Having joined The College Sage as a Consultant in June, I’m very happy to take the opportunity to tell you a little more about myself than you’ll find in my Bio on the website. Susan and I go way back to our Wake Forest college days, and I’m so pleased to be joining her at The College Sage in the Washington DC area where I’ve opened a satellite office. I’ve had a long career in education, most recently at The Madeira School, where I taught English (mostly juniors and seniors), was a Class Dean, and worked in College Counseling, supporting students throughout their college application process. During my nine years at Madeira, I helped many students achieve success and pursue their dreams beyond high school. It brings me such joy to hear from students who are now out of college and continuing to achieve in diverse fields and in very impressive ways!
The Power of Your Own Voice
I began my career at Phillips Andover and, after moving to Vermont, went on to teach writing at the college level at Middlebury College and the University of Vermont. In all my years of teaching writing, what stands out to me is the reward of helping students discover the power of their own voice. By the time they reach upper levers of high school and college, many students have experienced the red pen of grammar corrections and feel hampered by a focus on “correct” writing. Their inner critic sits on their shoulder while they write and stifles their ideas and the flow of their words. My goal when working with students is to help free them from these obstacles so their originality and voice can shine through; so their brilliant ideas can move seamlessly from their minds to the page.
In an age when it’s so tempting to “just use AI to make it sound better,” I strive to help students gain confidence in their own voice, which is always better than AI voice. AI may sound silky smooth and look flawless, but even using AI simply to copyedit and proofread flattens out the voice, making it devoid of personality. When we prompt AI to “make it have more personality,” inevitably clichés creep in along with a distinct cheesiness that is the opposite of originality. There’s a place for AI without a doubt—it’s transforming so many aspects of our society—but student essay writing most definitely is not where it belongs. Competitive schools still depend on human readers to evaluate applications and weed out essays that have relied on AI. Believe me when I say that when someone reads a lot of student essays, it’s not difficult to tell when AI has been used.
Students, however, greatly benefit from effective, expert feedback on their writing. Wherever a student is in the writing process—from brainstorming to polishing a draft—I can help, always with the student’s authentic voice at the center.
Telling Your Story in the College Essay
As a writer myself, I know how challenging writing can be. I’ve worked as a professional writer for national and global organizations, crafting their narratives to engage audiences. Telling a compelling story is always powerful, whether it’s an organization’s or an individual’s. Colleges want to know a student’s story, who they are beyond their grades and scores. But the essay component of the application can be daunting, and staring at a blank page can be overwhelming. I can help students get started or unstuck so they can make the most of the opportunity to show colleges who they are beyond their numbers. After all, when so many students have competitive scores and grades, the essay component of an application is a chance to make yourself stand out.
Expertise and Experience
For years I’ve helped students achieve success in all aspects of the college application process. From advising 9th through 11th graders on the best course schedule or summer opportunities to match their strengths and interests, to helping a student discover extracurricular activities in which they’ll thrive, to guiding the application timeline, to assisting with final enrollment decisions, I have supported students every step of the way. Having worked in academia for the majority of my career, I have deep knowledge of the breadth of colleges and universities out there, including lesser-known gems. Although I’m based in the DC area, I work with students all over the country and am accepting new clients now. Contact thecollegesage.com to book an appointment with me!
