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Blank Page to Clear Outline: Get Unstuck on Your Personal Essay

Blank Page to Clear Outline: Get Unstuck on Your Personal Essay

​Feeling stuck on your personal essay? You're not alone. Trust, you are not the only senior who keeps putting off writing their application essay. You're sure you'll be able to finish once you start. You just need to put something - anything - on the page, but going from 0 to 1 feels harder than going from 1 to 100. And advice like "just start!", "show who you are," "brainstorm some ideas," isn't working, right? ​Join Isamar V., a former Stanford admissions officer and college application coach, in this workshop where she will guide you as you complete 3 exercises to go from a blank page to a clear essay outline in 1 hour. Get your pen and paper (or laptop) ready because this isn't just a lecture. You are going to put in the work in this workshop. ​If you have no idea what you want to write about --> You'll leave with several ideas, topics, and stories to choose from If you have an idea or story but don't know if it's good --> You'll leave with personal reflections to make it good If you have a story that you're excited about, but just haven't sat down to write --> You'll leave with an outline If you already have an outline, but just no written draft --> You'll have a dedicated hour to write ​You'll also get some tips for how to go from outline to a first written draft. Whether you're just starting or need a fresh perspective, the goal for you is to feel unstuck and excited to write your story.

Isamar V.
Cracking the Common App: A College Admissions Panel

Cracking the Common App: A College Admissions Panel

The Common App can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to tackle it alone. ​Join this session with Isamar V., former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford University, and Raina M., a Cornell University student. We’ll break down key parts of the application, offer guidance on how to approach each section strategically, and share insights to help your application stand out. ​From personal statements to activity lists and supplemental essays, this panel will offer practical tips, common pitfalls to avoid, and advice to help you move forward with confidence, wherever you are in the process.

Raina M.
2 contributors
Ask Me Anything with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer

Ask Me Anything with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer

Join me for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session to get answers to your college admissions questions. I'm Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, a Harvard grad, proud first-generation college graduate, and an experienced college admissions coach. With years working with students from all backgrounds, including US-based, international, and first-generation applicants, I'm here to help you navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to provide thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic guidance. Whether you're a high school student or parent, don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a seasoned professional.

Isamar V.
DIY Your Stand-Out Summer Program or Project that Colleges Notice

DIY Your Stand-Out Summer Program or Project that Colleges Notice

Can't afford fancy summer programs? Didn’t get around to applying to summer programs? No problem! Create a summer experience that turns heads in admissions offices ands fuels your personal interests. This workshop reveals how to design and execute impressive self-directed summer projects that both strengthen college applications and deepen your unique interests. Learn how to transform curiosity into meaningful action without expensive programs. Perfect for ambitious high schoolers seeking authentic growth opportunities that naturally translate to applications that shine.

Isamar V.
Elevate Your Common App: Craft a Powerful Activities List

Elevate Your Common App: Craft a Powerful Activities List

Are you applying to college and nervous about how to talk about your activities? Join Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, for this live workshop focused on helping you highlight your story through your activities list. This workshop will help you craft a powerful Common App activities list that showcases your unique interests and accomplishments beyond superficial activity descriptions. Learn 3 strategies to ensure that your application makes a compelling impression on admissions committees, captures your essence, and maximizes your chances of standing out in the admissions process. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your application! Who is leading the workshop? As a former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford, Isamar personally reviewed over 7,000 applications. As an admissions consultant, she coached students to gain admission to universities like Yale, Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, UVA, Pomona, and more. She has supported both US and international students, as well as first-gen students. Isamar’s personalized, empathetic, and strategic approach ensures that your unique strengths and experiences shine through in your application. Her goal is for you to feel that you are applying as your best self, no matter where you’re applying. Isamar is a proud first-generation college graduate with a BA and EdM from Harvard, and an MBA from Oxford.

Isamar V.
Ask. Me. Anything. AMA with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer

Ask. Me. Anything. AMA with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer

Join me for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session to get answers to your college admissions questions. I'm Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, a Harvard grad, proud first-generation college graduate, and an experienced college admissions coach. With years working with students from all backgrounds, including US-based, international, and first-generation applicants, I'm here to help you navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to provide thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic guidance. Whether you're a high school student or parent, don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a seasoned professional.

Isamar V.
Ask Me Anything with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer

Ask Me Anything with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer

Join me for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session to get answers to your college admissions questions. I'm Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, a Harvard grad, proud first-generation college graduate, and an experienced college admissions coach. With years working with students from all backgrounds, including US-based, international, and first-generation applicants, I'm here to help you navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to provide thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic guidance. Whether you're a high school student or parent, don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a seasoned professional. Note: Feel free to ask about any college admissions topic, regardless of your target school. This AMA is not exclusively focused on Stanford admissions.

Isamar V.
Amazon Interview Prep: What You Need to Know to Succeed

Amazon Interview Prep: What You Need to Know to Succeed

You will get practical tips on what to do in days and weeks leading up to an Amazon behavioral interview. I am a professional coach and I worked at Amazon for 4 years. During that time I interviewed dozens of people. I myself went through several interview loops.

Tamuna P.
Tamuna P.
Beyond the Basics: AI Resume Strategies That Land Interviews

Beyond the Basics: AI Resume Strategies That Land Interviews

This 45-minute session will show you how to use AI to transform your resume from a basic document into one that gets noticed, going far beyond keyword swaps or generic AI tools. We’ll work through examples, with guided opportunities for you to apply each technique to your own resume. We’ll cover: *The difference between generic prompts and role-specific, detailed prompts — and how to craft your own live in the session *Turning a career history or messy notes into a polished, professional draft you can use immediately *Rewriting bullet points to emphasize impact, metrics, and action verbs recruiters can’t miss *Condensing overly long sections without losing substance so your most important wins stand out

Breanne W.
Breanne W.
Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant

Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant

Basics differences between these similar paths.

Leland Community
Sample Cover Letter - Product Manager

Sample Cover Letter - Product Manager

Cover Letter focused on how mission and the particular role align with previous experience. Pulling in how to add value to the organization.

Leland Community
Medical School Application Prep

Medical School Application Prep

Basics preparation for medical school applications.

Leland Community
Application Tracker

Application Tracker

Use this application tracker to stay organized throughout your job search process in consulting.

Ian G.
Ian G.
Practice Case Study: BCG Analysis for AeroView

Practice Case Study: BCG Analysis for AeroView

See how BCG helps AeroView choose between two satellite fleet options—balancing cost, flexibility, and market opportunity.

Ian G.
Ian G.
Crack the Sky China Case: Airline Strategy in a Crisis

Crack the Sky China Case: Airline Strategy in a Crisis

Learn to navigate a complex airline case study, with a focus on cost-cutting and long-term strategy for Sky China during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ian G.
Ian G.
Casing Preparation Plan

Casing Preparation Plan

Step-by-step roadmap to master casing—frameworks, math, and communication skills for top consulting firms.

Ian G.
Ian G.
Succeeding On the Job - Before You Start

Succeeding On the Job - Before You Start

Landed the job—now what? Get the critical steps and secret strategies you need to prepare for success before you even start!

Ian G.
Ian G.
CBS MBA Example Admitted Essays

CBS MBA Example Admitted Essays

Check out these examples of CBS MBA Example Admitted Essays.

Melanie E.
Melanie E.
Creating an Elevator Pitch

Creating an Elevator Pitch

Develop a clear and engaging elevator pitch that highlights your strengths and captures the interest of potential employers.

Corinna H.
Corinna H.
Negotiation Prep Template

Negotiation Prep Template

Use this template to organize your key talking points, goals, and strategies for a successful negotiation.

Corinna H.
Corinna H.

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