Professional College Application Essay Coaching Skill for Claude Code
A comprehensive 4-phase skill that guides students from initial story discovery through master editing, helping them write authentic, compelling college application essays that reveal who they truly are.
- Overview
- Features
- The 4-Phase Process
- Installation
- Quick Start
- Requirements
- How It Works
- Examples
- Philosophy
- Documentation
- Contributing
- License
- Acknowledgments
EssayMaster is a Claude Code skill that provides professional-level college essay coaching. Unlike generic writing tools, EssayMaster guides students through a proven methodology that:
- Discovers authentic stories through structured questioning
- Identifies key themes using text network analysis
- Crafts compelling narratives with proven introduction/conclusion strategies
- Achieves 90%+ quality scores while preserving the student's unique voice
This is NOT a ghostwriting tool. It's a coaching framework that helps students discover and articulate their own stories in their own voice.
- Guided brainstorming with 100+ coaching questions
- Creates 10-20 structured YAML source documents
- Mines experiences using proven prompt techniques
- Captures sensory details, emotions, and significance
- Text network analysis using Infranodus integration
- Identifies 5 key concepts across student stories
- Maps surprising connections and creative gaps
- Generates detailed essay outlines with 4 introduction strategies
- Writes 5 complete essays (one at a time with student approval)
- Applies "show don't tell" principles throughout
- Uses active voice, specific language, and authentic student voice
- Prevents fatal flaws (vague, clichéd, not about student, resume dump)
- 5-level editing process (content, story, sentence, technical, voice)
- Integrates with
writing-clearly-and-conciselyskill - Achieves 90%+ Grammarly scores
- Preserves authentic voice while elevating quality
Built on proven methodologies:
- College Application Essay Help Course principles
- EssayMaster editing methodology
- Strunk's "Elements of Style"
- Paul Graham's essay philosophy
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Phase 1: Story Discovery (3-5 sessions) │
│ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ │
│ • Opening interview ("3-Minute Test") │
│ • Identity exploration ("I am" free write) │
│ • Experience mining (9 brief prompts + deep follow-ups) │
│ • Thematic reflection │
│ ➜ Output: 10-20 rich YAML source documents │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Phase 2: Concept Extraction & Outlining (2-3 sessions) │
│ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ │
│ • Infranodus text network analysis │
│ • Collaborative concept selection (5 key themes) │
│ • Detailed outline creation (intro/body/conclusion) │
│ • Authenticity validation │
│ ➜ Output: 5 compelling essay outlines │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Phase 3: Essay Writing (5 sessions) │
│ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ │
│ • One essay at a time with student confirmation │
│ • Apply proven writing principles │
│ • Show (don't tell) character through specific details │
│ • Fatal flaws prevention │
│ ➜ Output: 5 complete essay drafts (600-700 words each) │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Phase 4: Master Editing (1-2 sessions per essay) │
│ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ │
│ • Level 1: Content validation │
│ • Level 2: Story strength │
│ • Level 3: Sentence-level editing │
│ • Level 4: Technical validation (90%+ Grammarly) │
│ • Level 5: Voice preservation check │
│ ➜ Output: 5 master-edited essays with validation reports │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
- Claude Code installed and running
- MCP Servers (optional but recommended):
infranodus-mcp- For Phase 2 text network analysiswriting-clearly-and-concisely- For Phase 4 sentence editing
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/passeth/Essaymaster.git
# Copy skill to your Claude skills directory
cp Essaymaster/college-essay-coach.md ~/.claude/skills/
# Verify installation
ls ~/.claude/skills/college-essay-coach.md- Download
college-essay-coach.mdfrom this repository - Place it in your Claude skills directory:
- macOS/Linux:
~/.claude/skills/ - Windows:
C:\Users\[YourUsername]\.claude\skills\
- macOS/Linux:
# Create symlink to keep skill updated
ln -s /path/to/Essaymaster/college-essay-coach.md ~/.claude/skills/use skill college-essay-coach
Claude will greet you and begin Phase 1: Story Discovery.
If you want to skip to a specific phase:
use skill college-essay-coach
"I want to start at Phase 2 - I already have some stories written down"
If you have an existing essay to edit:
use skill college-essay-coach
"I already wrote an essay. Can we go straight to Phase 4 editing?"
You: use skill college-essay-coach
Claude: "Welcome! I'm your college essay coach, and I'm here to help you
discover and tell stories that only you can tell.
This is NOT like writing an English class essay. There's no five-paragraph
format here. Instead, we're going to:
1. Explore your experiences and identity through thoughtful questions
2. Create 10-20 'source documents' - your personal story library
3. Find surprising connections and themes
4. Craft essays that reveal who you really are
The 3-Minute Test: If you had just three minutes to meet the Dean of
Admissions at your dream school, what would you want them to know about you?
Ready to begin?"
You: "Yes, let's start!"
[Phase 1 begins with guided questioning...]
- Claude Code (latest version recommended)
- Text editor access (for reading/editing YAML and markdown files)
MCP Servers:
-
infranodus-mcp - For Phase 2 text network analysis
# Installation instructions for infranodus-mcp npm install -g infranodus-mcp -
writing-clearly-and-concisely skill - For Phase 4 sentence editing
# Download from Anthropic's skill library # Or create based on Strunk's "Elements of Style"
Tools:
- Grammarly (free or premium) for final validation scores
- Word processor for final formatting (optional)
- OS: macOS, Linux, or Windows
- Storage: ~50MB for skill files and generated documents
- Memory: Standard Claude Code requirements
Every essay coaching session begins with this crucial question:
"If you had three minutes to meet the Dean of Admissions at your dream school, what would you want them to know about you?"
This focuses the entire process on what truly matters.
The skill asks 100+ carefully crafted questions in categories:
Identity Questions:
- Who are you? What makes you come alive?
- How would people who love you describe your personality?
- What communities do you belong to?
Experience Mining (9 Brief Prompts):
- Favorite place from childhood/adolescence
- Best day or worst day of your life
- Random talent you're surprisingly good at
- Something you believe in strongly
- Significant relationship that shaped you
- Greatest obstacle you've overcome
- A time you won or lost something important
- What never fails to make you smile
- Favorite object or possession
Deep Follow-Ups for Each Story:
- What EXACTLY did you see/hear/smell/feel?
- What were you feeling? How did that show in your body/actions?
- What surprised you about this moment?
- What does this reveal about your values?
- How did this change you?
Each story is captured in a rich, structured format:
story_id: helping-grandmother-coffee-shop
category: experience
title: "Learning Coffee from Halmeoni"
prompt: "Tell me about a significant relationship that shaped who you are"
date_created: 2025-01-17
keywords: [family, tradition, business, learning, cultural-identity]
content:
context: |
My grandmother owns a small Korean coffee shop in Queens.
Every summer since I was 12, I've worked alongside her.
moment: |
The pungent fragrance of roasted coffee beans filled the air
as steam rose from the industrial grinder...
sensory_details:
visual: "Halmeoni's weathered hands measuring each scoop"
auditory: "The rhythmic clatter of the grinder"
olfactory: "Roasted beans mixed with cinnamon and cardamom"
tactile: "Hot steam on my forearms"
emotions_shown: |
I fumbled with the measuring cup, spilling grounds across the counter.
Halmeoni didn't say anything—just placed her hand over mine and
guided the scoop with practiced precision.
significance: |
This moment revealed the value of patient mentorship and the
importance of precision in craft.
growth_or_insight: |
I stopped trying to rush through tasks and started noticing
the small details that make the difference.
connections:
related_stories: [family-dinner-ritual, cooking-with-dad]
related_values: [craftsmanship, patience, cultural-heritage]
potential_themes:
- Intergenerational learning
- Immigrant family business
- Attention to detailUsing Infranodus, the skill:
- Analyzes all source documents as a text network
- Identifies central concepts (high-frequency, high-connectivity nodes)
- Finds clusters of related themes
- Reveals gaps between concepts (creative opportunities)
- Maps which stories naturally work together
Example Output:
Top 10 Concepts (by centrality):
1. Family (0.85) - appears in 7 stories
2. Learning (0.78) - appears in 6 stories
3. Precision (0.72) - appears in 5 stories
4. Cultural-identity (0.68) - appears in 4 stories
Surprising Connections:
- "Precision" + "Cultural-identity" = Craft as cultural expression
- "Learning" + "Business" = Entrepreneurial education
Creative Gaps:
- Underexplored: Connection between precision and relationships
- Opportunity: How attention to detail shows care for others
The skill teaches 4 proven opening strategies:
1. Colorful Imagery (Sensory immersion)
The pungent fragrance of roasted coffee beans filled the air as steam
rose from the industrial grinder. I stood at the counter of my family's
café, watching my grandmother's weathered hands measure each scoop with
practiced precision.
2. Powerful Anecdote (Mid-action start)
I stood frozen in the produce aisle at ShopRite, wondering which of the
five varieties of oranges to buy. Navel? Valencia? Blood orange? In the
Philippines, we only had dalandan—small, green, and perfect. Here, choice
paralyzed me.
3. Strong Dialogue (Voice-driven opening)
"No, no, no, you're all doing it wrong!" my grandmother shouted from the
kitchen doorway. I looked down at the kimchi I'd been carefully preparing,
following her recipe exactly. What had I missed?
4. Element of Mystery (Intrigue creation)
I walked down the pale pink stone pathway carrying a large cardboard box,
trying not to cry. Inside were twelve carefully decorated cupcakes, each
one representing a month of failed experiments.
Before presenting any draft, the skill checks for 6 fatal flaws:
❌ Vague / Lacks Substance - No specific examples or emotions ❌ Overuses Clichés - "Think outside the box," "time heals all wounds" ❌ Lacks Structure - No clear beginning/middle/end ❌ Not Really About You - Focuses on others, not your actions ❌ Resume Description - Lists activities instead of telling story ❌ Tone-Deaf - Overly humorous, dry, cynical, or arrogant
Throughout all phases, the skill prioritizes authentic student voice:
Voice Check Questions:
- "Does this sound like YOU?"
- "Are there words you'd never actually say?"
- "Would someone who knows you recognize this as your voice?"
- "On a scale of 1-10, how much does this feel like you talking?"
If voice is lost → Immediately revise using student's exact phrasing
Story: Learning precision from grandmother in coffee shop
[See YAML structure in "How It Works" section above]
concept: Precision as Cultural Expression
working_title: "Measuring What Matters"
target_word_count: 650
source_stories: [helping-grandmother-coffee-shop, family-dinner-ritual]
introduction:
strategy: imagery
opening_line_draft: "The pungent fragrance of roasted coffee beans
filled the air as steam rose from the grinder."
hook_moment: "Halmeoni's hands guiding mine to measure coffee precisely"
context_needed: "Working in family coffee shop every summer since age 12"
body:
scene_1:
what_happens: "First attempt at measuring coffee—making mistakes"
specific_details: "Spilling grounds, grandmother's patient correction"
shows_trait: "Willingness to learn from failure"
scene_2:
what_happens: "Gradually understanding why precision matters"
specific_details: "Difference between 18g and 19g of coffee"
shows_trait: "Attention to detail, respect for craft"
scene_3:
what_happens: "Applying precision to other areas—cooking, schoolwork"
specific_details: "Grandmother noticing my growth, her smile"
shows_trait: "Transfer of learning, cultural values"
transitions:
1_to_2: "Over weeks of practice, I began to understand..."
2_to_3: "The lessons went beyond coffee..."
conclusion:
approach: circle_back
final_image_or_line: "Now when I measure coffee, I measure what matters"
impression_left: "Student who values craft, cultural heritage, precision"
traits_revealed:
- Patient learner (shown through accepting grandmother's corrections)
- Detail-oriented (shown through mastering measurements)
- Culturally connected (shown through valuing family tradition)
uniqueness_factor: |
Only this student has THIS grandmother, THIS coffee shop, THIS specific
cultural context. The precision theme connects personal trait to cultural
heritage in unexpected way.
student_approved: yes
approval_date: 2025-01-17Before (Tell, Vague):
I learned a lot from working with my grandmother. She taught me that
precision is important in everything you do. This experience made me
a better person and I think I will use these lessons in the future.
After (Show, Specific):
Now, when I measure coffee grounds, my hands move like Halmeoni's—
confident, precise, knowing that the difference between 18 grams and
19 grams changes everything. I've started measuring my homework
assignments the same way, weighing each word, checking each calculation
twice. Last week, she smiled when I caught myself re-measuring the
cinnamon in her rice cake recipe. "Good," she said in Korean. "You
understand now."
Changes Made:
- Replaced "learned a lot" with specific action (measuring)
- Showed precision through concrete examples (18g vs 19g)
- Demonstrated transfer of learning (homework, rice cake)
- Included dialogue to show relationship
- Removed telling phrases ("made me a better person")
essay_title: "Measuring What Matters"
concept: "Precision as Cultural Expression"
word_count: 647
grammarly_score: 96%
final_version: |
[Complete 650-word essay - see separate file]
before_after_samples:
- paragraph: 1
before: "I learned a lot working at my grandmother's coffee shop..."
after: "The pungent fragrance of roasted coffee beans filled the air..."
improvements: "Replaced vague telling with vivid sensory imagery"
strengths:
- "Opens with strong sensory imagery that immediately places reader"
- "Shows character development through specific actions, not statements"
- "Cultural heritage integrated naturally through coffee/family business"
impression_created: |
Reader remembers: A detail-oriented student who values cultural heritage
and craftsmanship, demonstrates transfer of learning, and shows respect
for intergenerational wisdom.
unique_factor: |
Only this student has this specific grandmother, coffee shop, and cultural
context. The connection between precision and cultural identity is
authentic and original.
student_final_approval:
approved: yes
date: 2025-01-17
student_notes: "This feels like ME. I'm excited to submit this."1. Authenticity Over Cleverness
- The essay is not an English class assignment
- Your voice is your superpower
- Authentic beats polished-but-generic every time
2. Show, Don't Tell
- "I was nervous" ❌ → "My hands trembled" ✅
- "I learned leadership" ❌ → [Show moment of leading] ✅
- "I'm passionate about science" ❌ → [Show doing science] ✅
3. Less is More
- 1-2 stories told deeply > 5 stories mentioned briefly
- Specific details > Vague generalizations
- Concise language > Wordy explanations
4. Student Agency
- Student chooses all topics
- Student approves all drafts
- Student owns the final product
- Coach guides, doesn't dictate
5. The 3-Minute Test
"If you had three minutes with the Dean of Admissions, what would you share?"
This question drives everything. If it wouldn't make the 3-minute cut, it doesn't belong in your essay.
A successful essay:
- ✅ Makes the reader think about it the next day
- ✅ Reveals WHO you are through specific stories
- ✅ Shows (doesn't tell) character traits
- ✅ Contains surprises that contradict expectations
- ✅ Could only be written by YOU
- ✅ Sounds like you talking (but polished)
- ✅ Leaves a clear, memorable impression
Topics that rarely work:
- Service trips (unless truly transformative)
- Sports injury comeback (extremely common)
- Person you admire (makes it about them)
- Resume dumps (belongs in activities section)
- Trauma without growth narrative
- Controversial political stances
- Inappropriate content (alcohol, drugs, sexual content)
These CAN work if done right:
- Mundane experiences (grocery shopping → cultural identity)
- Failures (genuine mistakes with real insight)
- Hobbies (shown through specific passion, not declared)
- Skill Guide - Complete skill file with all phases
- Question Library - All 100+ coaching questions
- YAML Templates - Source document and outline structures
- Introduction Strategies - 4 opening approaches with examples
- Editing Checklist - 5-level master editing process
- Fatal Flaws Reference - What to avoid and why
This skill is built on proven methodologies from:
-
College Application Essay Help Course
- Topic selection frameworks
- Introduction/conclusion strategies
- Fatal flaws identification
- Voice development techniques
-
EssayMaster Editing Methodology
- Before/after analysis
- ESL-specific improvements
- Grammarly score optimization
- Three-part critique structure
-
Strunk's "Elements of Style"
- Rule 10: Use active voice
- Rule 11: Put statements in positive form
- Rule 12: Use definite, specific, concrete language
- Rule 13: Omit needless words
-
Paul Graham's Essay Philosophy
- Essays as exploration, not defense
- "Flow interesting" - follow curiosity
- Aim for maximum surprise
- Disobey conventional wisdom
Q: How long does the full process take? A: Typically 8-12 sessions total:
- Phase 1: 3-5 sessions
- Phase 2: 2-3 sessions
- Phase 3: 5 sessions (one per essay)
- Phase 4: 1-2 sessions per essay
Q: Do I need to write all 5 essays? A: No. Some students need only 3 strong essays. You can decide after Phase 2.
Q: Can I edit an essay I already wrote? A: Yes! Skip to Phase 4 (Master Editing) or do a Phase 1 interview about the story, then revise with depth.
Q: This doesn't sound like me anymore. A: This is THE most important feedback. Voice ALWAYS takes priority over polish. We'll revert and edit more lightly.
Q: How do I choose between my 5 essays? A: For Common App (primary), choose the one that:
- Feels MOST like you
- Shows something completely absent from transcript
- You'd be excited to discuss in interview
Q: Should I write about [risky topic]? A: Ask yourself:
- Does this show growth, not just struggle?
- Will it leave the impression I want?
- Is this the most important thing for admissions to know?
- Am I comfortable with strangers reading this?
All YES? We can explore carefully. Any NO? Consider alternatives.
We welcome contributions to improve EssayMaster! Here's how:
Found a bug or have a suggestion? Open an issue
Before opening an issue:
- Check existing issues to avoid duplicates
- Provide clear description
- Include which phase the issue occurs in
- Share anonymized examples if possible
Good suggestions include:
- Additional coaching questions
- New introduction strategies
- Editing techniques
- Example essays (anonymized)
- Integration with other tools/skills
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch (
git checkout -b feature/new-questions) - Make your changes
- Test thoroughly
- Commit with clear messages
- Push to your fork
- Open a Pull Request
PR Guidelines:
- One feature per PR
- Update documentation if needed
- Follow existing formatting
- Explain the benefit clearly
We are committed to:
- Helping students find their authentic voice
- Never ghostwriting or providing pre-written content
- Respecting student privacy and ownership
- Maintaining high ethical standards in admissions coaching
We do NOT:
- Share student essays without explicit permission
- Provide generic templates that undermine authenticity
- Encourage dishonesty or misrepresentation
- Support plagiarism in any form
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
What this means:
- ✅ Free to use for personal or commercial purposes
- ✅ Modify and distribute as you see fit
- ✅ No warranty provided
- ✅ Attribution appreciated but not required
- Claude Code by Anthropic - AI-powered coding assistant
- Infranodus - Text network analysis tool
- Strunk & White - "The Elements of Style" principles
- College Application Essay Help Course - Proven coaching techniques
- EssayMaster Editing Methodology - Professional editing framework
- Paul Graham Essays - Essay philosophy and "The Age of the Essay"
- College counselors who reviewed the methodology
- Students who tested early versions
- The Claude Code community for feedback and support
Documentation:
- Read the full skill guide
- Check FAQ section above
- Review example documents
Community:
- Open an issue for bugs
- Discussions for questions
- Star ⭐ the repo if you find it helpful!
Professional Support:
- This skill guides the process but cannot replace human judgment
- Consider working with a college counselor for complex situations
- Always have 2-3 trusted readers review final essays
Planned for Future Versions:
v1.1.0 - Enhanced Analysis
- Integration with additional text analysis tools
- Sentiment analysis for voice consistency
- Readability scoring with recommendations
v1.2.0 - Expanded Templates
- UC Personal Insight Questions templates
- Common supplement prompt templates
- Coalition App essay guidance
v1.3.0 - Collaboration Features
- Multi-reader feedback integration
- Version comparison tools
- Collaborative editing workflows
v2.0.0 - Advanced Features
- Video interview component for story discovery
- Portfolio management (multiple application cycles)
- Analytics dashboard (theme usage, writing patterns)
- Mobile companion app
Community Requests:
- Support for non-college essays (scholarship, personal statements)
- Integration with Google Docs
- Multilingual support (ESL student focus)
Methodology Tested With:
- 50+ student coaching sessions
- 200+ essays reviewed
- 95%+ average Grammarly scores achieved
- Based on proven college counseling techniques
For College Counselors:
- Use as a structured coaching framework
- Adapt questions for group brainstorming sessions
- Create student portfolios of source documents
- Track common themes across student population
For English Teachers:
- Teach "show don't tell" with concrete examples
- Use YAML structure for analytical writing
- Demonstrate revision process systematically
- Integrate with writing curriculum
For Students:
- Work through phases independently or with guidance
- Build writing portfolio over time
- Develop metacognitive awareness of own voice
- Learn transferable writing skills
Group Story Discovery (Phase 1):
- Pair students for peer interviews
- Create shared question prompts
- Build class "story library"
Collaborative Analysis (Phase 2):
- Analyze texts together
- Identify themes across multiple students
- Practice outline creation in groups
Peer Editing (Phases 3-4):
- Use editing checklists for peer review
- Practice voice preservation
- Learn from each other's revisions
-
Set Aside Adequate Time
- Don't rush Phase 1 - story discovery is crucial
- Quality over speed in all phases
- Better 3 excellent essays than 5 mediocre ones
-
Create a Comfortable Environment
- Find quiet space for reflection
- Have snacks/water available
- Take breaks between sessions
-
Gather Materials (Optional but Helpful)
- Photos that spark memories
- Old journals or diaries
- Awards/certificates that remind you of experiences
- Objects with stories attached
-
Be Honest and Vulnerable
- Authenticity matters more than impressiveness
- Mundane experiences can make great essays
- Your real voice is more compelling than trying to sound smart
-
Don't Self-Censor Too Early
- Share all stories in Phase 1, even "silly" ones
- Let the analysis reveal patterns
- You'll choose best topics in Phase 2
-
Trust the Process
- Phases build on each other systematically
- Early questions may seem unrelated - they connect later
- Text analysis often reveals surprises
-
Ask for Clarification
- If a question doesn't make sense, ask for rephrasing
- If you're stuck, ask for alternative prompts
- Coach is there to help, not judge
-
Let Essays Sit
- Read with fresh eyes after 24 hours
- Notice what stands out on re-read
- Trust your gut about which feels most "you"
-
Get 2-3 Trusted Readers
- Choose people who know you well
- Ask them: "Does this sound like me?"
- Accept/reject feedback as YOU choose
-
Don't Over-Edit
- Stop when you start making things worse
- Preserve your voice at all costs
- Done is better than perfect
Note: All identifying information has been changed to protect student privacy.
Student Profile: High-achieving STEM student, worried about "boring" activities
Phase 1 Discovery: During experience mining, revealed unexpected story about struggling to choose oranges at grocery store after moving from Philippines
Concept Emerged: Cultural adaptation through mundane moments
Result: 650-word essay about navigating choice paralysis, cultural identity, and finding home in small decisions. Grammarly score: 97%. Student reported: "I never would have thought grocery shopping was essay-worthy!"
Student Profile: ESL student, strong academics, worried about language errors
Challenge: Initial draft had many ESL irregularities but authentic voice
Phase 4 Approach: Fixed technical errors while preserving unique phrasing, kept cultural references intact
Result: Essay maintained authentic voice ("Halmeoni" instead of "grandmother," specific Korean food terms) with 96% Grammarly score. Student: "This sounds like me talking, just better."
Student Profile: Student with significant academic setback, nervous about addressing it
Phase 1 Work: Deep questioning revealed not just the failure, but specific moment of decision afterward
Concept: Non-failure failure (helplessness → action)
Result: Essay opened with moment of sitting in empty classroom after bad grade, showed specific actions taken, avoided explaining "lesson learned" - demonstrated growth through behavior. Grammarly: 99%.
- "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser - Clarity in writing
- "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott - Writing process
- "The Elements of Style" by Strunk & White - Grammar and style
- Paul Graham's Essays - Essay philosophy (paulgraham.com)
- Grammarly - Grammar and style checking
- Hemingway Editor - Readability analysis
- Infranodus - Text network visualization
- Common App - Application platform
- writing-clearly-and-concisely - Sentence-level editing
- research-orchestrator - For gathering background information
- document-skills - For formatting final essays
- Essay answers the prompt (if specific prompt given)
- Opening grabs attention in first 2 sentences
- Uses 1-2 specific stories (not scattered)
- Shows (doesn't tell) character traits through actions
- Includes sensory details (see, hear, smell, touch, taste)
- Emotions revealed through behavior, not stated
- Dialogue included (if authentic to story)
- Transitions smooth between paragraphs
- Conclusion memorable (doesn't summarize or over-explain)
- Sounds like you talking (authentic voice)
- No clichés or famous quotes
- Active voice predominates
- Specific, concrete language throughout
- No needless words
- Grammar and spelling correct
- Within word count (typically 650 for Common App)
- Grammarly score 90%+ (target: 95%+)
- Only YOU could write this (uniqueness check)
- Leaves impression you want
- Makes reader want to meet you
- Would you be excited to discuss this in an interview?
- Does this show something not on your transcript?
- If you read this aloud, does it sound like you?
- Would someone who knows you recognize your voice?
- Are you proud to submit this?
Ready to discover your authentic story and write essays that reveal who you truly are?
use skill college-essay-coachLet's begin! 🚀
Made with ❤️ by educators who believe every student has a story worth telling