Philadelphia Area College Essay Tutoring

Meet Chris — Creative Writer With Ivy-League Experience

Meet Chris, a college essay writing coach. He has experience teaching writing courses at an Ivy League university. He is based in Philadelphia. He believes in a fun, creative approach to essay tutoring that helps students find their own voice.

  • 4 years teaching writing at Columbia University

  • Revised hundreds of undergraduate essays

  • M.A. in English, Columbia University

    B.A. in English, Haverford College (summa cum laude)

  • Lives in Philly, writing a novel

  • Wrote his college essay about napping on a dock

Current Offerings

  • Common App Personal Statement

  • Supplemental Essays

  • School-Specific Prompts

I work with writers at all steps of the essay process, from those just getting started to those looking for a reader to fine-tune their final drafts.

Free 20 minute onboarding consultation

$150 per 75 minute session

All meetings via zoom

Now taking students within and beyond the Philadelphia area.

chrisessaytutoring@gmail.com

My Approach

Standout college application essays combine the clarity and precision of an Ivy-League paper with the creative flair of a good short story. My approach to tutoring draws on both.

Writing doesn’t have to be daunting—quit hitting your head against a blank page, waiting for inspiration to finally strike! Ivy-League programs break writing into a series of manageable steps, from brainstorming and organizing to drafting and revising. I have years of experience teaching Ivy-League students proven strategies that gradually build up to create an effective essay.

Clear, concise writing is a must, but the best essays also need to make bold moves admissions officers can’t help but remember. I love helping students take their stories in unexpected directions, encouraging them to try out some of the skills I practice all the time as a creative writer: twisting narratives away from expected cliches, bringing key moments to life, zooming in on the perfect details to let their own story-telling power shine through.

Counseling students across the Philly area, including:

  • Ardmore

  • Bryn Mawr

  • Radnor

  • Gladwyne

  • Villanova

  • Narberth

  • Merion

  • Devon

  • Havertown

  • Swarthmore

  • Media

  • Wayne

  • Bala Cynwyd

  • Devon

  • Berwyn

  • Malvern

  • Conshohocken

  • Manayunk

  • Chestnut Hills

  • Wyndmoor

  • Jenkintown

  • Haddonfield

  • Moorestown

  • Cherry Hill

and surroundings including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York.