Why fit in when you were born to stand out?
Photo by Caroline Colvin
Live, virtual workshops led by veteran writing instructor, Pete Laffin.
Crush the College Essay is an innovative and effective approach to the college essay writing process, tailored to today’s students. CTCE draws out the unique narrative of the individual writer, rather than relying on an imaginary formula for success.
I believe that every student, no matter their writing proficiency, has a deeply compelling story to share. I help students make the best possible impression to their potential colleges –– not by following a one-size-fits-all formula that causes them to blend in with other applicants. Instead, I help students discover and craft their most compelling stories and ideas. The result is an essay that intrigues readers and drastically improves application outcomes.
HOW WE CRUSH IT
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Structured Timeline
Each workshop keeps its deadlines to guarantee your student has a thoughtful essay written by our last day.
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Small Group Collaboration
We limit class size to seven participants to keep collaboration fluid and ensure everyone is heard and gets the support they need.
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Personal Discovery
Perhaps the best part, your student is bound to learn something profound about themselves and others through this process.
"Pete was an exceptional mentor and immensely helped me write my essay for the Common Application. He not only brought his thoughtful and wise words to our sessions, but also much humor and humanity. He invests his time in each student, ensuring everyone is proud of their essay at the end.” - Michelle M., student
Crush the College Essay Workshops
All CTCE workshops operate over video chat, and each is limited to 8 students. A web camera and microphone are required to participate.
What People Are Saying
“Our son started working with Pete the summer before high school and has continued throughout his high school career. Pete has been more than just a writing expert; he has been a mentor, life coach, executive skills tutor, and a sounding board for a teenage boy's emerging ideas about the world. Ryan's trust in Pete is implicit, and I think that set them up for the culmination of their working relationship: college essays.”
— Stephanie G., parent, University of Virginia
“I've worked with Pete on a variety of subjects, including handwriting, creative writing, and now college essays. He has always pushed me to think critically and question everything, no matter what the topic of focus was. Pete is able to see not just the talent, but the potential of each of his students, and challenges us to the fullest. However, he is simultaneously overflowing with kindness, compassion and humanity, resulting in a truly incredible learning experience.”
— Mia G., student
“Peter is an amazing teacher and mentor to all of us. Within two weeks we all started from scratch on our college essays and had a full first draft by the end of the two week session. He never fails to make everyone’s day better, and he makes sure that the class is a safe place to share everyone’s thoughts and ideas about anything.”