Do You Need Help With Your College Essay? Here’s How to Decide
If you’re asking yourself “Do I need help with my college essay?” — you’re not alone. Most high-achieving high school students feel relatively confident about their grades, extracurriculars, and test scores — but quickly become overwhelmed when it comes to the essay. They then rush to find someone, not realizing that many of the so-called “experts” out there can cause more harm than good.
I’ve been working with students for over a decade, and I’ve seen it go both ways. I’ve told my fair share of students they didn’t need my help; at the same time, many students have told me they were glad they didn’t wait to ask for guidance.
This article will help you figure out the best approach for you — and what you should look for in a tutor if you do decide to get support.
Signs You Might Be Fine on Your Own
I’ve noticed that students who don’t need my support have a few key qualities. Here are some signs you might not need outside help with the essay:
- You’re a confident, experienced writer. You not only perform well in English and History, but you’ve done some kind of writing outside class as well. Maybe you’ve worked for the school newspaper, or maybe you’ve published some creative writing. Maybe you just journal every day (hint: journaling is great practice for the college essay). The point is that you actually enjoy writing and incorporate it into your daily life.
- You’re the kind of person who reflects deeply. You spend a lot of time thinking about why things are the way they are, or why you chose to do certain things you did. If someone asks you a difficult question, you don’t reply straight away; rather, you stop and reflect honestly about what the answer might be.
- You’ve given yourself adequate time to work on your essays. You’ve set aside the summer — or a significant portion of the summer — to get cracking on your personal statement and supplemental essays rather than leaving everything till September or October (let alone November or December).
- You already have someone you trust to read your essays and give you outside feedback. Maybe your English teacher has offered to read anything you write. Or maybe a family friend is willing to serve as a mentor as you start thinking about what you might write about.
If any or all of these are the case, I recommend you at least take a stab at your college essays now. You can always seek out help later on if you hit a wall.
You might also find it helpful to look at my Common App essay prompt guide to get oriented.
Signs You Might Be Stuck
On the other hand, students who do need college essay help should probably start looking for it sooner rather than later. Here are some indicators you’re stuck on your college essay and need to develop some new skills:
- You’re convinced there’s nothing interesting about you and you’re never going to come up with a compelling topic.
- You do fine on your written work at school, but you feel completely lost when it comes to writing personal essays.
- You have trouble putting your thoughts into words.
- You’re writing what you think colleges want to hear.
- You’ve rewritten your essay multiple times, but it keeps getting worse. The first draft had promise, but with each revision, it starts to feel less like you.
- You’ve been reading sample essays and feeling stressed, or you’ve been following advice on college essay websites and you have a sneaking suspicion it’s leading you astray.
- You’ve shared your work with someone (a friend, a teacher, a college counselor) and they tell you your work is good, but they can’t say why.
If any of the above are the case, it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you — and it certainly doesn’t mean you have nothing to write about! It just means you might need a bit of extra help.
The Right Kind of Feedback Can Be a Game-Changer
The right kind of guidance can help you break through these roadblocks and write a compelling college essay. A lot of students think they just need to write something and pass it on to someone who’ll fix it for them (and to be fair, a lot of college counselors operate this way). A thoughtful coach won’t just edit your document; they’ll help you with the much more challenging task of coming up with a compelling topic. Or if you come to them with a draft you’re unsure about, they’ll tell you why your essay isn’t working – and then help you brainstorm something that will.
If you’re wondering whether you should hire a college essay coach, try to find someone with strong qualifications (an advanced degree, a published book), but even more important, someone who asks you the right questions, listens patiently, and helps you discover what matters to you. If you find a tutor who treats you with curiosity and respect, you’re well on your way to writing an essay that captures admissions officers’ attention.
The point, in other words, is to find someone who helps you think more clearly. If you’re feeling stuck, you’re not going to write anything impactful until you’ve done the hard work of figuring out what you want to say.
Trust Your Instincts — Then Take Action
Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to college essay support. Some students thrive on their own; others just need a thoughtful conversation to unlock an idea; and many benefit from consistent guidance as they reflect, write, and revise.
If you’ve read this far, chances are you care deeply about submitting something real — an essay that actually sounds like you. Trust that instinct. If you think you’re close, give it a go on your own. But if you sense you’re stuck, or if you simply want a more thoughtful kind of support, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
Whether or not you end up working with me, my advice is the same: slow down, think hard, and write honestly. You only get one college essay — and if you approach it the right way, it can become more than just an application. It can be the first piece of writing you’re truly proud of.
Need a Thoughtful College Essay Coach?
If you’ve read this far, you probably care about submitting something honest and personal — and that’s exactly what I help students do.
I’ve worked with hundreds of students applying to top schools. If you’re looking for a coach who’ll ask the right questions, listen closely, and help you figure out what you actually want to say.
More Resources on College Essays
Want to dive deeper into my approach? Below are some of the most-read articles I’ve written on what makes a great college essay — and how to avoid the common traps.
My approach to coaching isn’t gimmicky — it’s thoughtful, honest, and built around helping you sound like yourself (at your best).
A no-nonsense guide to what admissions officers actually value — and why generic advice about “what colleges want” often backfires.
Even top students fall into predictable traps. This guide offers five common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Tips for writing compelling UC PIQ responses that sound like you — not like everyone else applying.
Most high-achieving students approach the college essay the wrong way. Here’s why that strategy backfires — and what to do instead.
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