Frequently Asked Questions

Everyone knows how competitive the college admissions process has become. You have already done the most demanding part- your academics and extracurricular activities. Many students find the personal statement to be the most daunting and intimidating part of their application. I will teach you what colleges want to know and help you brainstorm methods to effectively tell them. My goal is for you to stand out and be memorable to the admissions officers.

The approach to writing the University of California’s Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) is distinct from the essay, or personal statement, commonly used in the Common Application.

The PIQs are four 350-word essays that are part of the UC application, whereas the Common Application essay has a limit of 650 words. The Common App is used by approximately 1,000 colleges and universities across the U.S. and in other countries. Some universities (who are not on Common App) have their own maximum essay lengths, which often vary from 500 to 800 words.

In each workshop, I teach students the format that appeals to each system. The UC PIQ structure is quite different from the more creative narrative format that is desired by admissions readers of most Common App colleges.

Workshops:

1. Go to the Register tab on the Home page and click on the location and type of workshop.

2. It will accept your payment at that time and a confirmation email will be sent to you.

Individual appointments:

1. Email me at Janet@CollegeEssaySupport.com to set a date and time.

2. Once confirmed, please use the Book button on the Register page. I also accept Venmo, please indicate if that is your preference.

3. I will send you a DocuSign for the parent/guardian, a student questionnaire and the Google Meet link for our meeting if we are not meeting in person. 

The in-person workshops are designed to provide the tools you will need to write your University of California PIQs or your personal statement (for Common App, etc.) without any further instruction or guidance from me. Workshops are the most efficient method of preparation.

Should you wish to have one-on-one instruction, the number of sessions will vary due to your needs and where you are in the writing process. 

The University of California Personal Insight Questions workshop (2 hours of instruction including evaluation of actual student UC PIQ submissions, a workbook with UC information, brainstorming guidelines and essay review checklists) 

$300

The Personal Statement in-person workshop (2.5 hours of instruction including effective essay samples, impactful literary devices, workbook with checklists and brainstorming guides) 

$375

One hour of one-on-one essay review for students who already attended a CES Services workshop (follow-up appointment for essay revisions) 

$150/hour

One-on-one sessions (in-person or via Google Meet) for general college admissions advising   

$300/hour

One-on-one sessions (in-person or via Google Meet) for essay writing instruction (UC or personal statement/Common App.)  

$300/hour

In order to provide more effective learning opportunities, I cap the workshop enrollment. Workshop capacity is also determined by the space availability of the venues. 

I will create a waitlist for each type of workshop. Should demand warrant it, I may add additional dates. Please email me if you are interested. Janet@CollegeEssaySupport.com

• Workshop cancellations 7 days prior to the workshop date are refundable. 
• If the workshop cancellation is not 7 days prior, I will conduct a one (1) hour one-on-one Google Meet with the student in place of the workshop. I can't refund the workshop fee as your place has been reserved and cannot be filled on short notice.
• Cancellations of one-on-one Google Meets can be rescheduled or refunded with 24 hours' notice

I do not provide unlimited service packages, but instead provide this assistance at an hourly rate. This works well for families who desire targeted support, therefore saving families money.

I do not permit parents/guardians in the group in-person workshop sessions. 

For individual meetings, I welcome the attendance of a parent/guardian if the student desires their presence.

I do not make guarantees of admission. 

I help students highlight their strengths and create a stronger application, which includes crafting their best essays that showcase their unique stories and individual voices. Writing an impactful and memorable essay greatly enhances a college application and is crucial for admissions at many universities. 

I plan to incorporate some pro bono and/or reduced fee work in 2025. Please fill out my Contact form (on the home page), if you are interested.