“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!”

“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 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.”

“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 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!”

“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!”

“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!”

“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.”

“As a high school senior, I had the best time working with Mr. Lichterman on my college essays. He’s funny yet pragmatic, relaxed but efficient, and undeniably honed in his writing expertise. Over the course of several sessions, he helped me flawlessly sum up my four years of high school into one personal statement and a supplement tailored to my school. Although there were countless times where we both stared at the multi-page brainstorm google doc, stuck in a stalemate and unsure how to continue the essay, Mr. Lichterman would magically propel the session forward by asking diverting questions that subsequently produced more writing material. He makes sure to get to know his student personally, and his attention to detail allowed my personality and voice to shine through in the final writing. I would’ve never been able to put together my college essays without his help, and working with him eased off an immense amount of stress from senior year. Thanks to his guidance, I am immensely grateful and delighted to announce that I will be attending my dream school next Fall!”

“My experience with Dan was excellent for college-essay writing. He starts with a two hour interview with the student. By the end of the interview, he'll know a lot about you, but would still be able to give you an outside perspective as an admissions officer would. Then, he picks out the most compelling aspects of you (things you might not even realize) and helps you build a narrative. You will come out of sessions with polished and well-organized essays! My best friend read my essay and thought the writing was better than I could ever do alone (LOL), but that it was so clearly reflective of me and my story. Not only that, Dan took away the stress of the application process by being extremely accommodating and easy to work with. I also learned so much about writing by watching his process. In the end, I was accepted to Princeton, UC Berkeley, Northwestern, and a few other great schools. Thanks Dan!”

“Worked extensively with me on my many college essays that ultimately helped me get into my dream school—Princeton!”

"Dan challenged me to write about myself in a way that I had never been asked to do before. With Dan it was not about who I was as a student but rather who I am as a person. When I sent off my college applications, I didn’t have to worry about my essay, because I knew it was my best work. Six weeks later I got a letter from Harvard inviting me to an exclusive on-campus interview with a note: they loved my essay."