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The Declaration - Your Personal Statement + Your First-choice School Essays
The Declaration - Your Personal Statement + Your First-choice School Essays
Offered by Sonya P.
5.0
Stanford + Columbia | College Essay Specialist | 95% Reach a Top Choice
Studied at Columbia University
Works at The College Master: Guide to your Dream College – Expert Test Prep and Admissions Essays Consulting
Description
Everything in The Portrait Package: - Brainstorming session for the Personal Statement (2 hrs) with 5–6 core discovery exercises - Full drafting, rewriting & revision of the Personal Statement - Polished final essay - Annotated examples of successful essays of the same type - Application context review — activities list, honors & written components assessed to ensure the essay strengthens the whole PLUS - All supplemental essays for your 1st choice university - School-specific research included - Full revision & polish on all supplemental essays - Holistic application review — activities list, honors & all written components - Parent communication included throughout - Unlimited email correspondence — same-day responses, never billed separately
What you'll get from this package
A polished, submission-ready personal statement that stands out at the most selective U.S. universities.
A clear, authentic narrative — the story only you can tell — uncovered through guided discovery.
A full trail of drafts with annotated feedback, so you can see exactly how each essay grew from first idea to final.
An essay that sounds unmistakably like you — and sharper writing instincts you'll carry into every supplement and application that follows.
A complete, cohesive set of supplemental essays for your top-choice school — every "Why us," short answer, and activity description working together.
School-specific research and positioning, so your application speaks directly to what that university values.
A holistic review of your whole application (activities, honors, all written components) so every piece pulls in the same direction
Additional details
Coaching delivered via live sessions and .
My approach is personal and voice-first. Here's how we work together: 01 · Discovery Session A focused 2-hour conversation using 5–6 core exercises designed to surface the right essay topic. In 90% of cases, this single session is enough to determine the direction entirely. 02 · Essay Examples & Benchmarks You receive a curated set of successful essays of the same type you're writing — with detailed analysis of why each one worked and what made it stand out to admissions readers. 03 · Structure & Voice We build the architecture of your essay together — hook, paragraph order, conclusion — then focus on the depth that separates memorable essays from competent ones: your real story, told in your real voice. 04 · Drafting & Revision Every draft receives structural and line-level feedback, separately. Revisions are unlimited — we refine word choice, tone, pacing, and style until the essay sounds unmistakably like you, at your best. 05 · Timeline Management Deadlines are tracked and every step is scheduled in advance. Nothing is left to the last minute — the final essay is polished, not rushed. Always included I stay in direct contact with you and your family throughout, with unlimited, same-day email support (never billed separately). And I coach the *whole* application — activities, positioning, and strategy — not just the essay, so every piece works toward the same goal. Every student I work with gets 100% of my attention. I am a perfectionist, and I will do my absolute best to see you succeed. I take on a small number of students at a time because I believe the quality of our work together matters more than the volume. Whether you need help with a single essay or want comprehensive support through every stage of your application, I will build a plan around you — your story, your strengths, and the schools where you can truly thrive.
Services included:
Application Strategy
Essays
General Exploration
Editing
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Schedule a call with a Leland team member who can help you explore your options.
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Sonya also coaches for SAT, Master’s Programs, and TOEFL. View all.

Offered by Sonya P.
Joined July 2026
5.0
Stanford + Columbia | College Essay Specialist | 95% Reach a Top Choice
I’m a Stanford- and Columbia-educated college admissions coach with 8+ years of experience helping high-achieving students gain admission to selective universities in the U.S. and in UK. I work with juniors and seniors on the full application strategy—from building a smart college list and positioning activities to developing authentic personal statements and supplements and preparing for mock admissions interviews. 95% of my students have been admitted to at least one of their top-choice schools, including Ivy League universities. My students have earned admission to Columbia, UPenn, Cornell, Duke, Brown, UChicago, UCLA, USC, NYU, Vanderbilt, UMich, UC Berkeley, Oxford, Cambridge, and many other highly selective programs. I’ve also helped students raise SAT scores to 1590 and successfully compete for major awards, including Fulbright. I particularly enjoy working with ambitious students and I welvome both domestic international families. My approach combines strategic admissions expertise with hands-on writing guidance: I help students identify what makes their story distinctive, communicate it authentically, and build an application that is both compelling and cohesive.
$4,500
20h of coaching