Helping students figure out who they are and who they want to be so they can prepare their applications with confidence
An application — whether for admission to graduate school, college, or a private high school — is an opportunity to create a portrait of who you are. I work with students to help them articulate: who do I want to be and what am I doing to get there? Answering these questions is foundational to a long-term plan for success.
“She is passionate about education and loves helping others.”
Lisa S. Koo received her B.A. in English from Pomona College and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law. Please click the Learn More button below to continue
Contact Us
Lisakoo02@gmail.com
Why work with me?
My first step is always interviewing the student. I provide tips on how to expedite this process. The other thing I do is teach students to view all parts of the application together rather than approach each essay as a discrete task.
Interviewing a student sounds easy, but it takes skill to extract information and help students see connections and patterns in their lives.
Here are some misconceptions we overcome as we work together:
Striving for the perfect essay. This is often not a conscious thought. We all know an essay can’t be perfect, but this aspect of the admissions portfolio feels so difficult to measure and control, which can be unsettling. Sometimes a student with this misconception has drafted several essays on one topic or is struggling to commit to one idea. Without clear thinking, their writing will reflect that indecision. By encouraging students to analyze their own lives, I get them focused on the subject of the essay rather than the potentially paralyzing task of writing about themselves. When they’re excited about the narrative, the writing process flows more smoothly.
Looking for a magic formula. This is similar to the first misconception except that in this one, a person tries to assert more control over the outcome. Students who who hold this idea have studied past “essays that worked” and/or watched videos about topics to avoid or address. They approach their essays the way that they approach schoolwork and tests: by studying. Again, I direct these students to think about themselves and their past to find themes for them to explore in their essays.
I understand that not everyone has the time to go through these steps, so I can assist at any point in the drafting process. However, I think you will get the greatest value by meeting with me as early as possible to develop a plan. I also see great value in going through this process in its entirety because it has the benefit of helping students understand their past so they can decide with more purpose how they want to write the story of their future. That confidence will propel them to reach their goals at any institution.
If you have questions, contact me at Lisakoo02@gmail.com.
Get in Touch
Click the button below to ask Lisa a question or to schedule an appointment. The initial consultation is free.