Is hiring a college essay consultant worth it for the application process?
I'm a rising senior and I'm feeling kind of overwhelmed with my college essays. I keep seeing people talk about hiring essay consultants, but I'm not sure if I really need one or if it's just something that people do because they're stressed.
For reference, I go to a pretty average public school, and I don't know anyone who's used a consultant before. My English teacher is super supportive and has said she'd read my essays, but she's really busy, and I feel bad bothering her too much. Part of me wonders if it would be worth it to spend the money to get extra feedback from someone who does this professionally.
If you've worked with a consultant or decided against it, how did you make that choice? Did it actually help or just add to the pressure? Would love to hear some real experiences, good or bad.
For reference, I go to a pretty average public school, and I don't know anyone who's used a consultant before. My English teacher is super supportive and has said she'd read my essays, but she's really busy, and I feel bad bothering her too much. Part of me wonders if it would be worth it to spend the money to get extra feedback from someone who does this professionally.
If you've worked with a consultant or decided against it, how did you make that choice? Did it actually help or just add to the pressure? Would love to hear some real experiences, good or bad.
5 months ago
•
23 views
Camille Luong
• 5 months ago
Advisor
Feeling overwhelmed by the college essay process is really common, especially when you see peers talking about consultants and you’re not sure what’s actually useful for you. Deciding whether to hire a college essay consultant depends on your own preferences, resources, and support network.
A good essay consultant can definitely provide personalized feedback and help you craft essays that bring out your unique voice and story. They often know what works for specific schools and can catch things that friends or teachers might miss. Consultants also help with planning supplemental essays, brainstorm ideas, and keep you on track with deadlines, which can make the process feel less stressful. For example, a friend of mine worked with a consultant who helped him turn a pretty standard topic about volunteering into a quirky essay about making mistakes while running a recycling drive—and that made his application more memorable.
On the other hand, plenty of students succeed without hiring a consultant. If your English teacher is supportive and willing to read drafts, that can sometimes be just as effective (as long as you’re specific about what feedback you need). There are also free or lower-cost options, like virtual workshops, essay review services, or even seeking feedback from trusted adults. The key benefit a consultant provides is more time and expertise than a busy teacher might offer. But some students find that having a consultant adds stress, especially if they feel pressured to write in a certain way or lose their authentic voice.
If you do decide to work with one, look for someone who respects your ideas, helps you brainstorm, and lets your personality shine through. But if money is an issue or you feel like you can draft and revise well with support from teachers, there’s no rule saying you need to hire a consultant.
Take some time to see what you need. For example, you could start by drafting an essay and asking your teacher or a friend for feedback. If you feel lost after a draft or two, then you might consider extra help. Ultimately, students have gotten into top colleges following both paths—success depends more on the essay itself and less on whether or not you paid someone to read it.
In short: a consultant can be helpful but isn’t necessary for everyone. Think about your learning style, how much feedback you need, and whether you’d feel more confident with or without professional help before making your decision.
A good essay consultant can definitely provide personalized feedback and help you craft essays that bring out your unique voice and story. They often know what works for specific schools and can catch things that friends or teachers might miss. Consultants also help with planning supplemental essays, brainstorm ideas, and keep you on track with deadlines, which can make the process feel less stressful. For example, a friend of mine worked with a consultant who helped him turn a pretty standard topic about volunteering into a quirky essay about making mistakes while running a recycling drive—and that made his application more memorable.
On the other hand, plenty of students succeed without hiring a consultant. If your English teacher is supportive and willing to read drafts, that can sometimes be just as effective (as long as you’re specific about what feedback you need). There are also free or lower-cost options, like virtual workshops, essay review services, or even seeking feedback from trusted adults. The key benefit a consultant provides is more time and expertise than a busy teacher might offer. But some students find that having a consultant adds stress, especially if they feel pressured to write in a certain way or lose their authentic voice.
If you do decide to work with one, look for someone who respects your ideas, helps you brainstorm, and lets your personality shine through. But if money is an issue or you feel like you can draft and revise well with support from teachers, there’s no rule saying you need to hire a consultant.
Take some time to see what you need. For example, you could start by drafting an essay and asking your teacher or a friend for feedback. If you feel lost after a draft or two, then you might consider extra help. Ultimately, students have gotten into top colleges following both paths—success depends more on the essay itself and less on whether or not you paid someone to read it.
In short: a consultant can be helpful but isn’t necessary for everyone. Think about your learning style, how much feedback you need, and whether you’d feel more confident with or without professional help before making your decision.
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating
5.0 (5 reviews)