“This review is long overdue because I wanted to keep Dan a secret and keep him available for my kids. Now that all my kids are where they want to be due to his help, I am ready to share:) Over the past 5 years, I have used his service 3 times with 3 very different kids with different needs and aspirations. In each case, my kids were able to exceed the expectations school counselors had set for them and they were accepted at Berkeley, UCLA, NYU etc. Trust me, with 3 kids, we have gone through countless private counselors and editors and most are useless. We kept going back to Dan. He actually takes the time to help the kids think through their essays to make the most sense, and his ability to draw the best stories out of them is unparalleled. Most counselors only do a cursory superficial grammar check but Dan's approach is truly empathetic, and genuine care is put into guidance and follow through. Do not hesitate, contact him now!”
Read More“Like any other rising senior, I came into the college applications process with a good amount of dread and anxiety. However, Dan’s laid back personality made me feel much more at ease, and the process no longer seemed so daunting. He clearly outlined his process for writing a personal statement, first by taking the time to get to know me through an interview session, then by choosing the most representative components to craft a richly detailed narrative. Dan worked with me through sessions that were sometimes arduous, but the end result was a piece of writing that encapsulated my identity in a way that I never could have done. In between sessions, the homework I had was to answer questions, whose responses would be woven in during the following session.
I began the process unsure of what part of myself to showcase in my essays and what direction I wanted to take them, but Dan patiently helped me to rediscover the priorities that were most important to myself and guided me throughout the process, allowing my own voice to shine through. At the end of our sessions, I left feeling a much more confident contender for higher education.”
“I came to Dan for help with writing my personal statement for graduate school. From the initial consultation, I was drawn to his approach. We began by taking a deep dive look into all the ways we could connect my life experiences to the prompt. From there, we identified the best angle and began writing. Throughout the writing process, Dan did an excellent job in help guide the essay in a cohesive manner. Upon completion, I was truly amazed by the essay we had written. In addition to having an excellent personal statement, I also found myself becoming a better writer, learning how to approach a writing task and tell the best story I can.
With the help from Dan, I was accepted into an Ivy League master's program and I have no doubt that the personal statement was a large part of my admission.”
“Dan is nothing short of a unicorn waving the magical fairy wand of success. We had an incredibly short timeline with two student essays and a parent statement due in less than 2 weeks. What Dan was able to develop with my sons was nothing short of miraculous. Their essays showcased their voices perfectly and captured the spirit of what they needed to convey to a T. The process was inspiring. I would liken it to unlocking a piece of your psyche that you were previously unaware of. You become the master storyteller of your journey and experience. Dan's expertise helps you whittle down the superfluous and hone in on the critical components that get admission officers to say YES!! Cannot wait to call on Dan again when it's time for our daughter. We truly felt he was invested in our children's success and genuinely cared about crafting the best possible statement. Thank you Dan! Forever top notch in our book.”
Read More“I used Dan's expertise to help me write the best essays for college applications. Not only did his incredible skill help me write some of the most impactful essays I've ever written, but his helpful and compassionate nature helped me overcome writer's block on many occasions. Instead of just editing and review what I wrote, he spent the first couple sessions getting to know my entire story and gave me tips on various directions to take my story. Being with Dan isn't just a peripheral editing session; it's a whole tried and true process that has helped me get into my dream schools and programs.”
Read More“It was an absolute pleasure working with Dan. Through working with him, I was able to create a personal statement that articulately and flawlessly communicated my story to admission counsels enabling me to gain admittance into the top MBA programs of my choice. If you are pursuing higher education or plan on advancing in your career and need assistance perfecting your cover letter, resume, and or personal statement, I highly recommend you use Dan. You will not be disappointed.”
Read More“Writing hasn’t been my specialty by any stretch and I was having some trouble with my PA school essay. Knowing that the essay can make or break your application, and after scrapping over a dozen drafts, I figured it was time to reach out for some insight. That was, hands down, absolutely the best decision I made. I can’t say enough good things about my experience working with Dan. PA apps are stressful as is, but there was nothing stressful about the essay writing process after reaching out. Dan has a way of calmly talking you through the essay and asking questions that seemed to illicit several “aha moments” along the way. On several occasions, I specifically remember thinking to myself “that’s good” or “whoa, I never thought of it like that“. He’s a genuinely good guy that takes the time to get to know you and your background to help you present the best version of yourself through your essay. My previous drafts were quite generic and I hated them. I feel like Dan was able to help me elevate my application and allow it to stand out against all others. Working with Dan was pain free to the point he made me look forward to the essay portion I had been dreading for so long. If you’re having trouble getting started, you have a draft ready, or you’re anywhere else along the road and thinking about getting some guidance.. Do it! Don’t think about it, just reach out. You won’t regret it. Dan is a great guy, a tremendous coach, and a true lifesaver!”
Read More“Writing the Common App essay is an often dreaded rite of passage for seniors. Over seven sessions, Dan gave my son, Lucas, an advanced crash course in the craft of writing well. Beyond being a gifted writing coach, Dan is inquisitive and encouraging, and with some kind of meticulous and magical detective power, he drew out of Lucas a story that brought his personality and values to life.
Lucas would tell you writing with Dan was arduous, but also inspirational, satisfying, and surprisingly fun. Between their writing sessions, Lucas put in hours of work and self reflection, but none of those hours were wasted — the final product shines. Anyone who reads my son's essay will get a clear sense of what he’s all about — it brings the reader into his world, and reveals the unique and creative aspects of his character. I’m grateful not only for the time Lucas and Dan worked together, but for the writing skills Lucas gained that will be useful in college and afterwards.
(P.S. After showing my son this review, he insisted I say more about how fun and likable Dan is, and more about how much he loved getting to know him. So I’m adding: Dan is really really fun and good-natured and passionate about what he does and he’s the kind of mentor you love your kid to have.)”
“Dan was a fantastic help on my grad school essays. He helped me sift through my experiences and pick out the key ideas to write about. He pushed me to look inwards and kept digging until we found what we were looking for. When I had an idea, Dan always heard me out and encouraged me to develop it.
Working with Dan was a collaborative process. He didn’t just review my essays, give feedback and send me on my way. We workshopped everything together—themes, sentences, specific words—until the essays were perfect.
Dan is also extremely accommodating with scheduling, finding a time to meet even if it ends up being in the evening or on the weekend. I changed times on him far too often, and he was still always ready to go for our call. Sometimes we’d lose track of time because we were so focused on the essay in front of us. That’s what you want from an essay coach.
If you’re looking for someone to help on college or grad school essays, you want to work with Dan. Your essays will be great, but you’ll also just come out of the experience as a better writer.”
“Finding Dan was a gift. His professionalism, dedication, patience and positivity allowed my son to gain confidence in his writing that I hadn't seen to date and I think will follow him into the future. The time Dan spent working and encouraging my son to be introspective, searching for those answers from within that he had but couldn't seem to find on his own, is part of Dan's brilliance. He searches for the right questions to ask. I couldn't be more grateful for his help.”
Read More“I couldn’t be more grateful for Dan’s help during the essay writing process of my college admissions applications. Initially, I was worried about seeking help on my essays. I was concerned that a writing coach would attempt to write the essay on their own, completely ignoring my voice as the applicant. I wanted someone to accompany me on the process rather than taking over. Dan eased my fears by helping me gain insight on my experiences and by helping me realize the potential behind them. He dedicated time to fully understand me as a person and as a student, and then we worked together on deciding which topics and prompts to use for my essays. Dan made sure to always allow me to bring my ideas to the table and to take the reins as the crafter of my own narrative. As I found my voice, Dan guided me by helping me to focus on my ideas to share my story. He helped me to see my potential and motivated my love for writing. Thanks to him, I am able to feel more comfortable in my narrations and I feel confident about my applications.
Dan was extremely dedicated through this process and took extra time when I had concerns about the essay. He truly cared about my candidacy and about my circumstances. I’m forever thankful for his help!”
“This post is more for Dan's integrity and honesty than his superior skills, which anyone that's worked with him, can attest to.
I reached out to Dan to help my daughter edit her draft for a contest she was participating in. The contest's format was not a traditional written format. Dan reviewed two of her drafts on different topics and then provided his guidance on which one she should develop. When we got on a call to discuss the game plan, Dan said that he was not sure about being able to help for the non-traditional format of the contest. He could've easily marketed his skills and get some billable hours, but instead he gracefully bailed out with best wishes for my daughter. I am blown away by the sheer professionalism that Dan embodies in his work. I can't wait for my daughter to work with him when she's ready for college! Thank you for your initial guidance, Dan, because she did pick the topic you recommended (and won!)”
“Dan is phenomenal! It was a momentous task for my son to start his personal statement for college applications. He has always been determined and was ready to start working on this essay by the time Junior year was ending. He was full of ideas, but really needed guidance on how to start and asked for help. We met with multiple tutors and companies, but ultimately chose Dan. Kai liked his approach and felt comfortable with him. As Dan said "It's a leap of faith." and we're happy with our choice.
Dan really listened to Kai and gave Kai homework to do which involved answering focused questions. All the talking, discussions and homework really gave Kai clarity. That introspection was extremely valuable. He was able to focus on what he wanted his personal statement to reflect. Dan does not write the essay, but he was very effective at helping Kai put his thoughts, personality and strengths into writing. Kai was able to use what he learned and answer other college essay questions.
Thank you Dan!”
“In January 2022, I graduated, with honors, from an accelerated nursing program with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Without a doubt, Dan's guidance during the application process made this accomplishment possible. I sought his help during the summer of 2020 when I realized just how dry and underwhelming my personal statement was. Much like a therapist, Dan helped me navigate memories and analyze experiences. I explored parts of my history that were new to me and discovered a voice that truly demonstrated my personality as well as my past. He is 100% worth his weight in platinum and gold.”
Read More“My son had the pleasure of working with Dan for his college essay process. Although my son is an exceptional writer for research papers, it is difficult for him to write introspectively. Through Dan's brainstorming process, my son found his authentic, unique personal story. After reading his Common Application essay, it brought tears to my eyes because it was so beautifully written and revealed who my son truly is. Dan made the college writing process fun for a student who is more of a research writer than a creative one. My son told me that Dan taught him just not how to write a good college essay, but how to tell a story. Dan has made a lasting impression!”
Read More“Dan is a gifted writing coach and I couldn't have been more lucky in finding him! The connection he made with my daughter made all the difference. Dan not only was able to understand exactly what kind of a person she was, but then helped her understand and express herself with depth and authenticity. His writing expertise is complimented by his calm demeanor and encouraging style - and he completely deescalated what is typically a very stressful process. My daughter got into the best schools in the nation, and I would encourage anyone who is considering using Dan's services to hire him immediately!”
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“There were no companies that did not contact me back after seeing my resume, including industry titans like Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, Uber and Google. If you ever need something written when the stakes are high, you absolutely HAVE to hire Daniel, the ROI for his services is just immeasurable."
Read More“We are not the only parents who find that providing advice to our college-bound kid be something of a minefield, but Dan was able to get our daughter to listen and to improve. He understood our daughter's strengths and helped her showcase them more clearly. Dan is knowledgeable and talented with much experience as a writer and editor. He works well with teens and makes the process less stressful for HS seniors and their families. I highly encourage you to reach out to Dan. He will truly help your child shine and get accepted to their dream school.”
Read More“My kids have worked with Dan on various writing tasks (college/camp applications) and Dan is always super helpful in guiding them through and giving excellent advice. He has thoughtful ideas and deep insight about the application process, and really knows how to work with teens. We are very happy with the results we got.”
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