You’re smart, you’re talented, you’re involved in school activities and you get great grades. Congrats! But there are lots of other students out there just like you, and many hope to get into the same colleges that you do.
So, how to set yourself apart? With an application essay that’s sharp, creative, and an on-point expression of what makes you you - an essay written to EXPRESS, not just to IMPRESS.
College essay coach Jeff Swimmer can help you turn your life into a compelling STORY that sets you apart. Most college applicants now use AI to write their essays for them, and most of them are clunky and terrible.
As a longtime essay coach and Professor at Chapman University, I edit and read dozens of application essays every year. I can spot the AI-written essays a mile away. Don’t give into AI. I can help you draw on the page the most compelling picture of you.
In person or online - as you prefer.
Our Sessions Will Include:
Brainstorming
I want to get to know you. What drives you, and excites you. What are you most enthusiastic about in the classroom, and outside of school? What is your family background, and how has it shaped who you are – and who you hope to become?
Strategy
What schools are you planning to apply to? What are those schools in particular looking for, and how can we shape your essays to most precisely target those schools? We’ll also begin crafting essay outlines – what are the main points that need to be hit?
Fine-tuning
You’ve got the draft, now it’s time to level up. We’ll dig into the structure, tone, and flow to make sure every sentence earns its place. Are you answering the prompt clearly? Are your values coming through? Is your voice consistent? No fluff, just precision.
Feedback
Think of me as your editor, coach, and second brain. I don’t just suggest edits, but will help you understand why they matter. You’ll get feedback that’s specific, strategic, and rooted in what admissions readers are actually looking for.
Testimonials
Pricing
About Jeff Swimmer
Jeff Swimmer is a Professor in the film school at Chapman University since 2008, a Fulbright Scholar, author of three non-fiction books, and a writer on HBO docu-series (including “The Synanon Fix,” April 2024). He has coached high school students with their college application essays for more than 15 years,
and has reviewed and evaluated hundreds of applications to Chapman University.
B.A., U.C. Berkeley (Political Economy)
M.S. Northwestern University (Broadcast Journalism)
M.S. USC Marshall School of Business (Social Entrepreneurship)
