Every student applying to college has stats—GPAs, transcripts, test scores, achievements, honors and awards—and there’s a place to list those stats in every application. But students can become more than their numbers with memorable essays and interviews.
The Write Way into College helps students better understand the college application landscape, learn to craft standout essays, and prepare for interviews.
From demystifying the creative process to offering expert insights on structure and storytelling, this essential guide shows students how to shine.
From demystifying the creative process to offering expert insights on structure and storytelling, this essential guide shows students how to shine.
The Write Way into College
Rising Above GPAs and Test Scores with Memorable Application Essays
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Competition to get into colleges is fierce. Many applicants have solid GPAs, test scores, and similar leadership and volunteer experiences—so how do you rise above the crowd? In The Write Way into College, writing coach Jody Cohan-French shows you how to set yourself apart and present your unique potential through compelling application essays. As Jody says, “The key is to tell your story and reveal something distinguishing or memorable about yourself.”
This accessible guide explains how to interpret and break down essay prompts, tap into the engaging details of your topics, and break away from conventional structure to set your writing voice free. By studying example essays, you’ll also learn how to self-edit, condense redundant content, and avoid typical application essay pitfalls. The Write Way into College will help you find that essay-writing groove and get on your way to the college and future you’ve worked so hard for. |
—ENDORSEMENTS--
“ Jody Cohan-French’s take on essay writing does what she advises students to do in their essays; she doesn’t just tell, she shows, doing so with both a clarity and depth not provided by most “how-to” essay books. Real student examples demonstrate subtle differences in writing, and points are made in a genuine and easy-to-understand voice just like she encourages her readers to do. The Write Way into College is easy to read in its entirety, yet is also organized into practical and logical chunks that can be referred to as needed, making it the perfect tool for busy students and the professionals who support them.”
Lorraine Heitel
Principal, Heitel Educational Counseling
“The Write Way into College is a must-read for any student who doesn’t know where to begin the process of writing a college essay, or, actually, any essay. Many real examples of effective essays are included, which break down the writing process from brainstorming to final edit. This book is an excellent resource that gives practical tips and suggestions in an easy and fun-to-read format; I recommend it for any student looking to create a winning essay.”
Laura Reidt, MEd
Educator and School Psychologist
“The Write Way into College is a must-read for any student who doesn’t know where to begin the process of writing a college essay, or, actually, any essay. Many real examples of effective essays are included, which break down the writing process from brainstorming to final edit. This book is an excellent resource that gives practical tips and suggestions in an easy and fun-to-read format; I recommend it for any student looking to create a winning essay.”
Laura Reidt, MEd
Educator and School Psychologist
“Every student preparing to enter their senior year of high school should read The Write Way into College. As a high school administrator with more than 35 years of experience working with high-achieving students, more than 85 percent of whom are planning to attend a 4-year college or university, I know firsthand the energy and effort students and parents invest in getting into the right college. This book is written just for them.”
Garry W. Thornton, MA
Owner, Garry W. Thornton Consulting
Garry W. Thornton, MA
Owner, Garry W. Thornton Consulting
Congratulations to My Class of 2024 Students on Their College Acceptances!
Congratulations Class of 2024! Here's to the positive impact you will make in your future careers in medicine, psychology, higher education, statistics, sports management, bioengineering, aerospace engineering, criminal justice, architecture, history, computer science, physics, digital arts, and marketing.
Express Yourself!
Award-winning writer Jody Cohan-French combines her professional expertise and intuitive skills to help writers and students find their stories.
The idea is there, locked inside...
all you have to do is remove the excess stone.
Michelangelo said this about sculpting, and so it is with writing. Instead of facing a daunting marble slab, writers face an equally intimidating blank page.
In school, we're often taught a stilted form of writing, focusing too much on structure and mechanics. This method usually impedes a writer and results in prose that doesn't make for very engaging reading. Jody takes a more organic approach to get that pen or those fingers moving, to let the magic happen. As writer Jeanette Winterston said, "What art does is coax us away from the mechanical and towards the miraculous." Good writing is anything but mechanical. It conveys emotion, it's intimate, it reveals something, it's unique. All this comes from what writers call "voice."
Whether you are a student writing college application essays or a retiree ready to start your great American novel or memoir, Jody can help you chip away the stone to discover and release the stories inside you.
In school, we're often taught a stilted form of writing, focusing too much on structure and mechanics. This method usually impedes a writer and results in prose that doesn't make for very engaging reading. Jody takes a more organic approach to get that pen or those fingers moving, to let the magic happen. As writer Jeanette Winterston said, "What art does is coax us away from the mechanical and towards the miraculous." Good writing is anything but mechanical. It conveys emotion, it's intimate, it reveals something, it's unique. All this comes from what writers call "voice."
Whether you are a student writing college application essays or a retiree ready to start your great American novel or memoir, Jody can help you chip away the stone to discover and release the stories inside you.
College Application Coaching
Jody's coaching method is to guide students away from bragging, whether in their writing or an interview, and toward crafting compelling essays and narratives that convey their unique stories, values and personalities. The place to list accomplishments, honors and awards is in the activities/resume portion of each application; in essays and interviews, the student must communicate who they are beyond their stats.
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If you can pass your essay to a schoolmate and they could submit it as their own, then it's back to the drawing board to find your voice and express your uniqueness!
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There are hundreds--if not thousands--of other college applicants who have also won an academic competition, spent the summer abroad on a philanthropic mission, play concert-level piano, serve as president of a school club, or are captain of an athletic team. The key is to tell your story within your accomplishment or adventure and reveal something distinguishing or memorable about yourself.
Jody has successfully guided many students through the college application process as well as trained other editors. Her students have gained admission to top-tier universities and liberal arts colleges from California to the Ivy League to Oxford.
The best compliment Jody receives from her students is that they feel they have become better writers. The writing skills that students gain while working with Jody will prove their value well beyond the college admissions process and into their careers.
Jody also helps students prepare for video interviews, in-person interviews and live essay writing sessions.
Jody is based in Southern California and also works with students around the globe via the Internet.
Jody has successfully guided many students through the college application process as well as trained other editors. Her students have gained admission to top-tier universities and liberal arts colleges from California to the Ivy League to Oxford.
The best compliment Jody receives from her students is that they feel they have become better writers. The writing skills that students gain while working with Jody will prove their value well beyond the college admissions process and into their careers.
Jody also helps students prepare for video interviews, in-person interviews and live essay writing sessions.
Jody is based in Southern California and also works with students around the globe via the Internet.
Group and Individual Writing Instruction
Jody has edited essays, screenplays, books, manuscripts, speeches, and business communications, and she can help you with your project. Most of her clients are based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California, but she also works via e-mail, Zoom and Google Drive. Click here to learn more.