College Essay Assistance

The essay is a vital part of your admission packet, so let me help you create your masterpiece!

Have a topic?

Write a rough draft-beginning to end and bring it to me. I will assess both your topic and your draft for strength and suitability. If I don’t think your topic will be an asset to your application packet, I will suggest that we go back to the drawing board. (see “brainstorming” below).

If I think you’ve got a good thing going, we will move on to the editing process. Together we will revise and edit your draft to a beautifully polished final piece that you can proudly submit to any university! 

Don’t have a topic?

Let's “brainstorm” together. Bring me a couple of ideas and we’ll flesh them out to see which one emerges as the strongest topic. You’ll leave with an outline to assist you in producing a rough draft. Once your draft is complete, schedule a final session with me and we’ll produce a perfect, polished product that will beautifully represent you and make your application packet sing!

What do colleges look for in an essay?

Nothing is more irksome to admissions officers than reading essays that are self-conscious and lifeless. College admissions departments want to know how you think and what makes you tick. The essay is your opportunity to use your voice and let your freak flag fly! Colleges WANT interesting, imperfect, and authentic students – real people..

How do I facilitate students in the creation of the perfect essay?

My goal when I work with a student to produce an essay is to first explore what matters to him or her and why, then to help translate those ideas, feelings, and emotions into words that echo the student’s voice. The resulting essay is unique because it tells a story with the spontaneity and clarity of expression that are the hallmarks of great stories rather than the technical precision of a business report or other brittle piece of writing no one wants to read. What is compelling about the work of celebrated writers such as Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Salinger is the simplicity of the verbal expression together with masterful use of rhetorical devices. To be sure, the grammar and punctuation must be correct but shouldn’t conceal the simple charm of the language  - the aim should be to show not tell who you are. Over the last 20+ years I have helped not only undergrads, but also graduate students, law students, and medical students find their voices and produce beautiful pieces of writing that reflect their uniqueness and individuality in a way that sets them apart from other applicants and, most importantly, makes them memorable.  

Testimonials

“Mrs. Petrone played a crucial role in my college journey, guiding me through ACT preparation and crafting impactful college essays. Her insight transformed my experiences into compelling narratives that resonated with admissions committees. Her dedication and expertise were essential in securing acceptances to several institutions, including the University of Connecticut, Penn State, UMass Amherst, Brandeis, Binghamton, and ultimately Rutgers University, where I found my perfect fit Her belief in my abilities was a constant inspiration, guiding me through uncertainty. As I begin my journey at Rutgers, I am immensely grateful for Mrs. Petrone's mentorship, and support, which has shaped my academic path in profound ways. She is more than an educator; she is a true source of support, and I am fortunate to have had her guidance.”

Adee Haziza
Rutgers University
Class of 2028

“I met Alyssa for the first time when I was in high school back in 2014. A friend of mine recommended her for SAT prep and I couldn’t be more grateful. I was always one who struggled with standardized exams, but Alyssa helped me get the SAT score I needed to land my dream college - NYU. She also helped me craft the most perfect personal statement that allowed me to stand out amongst others. Therefore, it was a no brainer to reach out for more help when it came time to write my personal statement for medical school. She is truly gifted with words and has a way to perfectly transform a bunch of thoughts and ideas into a compelling essay and story. Fast forward 4 years, and here I am today matching into my dream residency…pediatrics. Yet again Alyssa helped me craft the most perfect personal statement that conveyed my desire to become a pediatrician. I highly recommend Alyssa for any one of her services! She will not disappoint!”

Stavroula Spyropoulos, M.D.
NYU College of Arts and Sciences Class of 2020
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Class of 2024 
Pediatric Residency Class of 2027 at HMH Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital at HUMC

“…Once the testing was completed, Mrs. Petrone became even more helpful, as she offered valuable assistance in editing my college essays. She helped me turn decent first drafts into solid pieces that I was proud to submit. It doesn’t seem like one can convey much in 500 words, but I feel that with Mrs. Petrone’s guidance I was able to put my passions and personality to paper for admissions officers to read…” 

Brendan Saunders
Georgetown University
Class of 2018

“…Alyssa’s work with David on his college essays was also great. Picking topics to write about is not easy, and Alyssa helped David brainstorm. Even though David is a very good writer, Alyssa was able to help him significantly improve the final product. We were extremely happy with Alyssa on both the tutoring and college essay assistance and highly recommend her…”

Dan Merkle, father of David Merkle
New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts
Class of 2019

“…Her help on my college essays was invaluable.  Mrs. Petrone’s universal knowledge made it really easy for her to help me on my essays, whether they were about poetry, playwriting, or even film!..." 

David Merkle
New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts
Class of 2019

“…Additionally, my children tapped Alyssa further for guidance in writing their college essays.  The same positive approach, mentoring and insight inspired my children to write great essays.  Their writing has continued to stand out and I am confident that Alyssa was a pivotal force. I have recommended Alyssa to everyone who asks for a SAT tutor.  Thank you from all of us….” 

Stephanie Woolf, mother of:
Anna. University of Massachusetts, Class of 2009
Tim, Villanova University, Class of 2011
Alex, Syracuse University, Class of 2014

“…More and more, the “voice” of a college applicant has become as important as their standardized test scores. (Their “voice” is their resume including academics, volunteer work, jobs, hobbies and the glue that pulls the story together, their essays). Alyssa helped Toby and Hannah on multiple essays. This included both their college application and scholarship essays. Both children won multiple 4-year corporate scholarships. We have strongly recommended Alyssa to many families. All of the families have agreed with us that she is great-Alyssa’s tutoring and essay skills were the best and their children loved working with her. The college search process is stressful on multiple fronts. Alyssa eliminated a number of our potential worries….”

Philip Schwatz, father of:
Toby, Lafayette College, Class of 2015
Hannah, Tufts University, Class of 2017

“…I began working with Alyssa my sophomore year on my writing skills. She helped edit essays for my English class and also provided guidance for my term paper. I was able to verbalize my ideas with which allowed me to further analyze the topic and come up with a more in depth research paper….”

Emily G.
Boden University
Class of 2020

When applying to colleges in the fall of 2013, I was completely overwhelmed with the sheer number of essays I had to write — some schools asking for up to twelve short responses. However, working with Alyssa made it more than manageable and surprisingly, a lot of fun. Writing with Alyssa was far from a chore. Rather than approaching an essay as a requirement, she made sure we approached each prompt with creative energy and excitement. When asked to write 250 words on one of my quirks, Alyssa made sure I didn’t go for the most obvious response. Instead, she helped me compose a piece from the point of view of my red moleskin journal, chronicling all of the adventures it had with me. I was nervous that by working on my pieces with a professional, it would be difficult to let my voice come through my writing. Working with Alyssa, though, proved to be the exact opposite. She not only helped hone and enhance my writing, but also allowed and pushed for authenticity. With her, my personality and voice were able to shine in each essay we collaborated on. Alyssa knows how to cater to the college admissions process and she made sure I came out with products I was proud to submit. Without her help, I’m not sure I’d be studying at the University of Michigan, and for that, I am always grateful. Alyssa made writing enjoyable, and I highly recommend her essay preparation assistance to anyone beginning the college application process.

Katie Conklin
University of Michigan
Class of 2018

"...Most importantly, Alyssa made me see potential in even the smallest of ideas for essays. Most of my essays came from an idea that I originally thought was stupid, but Alyssa was that person who I could fall back on to show me that I could make a great essay out of the idea. Alyssa is truly an excellent mentor and a beautiful person inside and out."

Diana Soriano
Lehigh University
Class of 2020

"...The next summer, Mrs. Petrone and I switched gears and began focusing on my essays. She continued to bring out the best in me. We brainstormed essays ideas and built off of each other’s thoughts. When I would bring in a rough draft to her office, I would sit directly next to her and we would then edit the piece together. I am certain that watching Mrs. Petrone’s revision process made me a better writer. What always amazed me was that no essay topic or word limit stumps Mrs. Petrone. She is one of the most creative people I have ever met. To this day, I am in awe of how she does it all. She turned essays I liked into essays I absolutely LOVED. The essays we created together are some of my proudest work. Although I am extremely happy the college process is done for me, I am saddened by the fact I will not be working with Mrs. Petrone any time soon; she really is that good. Thank you, Mrs. Petrone. I am attending my dream college because of you!"

Alison Saunders
Ramsey HS
Valedictorian - Class of 2018
UCLA
Class of 2021

Alyssa was an invaluable resource as I wrote my essays for admission to business school. Whether brainstorming suitable topics, refining wording and grammar, or helping to put finishing touches on my work, she was there every step of the way. Her approach greatly simplified what had been a daunting process and allowed me to more effectively put my thoughts on the page. I am tremendously grateful for her insight, and strongly recommend her services for any students going through the rigorous graduate school admissions process

Chris C.
Duke Fuqua School of Business
Class of 2018