year since 2017, I have helped 5-7 applicants with their essays for the BYU application. My coaching included editing essays for grammar as well as coaching on how to incorporate the AIMs of a BYU education and how to highlight the applicant's unique experiences and story. Of the applicants I have helped, 85% have been admitted to BYU.
Co-Owner
Red Mountain Motors
2014 - Present
Co-owner of Red Mountain Motors, an independent used car dealership, where I oversee daily operations, inventory, sales performance, CRM processes, and financial reporting. I lead marketing initiatives including website management, brand development, and customer retention strategies. - Optimized title and registration workflows, reducing processing time by 60% while ensuring regulatory compliance. - Implemented CRM software to improve lead tracking, resulting in a 75% increase in follow-up. - Focused on delivering exceptional customer service, contributing to a 4.8-star rating across 175+ Google reviews. Client Services, Brand Development and +18 skills
Podcast Host & Producer
Spiritually Minded Women
2018 - 2023
Conceptualized, developed, and launched a personal development podcast with 250K+ downloads in 5 years and 10K downloads per month in the last year. Handled all aspects of administrative and production duties including ideation, guest selection, calendar management, written communication, social media content, email correspondence, interviewing, recording, editing, and post-production. Assessed target audience’s needs and collaborated with guests and influencers to deliver inclusive, instructive content. • Recruited by a major local brand to build an online course on empowering mothers of teenagers. • Invited to speak at 6 conferences (online and in-person, U.S./Canada) focused on women’s issues. • Earned a rating of 4.9 (174 reviews) on Apple Podcasts by consistently delivering quality content. Presentation Skills, Brand Development and +23 skills
Freelance Editor
Contractor
2013 - 2023
Contracted with a consulting firm (ghSmart) to edit hundreds of C-suite executive talent assessments to assist clients in making critical talent management decisions. Collaborated with a cross-functional team to deliver assessments on tight deadlines, often editing in real-time and working across time zones. Exposed to a variety of high-profile executives’ work histories. Created accurate reports utilizing Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. • Frequently requested as editor due to reputation for meeting deadlines and providing quality work aligned with industry best practices. • Improved quality and accuracy of assessments through strong editing capabilities to revise content for conciseness and clarity. Editing, Client Services and +15 skills
Client Service Coordinator
Franklin Covey
1996 - 1999
Assisted vice president in administrative functions in a fast-paced sales region. Duties included maintaining calendars, drafting communication, tracking expenses, planning region events, and creating new processes and systems. Promoted to provide logistical support for client programs, interface with clients nationwide, organize custom company programs in communities, handle order entry and processing tasks, and maintain databases. • Improved employee efficiency by delivering internal training on company policies and processes. • Collaborated with Vice President to develop a personal employee-employer agreement based on company philosophy; invited to co-present with vice president on agreement at a major symposium. Client Services, Presentation Skills and +14 skills
Education
Utah Valley University
Associate's Degree, General Education
Writing
Brigham Young University
Bachelor's degree, Sociology
1999
Administrative Assistance, Writing and +4 skills
10 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Darla has helped clients get into these schools: