What Parents Say About Donna Kirschner’s
Essay Coaching Services

Although I am a writer myself, I decided to send my son to Donna for help with his essay. I felt the process would be less stressful if he received guidance from someone other than his mom. The whole application process can take over the parent-child relationship. I felt that Donna helped him find a unique approach to his essay and enabled him to tell make his personal statement in his own, best voice. Her process of getting to know my son and what “makes him tick” and then using her discoveries to guide him through writing process resulted in a personal statement essay that was truly his own. He received positive feedback from admissions officers, so I feel we made the right decision in having Donna work with him.

-Amy Buckman, Parent

Our daughter has talked to us about the whole process and how she has really enjoyed working with you. She always felt that writing was not her best subject but I am sure she has accomplished a great deal with your help.

-Asmita Joshi, Parent

I want to thank you for the work you did with Jen on her college essays.  As parents we are not able to help her because we don’t know what is expected by the colleges.  We appreciate the time, patience and knowledge you bring to this process.

-Laurie Kimborough, Parent

I have been meaning to write you to let you know how much you have helped Allie and how much I appreciate your assistance for her.  Allie came home from your first session with you much calmer and actually enthusiastic about essay writing — a sharp contrast to the stressed out young lady without an essay topic who left our house that morning.   Thanks so much for your guidance and help.  You have provided a great service to Allie and I thank you so much!

-Ellen Grady, Parent

As an essay coach, Donna provided valuable guidance to my daughter. Her ability to manage the components of essay writing and convey those concepts to my daughter reduced the stress my child was experiencing. Thanks, Donna.

-Leonard Wolf, Parent

As the deadline for hitting the “submit” button drew near, my daughter Samantha was
concerned that her essay might need one last review, one final stamp of approval from someone other than her parents. Then, coincidentally, I ran into Donna at a nearby restaurant and we introduced ourselves. Donna told me about her work and I hired her on the spot to give us some feedback on Sam’s essay. Sam arranged a meeting date and emailed her essay to Donna in advance.

Donna called the house the next day to say the essay was great and that there was no reason to meet. And she refused to take money for the time she took to look over the essay. I found that gesture to be not just generous, since she did take the time to read it, but really good business. I will definitely be passing her name on to friends and family!

Sheri Cozen Renik

What Students Say About Donna Kirschner’s
Essay Coaching Services

-Alexandra G., Accepted at Tulane University.

Donna helped me to organize and consolidate my ideas into a clear, focused college essay. She gave me brainstorming techniques that allowed me to visualize what it was I wanted to say, and craft my thoughts into a beautiful, heartfelt piece of writing. Most importantly, Donna gave me the confidence to write freely and openly about personal experiences!

-Ashley H., University of Texas at Austin

I applied to some really competitive schools, for which all the applicants had high SAT scores, high GPAs, great activities and glowing recommendations, so I really needed an essay that made me stand out.  Dr. Kirschner guided me through an amazing process of coming to a story that really captured my unique qualities.  Then she took me through the paces to make sure that I told my story in the best way possible.  While she worked me hard, she really took the stress out of the whole situation.  Thank you, Dr. Kirschner!

-Quinn E, University of Pittsburgh.  Also admitted to Drexel, Colorado College, and University of Pennsylvania.

Here’s a note that Quinn received from the University of Pittsburgh admissions committee:

“Dear Quinn,

The Admissions Committee at the University of Pittsburgh reviews thousands of essays each year. Many of these are traditional in nature. Your essay proved to be extremely unique and broke the mold. It was refreshing to read your prose. Thank you for taking a leap and delighting us with your words.”

Under very tight schedule, Dr. Kirschner helped me pull together and polish my essays. I couldn’t have done it without her!

-Adam R., accepted to business schools at University of Pittsburgh and Penn State.

Thank you for your help with my college essay.  You were very patient and helpful in proofing and brainstorming with me.  You helped me understand the correct way to make myself stand out to colleges by writing about a moment in time, using good descriptions to bring the reader into the story.  I had a lot of ideas and wanted to try them all and you were helpful in providing me with constructive criticism and ultimately guiding me to an essay I am happy with.  It was a pleasure working with you.

-Jen K., University of Maryland

Having an essay coach really helped me in brainstorming for essay topics and helped me write my personal statement. Without someone helping me with my college essays there is no way I could have finished them before November.

-Lauren W., University of Delaware

My senior year of high school, Donna helped understand what colleges where looking of in an admissions essay. She helped me brainstorm and organize my ideas. My essay gradually developed into a story that helped portray me, my qualities and my desire to attend that college. Her assistance throughout the process was extremely helpful. I am now a senior in college and will soon be looking forward to working with her on my graduate admissions essay.

-Ela S., Temple University

Donna provided me with a writing process that allowed me to get started very easily. First, we brainstormed about ideas and then I proceeded to write the essay. We would meet a couple of times for revisions of the rough draft until we had the perfect essay. Donna helped tremendously with the college writing process. I would not have been able to do this without her!

-Gianna Y., admitted to Texas State University in San Marcos, Pace University, Wagner College, Cincinnati Music Conservatory

Thank you so much again for your help with my essay. It was wonderful to work with you, and I am so pleased with the finished product. It has felt so good to get my applications out over the past few weeks, which I never would have been able to do without your help!

-Allie G., Admitted to her first-choice, Vanderbilt University.

Donna and I had a quick and impromptu session, but in that short period of time she asked great questions that helped me clarify my thoughts and write a few pages that had been eluding me for days.  Donna has a calming and supportive demeanor that can really help the anxious writer!

-Jill J., Doctoral Candidate, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University.

Dr. Kirschner is the best. She provided a structure for me to write the admission essay which helped me brainstorm and organize my ideas. She told me a good way to stand out is to start the essay by telling a story about myself. She helped me write a clear and focus essay which answered all of the university’s questions. I explained to her my possible dissertation in neural networks. I felt confident in her abilities when she fully understood what I am trying to investigate in the field of artificial intelligence. Thank you Dr. Kirschner for all of your help!

-Rodney H Thomas, Degree and Major – Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science, Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences, Nova Southeastern University

Writing my graduate admissions essay was very difficult for me. I had no idea how to capture the magnitude of how badly I wanted into this urban planning graduate program in just half of a page. The first time Donna and I sat down to brainstorm a gripping opener, she helped me narrow  my thoughts and concepts into a concise topic.  By our last meeting, I was confident that my essay perfectly captured my ideals. I was so pleased with the essay, I even submitted it as one of my writing samples for the job I currently hold.

When I decided to return to graduate school, this time for a degree in Public Policy, I immediately sought out Donna’s counsel.  Initially Drexel University told me that they had filled their admissions quota, and that they wouldn’t be able to accept any new students until Fall of 2010. A few days later I received an email that they had reviewed my application and based on my experience and my interest (as outlined in my admissions essay), I was a perfect candidate for the program and they found room for me to start that very semester.  Donna provided me with the tools to take my topic ideas and narrow them down into a focused essay that clearly and concisely met the requirements of the admissions board. I don’t think I could have done it without her!

-Michelle H, MA, Urban Planning, Temple University.  Michelle works for the Department of Homeland Security.

Before working with Donna Kirschner, I was completely lost. I had no idea how to write an essay, or what to write about for that matter. Dr. Kirschner was a great help, she used activities to spark my interest and helped me organize an amazing essay. She was also very helpful in helping me explain my illness to colleges. I feel very confident in my essays now and it would not have been possible with her. Thank You so much.

-TyQuish M. Ty’Quish earned scholarships from Howard and Morehouse, acceptance at UPitt, UMiami, UMaryland and Drexel.

Donna has helped me fine-tune my work to a work that I can be proud, as well as confident about. She was knowledgeable about what the colleges are looking for, and has turned a rough draft into a great essay.

-Alek K.

Working with you was much more helpful than I had previously imagined. You helped me organize my thoughts into specific ideas to write about. Further, you pushed me to develop my writing into more meaningful and concise sentences. Guiding me through a hands-off process, you brought out my best writing into a great essay.

-Josh N., Admitted to Penn State University, University of Maryland and Miami University

Donna really helped me put myself together through the tough agonizing college process.  Before I met Donna, I was so lost I did not know what to do about my college essay.  Then I heard about her and set up a appointment and after our sessions I had a well rounded amazing college essay.

-Max M., Drexel University

I loved working with Dr. Kirschner! She was calm, supportive, and helpful; I was amazed at how quickly and easily she became able to follow what I’m working on, even though it’s a specialized area of study, and I learned so much from her feedback. I wish I had contacted her earlier, because working with her has been empowering. Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Kirschner has helped me to map out a do-able path to completing my dissertation, and helped me to see that I really can do this.

-Barbara H., Doctoral Candidate, Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania

Your workshop was very helpful. It gave me a good idea of the kinds of essays schools were looking for and gave me a new way of thinking about how to write them. Thanks for your help!

-Brie G., Accepted at Northeastern, DePaul and Temple Universities