A Different Kind of Coaching
In an age of AI-written essays, finding your story and telling it in your own voice matters more than ever.
The strongest essays don't start with writing. They start with insight. They come from understanding what makes your experience, perspective, or story unique—and then shaping it into something clear, specific, and honest. Not something that sounds impressive. Something that sounds like you.
That's the work I do with students. We don't start by editing a draft. We start by finding what's distinctive about you. From there, we build an essay that is thoughtful, well-structured, and yes, polished, but never at the expense of your voice.
The goal is simple: an essay that lets a reader see who you are and why their class would be better with you in it.
About Me
I'm Jenny Leeds, an essay coach and writing teacher with an English degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA from UT-Austin. Over the past several years, I've worked with students applying to college, graduate school, and law school. I've also served as an admissions reader, where I learned that compelling essays reveal genuine insight and feel unmistakably like you. Recently, I've developed a tool for schools that teaches students to work thoughtfully with AI, rather than use it as a shortcut.
I'm committed to making the admissions process fair for all students. All of my teaching materials are available to anyone who wants them, and my fees are flexible—cost shouldn't determine who gets quality coaching. To make sure every student gets time and attention, I take on a limited number each year.
My goal is for you to leave not just with an essay you're proud of, but with writing skills you can rely on in college and beyond.
How I work
Get to know you. We'll meet to talk about who you are and where you'd like to be in the future. I'll also share how I work, so you know what to expect.
Brainstorm with purpose. I'll ask the kinds of questions that get past the obvious answers, so we can find the story worth telling, not the one that sounds most impressive on paper.
Outline and draft. Once you've landed on your topic, you'll outline and write a first draft—with as much or as little input from me as you need along the way.
Receive specific feedback. I'll give you detailed written comments, then we'll meet to talk through them and map out your revision so you’ll know exactly what to do next.
Revise until it's right. Unlike many coaches, I don't limit the number of meetings or revisions. My goal is for you to leave with an essay you're proud of.