About
Angie Frederickson
I actually enjoyed the admissions process for all three of my children. Yes, I'm serious. At times it was overwhelming, but helping them present their best selves to admissions committees was a rewarding experience. We survived applications, acceptances, deferrals and denials, and learned a great deal along the way, and now I help other students craft memorable essays to tell dream schools why they should earn a spot in the entering class.
With more than 25 years of writing, marketing and advertising experience, and an English degree from Vanderbilt University, I help people tell stories. All kinds of stories, in all kinds of ways. Outside of the college-admissions space, I am an experienced writer and journalist with numerous bylines including The Washington Post.
For the past few years I have worked with high schoolers to create unique messages for college-admissions essays. From idea generation to outlining to editing, my goal is to help students identify what makes them special and communicate these qualities in their own voice.
Essays 101
Admissions Essays: One Piece of the Puzzle
Each element of the application has a unique job, and together they tell your story.
Application: what you have done
Main Essay: who you are
Supplemental Essays: why you are a good fit
How important are admissions essays?
It depends.
A wise person in the admissions industry (whose name escapes me) once said "a great essay can heal the sick, but it cannot raise the dead." I believe this to be true. If your GPA and test scores are in the school's published range, then essays can have a huge impact by setting you apart from the crowd. If your stats are significantly lower than the school's mid-range, an amazing essay will probably need more support from other areas of the application to move the needle enough for an acceptance.
But...the college-admissions process seems to change each cycle, and schools are notoriously vague about their selection process. The best approach is to put forth a full effort for both the main essay and supplemental essays.
Write a great essay.
A strong admissions essay requires more than well-written, grammatically correct content. That's important, but it starts with choosing the right topic. The best essays personalize the application and demonstrate who you are, behind the grades, test scores and extracurricular activities.
Writing a great essay begins with a deep dive into what makes you unique. Spoiler alert: you already have a great topic brewing in your daily life, but you may need some guidance to bring it to the surface and turn it into a story.
I can help you select a good story to tell and steer clear of cliched topics like "overcoming a sports obstacle" or "lessons I learned on a mission trip." The best essay sets you apart from thousands of applicants with similar profiles and tells a story so unique it can only be written by one person: you.
How It Works
I take students through a process that identifies strengths and unique experiences, and then we select the ones that makes the best stories. Don't worry; you do not need to have climbed
Mt. Everest, saved orphans from a natural disaster or cured cancer.
Everyone has a story, and often the simplest experiences lead to the best tales.
Step 1: Craft a narrative.
Think of this as an elevator pitch to admissions committees. Who is applying? We brainstorm to understand your strengths, interests and experiences. Through an interactive Q&A process, we narrow down options and find topics that complement your academic, extracurricular and leadership record.
Step 2: Choose a topic.
After the brainstorming activities, it's time to look at what we have and select the topic you are most excited to write about.
Step 3: Write and revise.
This is the time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and just start writing. I will guide you through the process of narrative writing, sentence structure and correct grammar. Most students go through several drafts before arriving at the final product.
Working With Me
My goal is to help you identify things about yourself that you may not realize are actually wonderful essay topics. With a methodical process, I help alleviate the stress and uncertainty of essay writing by working alongside you each step of the way to create unique, compelling essays.
Let's start writing!
“I was lucky enough to be admitted to my ED1, and I wholeheartedly believe Angie’s help made all the difference. She not only helped me brainstorm essay ideas, but she elevated my previous rough draft ideas. Being true to your writing is the secret to success and Angie never let me stray from that. I truly cannot say enough about my time with Angie- I wish I could take her to college with me!”
-Student Admitted to Boston College
"Angie was able to help and guide my daughter’s thoughts and ideas into one of the best essays she’s ever written! She was extremely supportive of my daughter’s new ideas and was able to weed out ones she didn’t think worked. An absolute pleasure to work with."
-Parent of High School Senior
Contact me.
Each admissions cycle I work with only a few students to ensure I can provide personalized, comprehensive advising.
I meet with students in person in Houston or online anywhere. Please reach out for additional information including pricing.
