Tutoring
College Essay Aid
As college admissions rates plummet, it is more important than ever that your essays - and your story - stand out from the crowd. As an avid reader and writer, I'll help you do that!
The stories I created, advocating the ideals, people, and beliefs central to who I am, got me accepted (as an undergraduate) by Stanford, Yale, Columbia (John Jay Scholar & Likely Letter), Brown, University of Chicago (President & Dean's Scholar), Barnard (Scholar of Distinction & Likely Letter), USC, Rice, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and more. As of 2024, I was also awarded the Marshall and Rhodes scholarships.
Furthermore, students I have worked with have been accepted to Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Columbia, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and more.
I will not write essays nor "heavily revise," but I promise to help share your story in the light truest to your character. I specialize in cutting (not exceeding word count), anecdotal reflection (finding the central theme of and "So What?" in your anecdotes), flow, grammar, and storytelling in creative ways. Samples of my work can be found here.
Booking a Lesson
I recommend weekly hour-long sessions, and tutor using Zoom. Payment must be made AT LEAST 24 hours before the meeting, or I will cancel. Due to my own time constraints, if requests for rescheduling—due to reasons other than illness or emergency—are made within 24 hours of the lesson, I will charge an additional $10.
Rates
I charge using PayPal at frandes727 AT gmail DOT com.
For synchronous personal tutoring (RECOMMENDED), my rate is $130/hour.
For thorough asynchronous one-time essay edits and feedback, my rate is $40 for supplements (anything under 350 words), $75 for the Common/Coalition App. (350 - 650 words), and $100 for other long-form essays (650-1000 words). Essays will be returned with feedback within 3 business days. For anything faster (ie: "rush order"), I charge double the rate. Payment must be received BEFORE essay feedback is given.
Testimonies
What Colleges Have to Say . . .
Columbia - "Francesca, after reading your application, I knew that you would be the perfect addition to Columbia's community of young, bright, and talented John Jay Scholars. Your grit, passion, and love for performing shines through each part of your application, and the level of historical analysis that you are able to perform is absolutely fascinating. I adored the creative spins you took on each of your essays - what a treat to read! Your intellectual spirit and love for learning are unmatched. Congratulations and I hope to see you in the fall!"
Yale - "Francesca, welcome to Yale! Your care for others shines through so much of your wonderful application. I can easily envision you continuing to approach the study of history in creative ways and joyfully participating in our vibrant performing arts scene here. Your fan, Julian."
Stanford - "Francesca, my favorite moment in your application was when you described 3 styles of dresses in your wardrobe and the historical women they represent [my Intellectual Vitality essay]. Your analysis is fascinating and speaks to your phenomenal potential not only to connect with history but also to engage in groundbreaking scholarship. You are also an amazing community member with your work on SoS and SHSC [groups I led and mentioned in my Community essay]. Congratulations!"
What Students Have to Say . . .
"Francesca was very helpful and relieved a lot of stress for me in the essay writing process. Before our first meeting I was quite anxious about having a tutor, but she was super friendly and welcoming. Francesca's process for assisting brainstorming allowed me to think more precisely and intentionally about the story and details I wanted to convey. [She] was an incredible asset, [and] I was always excited whenever we met. Because of her enthusiasm, I always left feeling accomplished and impassioned to continue working on my writing."
"[Francesca] is very friendly, accomodating, and sharp. She made me feel accomplished in my writing, while also giving me great advice and insights on my essays that I would've otherwise never thought about. When I first started writing my college essays, I felt totally lost, but Francesca's tutoring really helped me find a sense of direction. Now, I feel more relaxed about college applications altogether."
"Francesca helped me find my voice and confidence while writing; her guidance was immensely helpful!"