Here are unedited emails sent from parents and students who wrote to me.
Hi Jessie,
Well, we’ve done it! Our 3rd and youngest child is off to college this fall! We can’t thank you enough for helping each of our three uniquely different sons work their way through the college essay process, some more than others. We are most grateful for the way in which you worked with our kids without getting us involved, but still keeping us informed of their progress. You really helped two of our sons who were really not fond of writing. Ultimately, I think they enjoyed the process. We did get to read them once completed, and it’s clear that you helped them find their own voices. I know they were pleased with the final pieces, and all three attended their first choice of school!
Thank you again,
Suzanne
Jessie,
Working with you to craft and refine my personal statement for law school was a fantastic decision and immense help. You provided me with the sounding board I needed to express my passion for public service in a concise and compelling way. Thank you for taking the time to help me find my voice in the midst of a stressful process!
I will be attending UVA Law as a Virginia Public Service Scholar on a full-tuition scholarship. I am so grateful for your support!
Lindsay G.
Jessie,
I can’t thank you enough for helping me with my personal statements for architecture school! Your quick feedback helped me focus my thoughts and better communicate why I wanted to go back to school. I also really appreciate your guidance in adapting that message in a truthful and meaningful way to each school’s essay prompt. The whole process not only informed my writing but also illuminated my personal values––it has made me even more excited to begin school again this fall!
Thank you again,
William
Hi Jessie,
Thank you so much for all of your extraordinary support throughout the college application process. You did an amazing job keeping Maggie on task to finish 20+ essays and supplements and also showed her how to polish each one until it shone! But perhaps most importantly, you really got to know her—and what makes her special—and helped her to identify essay topics that perfectly captured and showcased her personality and accomplishments. And with your guidance and encouragement, she’s off to Yale this fall! Boola Boola!!!
Lisa
Hi Jessie-
I wanted to let you know that Lizzie has decided on Parson’s School of Art and Design. I can’t begin to thank you enough for all of your enthusiasm and support. Lizzie was accepted to so many great schools, as a result of her work with you. You taught her a lot and encouraged her creativity to shine through her writing samples; encouraged her to trust her instincts, and to believe in herself.
All the best! Thank you for everything!
Carmen
Jessie,
You are a natural with teenagers; my daughters loved working with you, and the fact that I didn’t have to nag them to work on their essays was relationship-preserving and worth every penny! Their essays turned out beautifully and written in their “voice” which I so appreciate.
thank you, Roz
Hi Jessie,
Thank you so much for your great work with Clea. She is so excited and happy, and we are of course so relieved.
We were talking about the experience and the things that were great and the things that were hard. The college visits that we combined with fun hikes and spa trips were amazing, and the essay was hard. And Clea said, “Jessie made it so much easier, I really needed her.”
That is actually huge statement from a girl like Clea.
We are so grateful for your help.
Alice
Dear Mrs. Grearson,
I wanted to thank you again for helping make my college application process be so fluid. I don’t think I could’ve kept my composure and written all those essays without your guidance. As the decisions came rolling into the mail I wanted to wait until I heard back from all my schools before I made my choice. In the end it was a toss up between George Washington, and funny enough, The University of Miami. Just wanted to tell you the news and send my thanks for all your help to get me here.
Val M.
Dear Mrs. Grearson,
Thank you for all the help you gave me on my college essay. After meeting with you I felt I had the best essay in the world! I did get into LaSalle, and I am very excited.Thank you,
Caleb M.
Hi Jessie,
I have good news to share! I got into Boston College today! I’m absolutely ecstatic and I can’t thank you enough for your support. I’ll keep you posted on how the other schools go as well.
Greyson
Jessie,
Thank you so much. Andrew has grown in many ways through this process. It’s been difficult for him to reveal himself, and I consider each of these essays a gift. As you know, he’s my fourth to work with you, and each essay my kids has written has given me a glimpse into their hearts and souls. I don’t think they could have done it without your guidance and encouragement. I hope our paths cross in the future!
Jen
Hi Jessie,
William heard from Middlebury yesterday and he is in! Paul and I want to thank you for your expert help and supportive nature. It is so nice that you and William were able to “bond” over food. I also think his writing has improved due to your guidance. Enjoy your holidays.
Audrey
Dear Jessie,
Just wanted to say thanks for working with Tom. Since he was homeschooled, we knew his essays would likely receive increased scrutiny. You were able to pinpoint the unique qualities of his experiences and character and you helped him craft essays that showed these traits and set him apart, in a positive way, from other applicants.
Tom really liked that you gave final editorial say to him. Being an independent-minded young man, he chose not to follow all of your suggestions–and he felt respected for that choice. I still can see his impish smile as he told me of his decision to stand by some turn of phrase that you suggested he omit. That’s my boy!
He was admitted to his top three colleges, and we are happy to share that he earned significant scholarships at all three, including the Marlboro Scholarship from the college he selected. We feel the quality of his essays played a large part in this, and are very grateful to you for your help. Thanks again.
Andrea
Hi Jessie,
I have been meaning to contact you! I hope you are well. Ian has been accepted into all of his schools!! Several schools hand wrote a little note to him about his essays!! I wanted to thank you for that!! ? We are visiting the schools again in April so he can make his choice. Thank you again for everything. Have a lovely day!
June
Thank you, Jessie.
As always, you are a pleasure to work with. Gemma came home with a smile and set to work typing so I think she’s edited her essays.
Emily and Laura both say “hi” by the way. They are extremely happy that you
are helping their ‘little sister’!!
Carol
Hi Jessie,
It just occurred to me as I was checking my e-mail that I hadn’t talked to you in while or updated you on the college front! I know I sent you an e-mail before but just to jog your memory, I was accepted at UMO, Clarkson University, Colby College, and Boston College and I have decided that I will attend (drum roll please)…Boston College! It’s the perfect location and it has an excellent pre-med program. Now that it’s all over I’m relieved …It’s surreal to think that just a few months ago my life was so chaotic and now it’s all over and everything has slowed down so much especially since school finished (I graduated a week ago today).
I want to thank you again for all your help. You gave me a great deal of encouragement and confidence, which was what I needed the most. I hope to hear from you again and best of luck with the next crop of college applicants seeking your help!
Megha
Hi Jessie
I wanted to share the great news! I got into Wake Forest ED!!! Thank you so very much for all your help and support! I really appreciate all your assistance with my supplements and my essays! You helped me give the writing the extra touch it needed! Thank you so much!!
Jayde
Hi Jessie.
My college advisor really liked the essays. This is what she said:
“I ADORE both of these essays…the voice…the emotion…the word choice…the topics….. and I would NOT change one word…fabulous, over-the-top…A+++!!!”
Thanks again,
Jake
Hello, Ms. Grearson,
I just thought I’d give you an update as May 1st approaches, along with the deadline for my (and many others’) college decision. I was accepted to all of the schools I applied to, so I must thank you very much for your help in the application process, especially at such short notice!
I have, however, narrowed my decision down to four schools and will be deciding soon as I revisit them over April vacation. I am planning to attend Northeastern University, Boston University, University of Vermont, or Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
I have a difficult decision ahead, but thanks to you, I am able to choose among my favorite schools and was even able to eliminate others into which I originally feared I would not be accepted. You were an enormous help because I’ve always struggled at finding the right wording and phrasing for what I wanted to say, especially with a word limit! But you also didn’t just write the essays for me! It was a perfect balance of assistance and reassurance.
Thank you again for all your help!
Gemma
Hi Jessie,
Thank you so much for your help with this one! And I thank you again immensely for all of the help you have given me so far throughout this process. I really appreciate all of the time and effort you have put into helping me out, and with your help I have begun to feel much more confident and comfortable writing pieces like this. You have been a huge help, and my family and I are very grateful!
I will keep you updated with what is going on with colleges, and will let you know what I decide to do! Thank you,
Rachael
Hi Jessie,
I wanted to send you a quick email to let you know that I got into Colby Early Decision! Thank you so much for taking the time to work with me and help me craft my essays. I couldn’t have done it without you!
Thanks again,
Drew
Hi Jessie!
Here is the latest round of my two essays. I can’t thank you enough for all your thoughts on these two pieces. Having a pair of fresh eyes look over my writing has really helped me to understand what I want the college to take away from my essays. I feel really confident about the different ideas that we generated for the different supplements, and I have even started to write a couple (to appease the ED Gods!).
Again, I really can’t thank you enough. You have been wonderful to work with!
Mesa (accepted ED Wesleyan)
Jessie,
I would like to thank you for all the time you spent on the phone with me getting my application essays together. You gave me great advice. Hope to meet you when I’m next in Maine. Thanks.
Alex (attending Brown)
Hi Jessie,
I just wanted to keep you updated on my college process. This past week was the final week of hearing back from schools for me. I was accepted to Georgetown, Davidson, Wake Forest, UVA, University of Delaware, University of Richmond, Yale, and UPenn…. I have a tough decision to make in the next few weeks, and I will be sure to let you know where I end up. Thanks again for all your help with my essays. I truly believe they made a huge difference in this process and in getting into these prestigious institutions.
Aaron
