FAQs

Can you guarantee that I will get into my top choice school?

Simply put, no. There are many factors that go into an admissions committee’s decision, including test scores and grades. In addition, there’s no way to know what the applicant pool is going to look like in any given year. However, I can help you make your essay as strong as possible by making sure that you address the question(s) at hand, write about appropriate topics, and use compelling and concise language.

Remember that how confident you feel about your essay(s) will also depend on the amount of time that you put into it/them. If you send a stream-of-consciousness style essay to me the night before it’s due, we might not have time to hone it into the best representation of you as a promising applicant. Start early and send a draft as soon as possible. Some writers do best when they also allot time for reflection and rest away from the writing process.

Will you write the essay or article for me?

While I can definitely help you brainstorm and organize your thoughts, when writing an application essay, you’ll need to do a good portion of the writing yourself. Remember that it’s supposed to be a reflection of you; a “Personal Statement” can’t be written well by anyone but you. However, I will help you rephrase sentences and whole paragraphs when necessary. Of course, any revisions that I make are just suggestions and it’s ultimately up to you if you want to incorporate them in your essay.

If you are NOT writing an application essay or term paper, I can help you in writing original articles on a variety of subjects. The rates for this service will depend on the material and direction provided.

How much is this going to cost me?

As noted on the Rates & Process page, my basic hourly rate is $40/hour. You can estimate 1 hour for every 500 words, but note that this may vary depending on the level of editing required. If you’re concerned, you may request an estimate and/or set a cap.

Editing rates for longer pieces like academic articles, book chapters, or full length manuscripts may be significantly less and calculated by word or page. Please email me with a sample and description of the project for an estimate. Approximately 2,500 words per hour is a good starting point.

For original writing based on an assigned topic or provided outline, my rates start at $10/per double-spaced page.

Also, I often offer discounts for referrals (if a friend or colleague actually places an order) and testimonials that I post on my website. Contact me for details.

Why haven’t you gotten back to me?

If you’ve emailed me, but have not received a response within 48 hours, I’m likely away from my desk. I’ll do my best to respond as quickly as possible.

If you’ve already sent a deposit, I will either refund you or expedite your order upon my return.

Is there any way to pay besides PayPal?

Currently, no.

What if I don’t use MS Word?

Please let me know when submitting your order, so that I can include my comments and suggested changes another way. Please note that other methods are more time consuming and may result in a higher total fee.

I’ve worked with you through another company. How are your services different?

Aside from the obvious benefits of being able to communicate with me directly from the beginning of the editing process, I am able to make more corrections and suggestions directly within the text. I also make most of my comments in the margins using Track Changes, so you do not need to go back and forth between the edited essay and a separate list of comments and explanations. I do this because I understand that the applications process is tedious, and often, you’re looking for polishing rather than a broad critique of the essay and your writing style in general. I focus on getting the essay at hand ready for submission, although I do sometimes make suggestions that require significant additional work (more writing).

Can you help me cut my essay down to meet the page, word, or character limit?

Absolutely. This is one of my specialties. Sometimes it’s easier to get everything down on paper and then let your editor sort through it all and decide what’s important and what goes where. Because I don’t charge based on word count, you won’t necessarily pay more for submitting 2,000 words for an essay that’s supposed to be 1,000 words. It will still probably only take me the amount of time required to edit a 1,000 word essay.