Essay Foundations Package
Your personalized introduction to what makes an essay stand out – and how to turn your story into a compelling application asset.
Why a Strong Essay Matters in College Admissions
A strong essay reveals your authentic voice, values, and potential impact. Building a solid foundation makes the process less stressful and your story more compelling.
What You’ll Get with the Essay Foundations Package
The Essay Foundation Package demystifies the essay process. It is a personalized primer on exactly what application essays are, the role the essays play in your evaluation, and how you can use the essays to your advantage. From pre-work to brainstorming to outlining, you’ll build a clear foundation for your essays.
The Essay Foundations Package comprises two one-on-one coaching sessions with a college essay expert and an in-depth analysis and discussion of up to 700 words. Here is what’s included:
Session 1: Your Story Consultation
We’ll start by exploring your experiences, values, and goals to identify the strongest themes for your essays. This tailored conversation ensures your story aligns with your applications from the very beginning.
Clear Dos and Don’ts for Essays
Your coach will outline what works – and what to avoid – for the specific essays you’re writing. You’ll gain practical guidance that helps you steer clear of common pitfalls and focus on what admissions officers value.
Practical Tools and Resources
From brainstorming prompts to revision strategies, we’ll equip you with tools that meet you wherever you are in the process. These resources make writing more structured, efficient, and far less stressful.
Session 2: In-Depth Essay Review
You’ll receive detailed feedback on up to 700 words tailored to your top-priority applications. Together, you’ll refine content, structure, and clarity so your essay makes a lasting impression.
How Does the Essay Foundations Package Work?
Our Essay Foundations Package is a two-session engagement designed to take you from scattered ideas (or even a blank page) to a clear, compelling draft. Here’s what to expect:
1. Pre-Work & Preparation
Before your first call, you’ll complete a simple exercise to spark reflection and gather initial ideas. If you already have notes or drafts, bring them along – we’ll use whatever you have as a starting point.
2. Story Discovery Call (60 minutes)
In your first session, you’ll work one-on-one with your coach to explore your background, experiences, and values. Through creative brainstorming and discussion, you’ll uncover potential essay themes and get insights into how to effectively tackle your chosen prompts.
3. Tools & Writing Resources
After the call, you’ll receive practical resources to guide your prewriting, drafting, and revising. Whether you’re starting fresh or refining early notes, these tools will give you structure and confidence as you begin shaping your essay.
4. Essay Draft Development
You’ll focus your efforts on a priority application – such as the Common App personal statement, UC Personal Insight Questions, or supplemental essays. With your coach’s guidance, you’ll start building material that reflects your authentic story.
5. In-Depth Essay Review (60 minutes)
In the second session, your coach will provide detailed, strategic feedback on up to 700 words. Together, you’ll refine content, structure, and clarity – so you finish with momentum, direction, and a strong essay ready for polishing.
Optional Add-On Support
Applying to multiple colleges means more essays and deadlines. We’ll guide you through as many essays and iterations as you need – from brainstorming to final polish – with a custom calendar and one-on-one support and feedback every step of the way. We’ll coach you through the process of refining your drafts until they’re strategic, compelling, and ready to submit with confidence.
Who It’s For
This Foundations Essay Package designed for applicants who want expert, personalized support at any stage of the essay-writing process and for any essay prompts. It’s a great fit if you:
- Are starting from a blank page and need help getting started
- Have a draft and want sharp, strategic feedback to shape your story
- Need to adapt your essays for different schools with targeted input
- Prefer flexible, focused support without committing to a full application package
Real Reviews From Real Clients
Students Love Working With Us
Clarity, Confidence, and Dream School Scholarship
“My Fortuna coach helped me articulate my story with clarity and confidence. Thanks to her, I’m heading to Yale with a scholarship.”
Yale Admit
Believed in Me When I Didn’t
“I can confidently say I couldn’t have done it without my coach. Her support and belief in me — even when I doubted myself — helped me get into Harvard.”
Harvard Admit
Set My Sights Even Higher!
“I couldn’t be more grateful to have worked with my Fortuna coach. Her encouragement and sharp insights helped me gain admission to MIT — something I once thought was out of reach.”
MIT Admit
Best Advice. Best Results.
“My Fortuna coach always went the extra mile. His advice on Dartmouth and NYU was spot on — and I’m thrilled to be admitted to both!”
Dartmouth Admit
Transformational Experience to Stanford Scholarship
“My coach’s guidance pushed me to dig deep and refine my story. The introspective work we did together was transformational — and helped me get into Stanford with a scholarship.”
Stanford Admit
Frequently Asked Questions
This package is designed to give you expert, personalized support at any stage of the essay-writing process. It includes:
*Two one-on-one coaching sessions with a college essay expert to help you uncover your story, identify strong themes, and refine your writing.
*Detailed college essay feedback and discussion on up to 700 words of your essays, with strategic guidance on content, structure, clarity, and word count.
*Practical tools and resources such as college essay brainstorming prompts, prewriting exercises, and revision strategies to keep you organized and confident.
*Optional ongoing support if you’re applying to multiple colleges, with coaching available for as many essays and drafts as you need until your applications are ready to submit.
The package takes you from scattered ideas (or even a blank page) to a polished essay that reflects your authentic story and makes a strong impression on admissions officers.
No – we don’t write essays for clients. This would overstep the ethical mark and wouldn’t serve you well, as admissions officers are adept at recognizing inauthentic material. Instead, we use a coaching model that provides thoughtful college essay help and guidance so you can develop and refine your own story while ensuring your authentic voice shines through.
Yes. We’ll work with you to tighten your essays so every word counts. Our focus is on clarity, precision, and preserving your authentic voice – ensuring you stay within the word limit without losing impact. We don’t take over the writing; instead, we guide you through smart edits that sharpen your story while keeping it true to you.
During your free consultation, we’ll match you with a coach who’s best aligned with your background and target schools. You can also review our coaching team bios and let us know if you have a preference.
Yes. We support students applying to multiple schools, adapting strategy and tone for each essay prompt. Our flexible college essay services give you the option to add on schools and essays as needed.
Not a problem! We can help you from the very beginning – through memory exercises, college essay brainstorming, values mapping, and guiding your first draft. Some students use this service as their first step before expanding to a broader coaching package.
Yes. If you already have a draft, we can provide a structured college essay review that pinpoints strengths and areas for improvement. You’ll receive targeted comments on content, flow, and clarity, along with practical advice to make your essay more compelling.
Our approach to college essay editing focuses on coaching, not rewriting. We’ll guide you through revisions to ensure your essay is clear, authentic, and impactful. From trimming word count to strengthening your narrative, we’ll help you make smart changes while keeping your voice intact.