“The influence you had on me was by all means transformative. The detailed guidance you gave me on every emails and files, although a little strict sometimes, is more worthy than a dozens of pale encouragements, since it is these substantial supports that truly drive me forward…. I totally agree with what you said about the ‘mutual learning’ between us. I believe you are not only a great mentor but also a good friend to me.”

“One thing I have noticed after the application process and writing my essays: political and business campaigns use so many buzzwords, and so much empty language. It’s amazing how concise writing requires you to get rid of all that and pack meaning into every sentence.”

“I look back on application season now and see what a good time I had, and how much I learned during that relatively short period of time. What you have taught me about writing college essays applies to other kinds of writing. Like the present is more powerful than what used to be; to not be fixated on the idea of ‘personal growth;’ and to avoid writing cliche sentences. I had learned of the importance of writing what is true, but it was working with you that made me realize what that actually meant. You are a remarkable counselor and mentor.”

“It's difficult to grasp how much I gained personally from this application process, most notably the skills you taught me when writing essays. You pushed me and gave me confidence to do things I would have never imagined myself capable of doing.”

“I abandoned the childlike love for my ‘dream schools’ and found faith in logically presenting facts to each university. You gave me the confidence that I was, without the need for exaggeration or false embellishment, a strong candidate. You taught me the difference between a forced story about ‘growth’ and ‘passion’ and an essay about deep, true reflections about what I have truly learned or how my actions impacted others.”

“Almost a year ago, you suggested how important reading is, and for some reason, that really resonated with me. I have always been a casual reader, but since then, I have realized how much there is to learn from literature.”

“As I clicked on the final review button, I felt so grateful for everything you have done for me. It has indeed been a long long journey, and I am so blessed to have you by my side. I enjoyed the application season, regardless of the final outcomes. It enables me to see myself from a new perspective, and reminds me of the room for improvement.”

“Beyond just editing draft after draft with new insights and comments, thank you for the articles, the encouragement, and, most of all, your honesty. I could not have gone through this process without your informative guidance, and I am incredibly grateful for the time and energy you spent dealing with someone like me. I learned a lot about myself, writing, and what it takes to produce something worthy of submitting to colleges.”