“The personal statement in any application is often the crucial differentiating factor. The more exclusive the college, the more weight the essay is given. A well written essay can make the difference between acceptance or rejection.
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Most students don't know how to write a college essay or even where to begin. Why would they? Indeed, it is their first time writing this unique style of essay, and they’ve never learned how to do it at school.
Families appreciate Dr. Castilla's refreshingly straightforward approach.
“Hi Alex, I heard back from Northwestern... and was ACCEPTED! Just wanted to reach out and say thank you. I truly appreciate our thorough discussions and have definitely become a better writer because of our time together.”
“I loved applying to colleges!
Not what you hear very often, but Alex’s guidance made the process valuable and cool! His expert literary critique allowed me to submit my college application with confidence. Alex genuinely brought things out of me that I never believed were there.”
Why Is the Personal Statement so Important?
Facing the challenge of having to choose between thousands of equally qualified applicants with highly competitive grades and test scores, admissions officers place a strong emphasis on personal essays.
Well written essays are essential for admissions officers to get a clear idea of a student’s goals, accomplishments, intellectual abilities, and personality.
According to the College Board, a well-written essay is very important in determining which student gets accepted into a university.
Considering that admissions officers read more than 5,000 essays per year, a well-written personal essay can make the difference between gaining an acceptance letter or being rejected.
Since personal essays play an essential role in the admissions process, it’s important to get it right. To connect with admissions officers, communicating in an authentic way is key.
Dr. Castilla teaches students how to convey who they are in a compelling and competitive way. They write memorable and engaging essays that are read enthusiastically by admissions officers.
It’s an art form, and he’s mastered it!
“Alex has outstanding skillsets, great integrity and the highest ethical standards as a college counselor and international educator. He has a winning and innovative approach to counseling which has helped numerous international students achieve their dreams of studying in the US. I offer him my highest recommendation.”
Dr. Castilla guides students on all stages of essay development, including discussion, review, and critique of essays. He assists students as they craft their essays by providing detailed suggestions on content, structure, style, tone, diction, and grammar until all essays are ready for submission.
Dr. Castilla does not write essays for students.
“Always the student’s best advocate, Alex helped them hone their applications, and especially their college essays. He had an excellent rapport with his students and it was therefore no surprise, when as a whole, they received a great set of offers in very competitive universities.”