College Essay Confidence - by Jill Margaret Shulman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An indispensable roadmap for students navigating the stress of writing their college essay

What if you could write a knockout essay with no anxiety? College admissions and essay coach Jill Margaret Shulman believes you can! And she knows about that Inner Troll voice inside your head that blasts you with hate talk (we all have one). In College Essay Confidence, you'll feel like you have your own private coach guiding you step-by-step, with psychological empowerment strategies combined with expert writing instruction, to a college essay that truly reflects your unique, best self. You'll feel nurtured and supported as you banish doubt and transform this daunting part of the college application process into a fun (yes, fun!) writing adventure.

Review Quotes

"Jill Margaret Shulman's humorous, down-to-earth approach is a breath of fresh air. Brimming with clever brainstorming ideas, playful writing activities, and creative revision exercises, this book gives students the tools they need to tackle the writing process with confidence and optimism."
-- Jaime Smith, MA, MSEd, CEP, author of The Complete Guide to College Transfer

"College Essay Confidence is a practical guide with wise information on how to find the power in your voice. And it delivers what it promises. You will write a knockout application essay!"
-- Nancy Slonim Aronie, author of Writing from the Heart, Memoir as Medicine, and Seven Secrets to the Perfect Personal Essay

"Teens applying to college get lots of advice from lots of places, especially about the personal essay. Much of it is misinformed, full of clichés, or flat-out wrong. Jill Margaret Shulman (a true expert) has seen this for decades, so she wrote a book that busts myths and offers solid steps to take, from working through a messy first draft to receiving feedback from the right people. Parents, hand this book to your teen and step back. Jill knows her stuff."
-- Lynn Lyons, anxiety expert, coauthor of Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents, and host of the Flusterclux podcast

"Jill Margaret Shulman coaches aspiring college essay writers with personalized exercises and tools to develop confidence and to use their authentic voices. Her book guarantees a positive and successful essay writing experience."
-- Katie Fretwell, former dean of admission and financial aid at Amherst College

"College Essay Confidence is the reassuring, wise, and often hilarious step-by-step guide every college applicant needs. With her relatable voice and chill attitude, Jill Margaret Shulman offers clever strategies, catchy mantras, fun facts, real examples, and practical techniques that empower you to craft a personal essay that truly represents who you are. Shulman understands teens and knows how to demystify the writing process. Whether you need help choosing a topic or are unsure how to revise, reading College Essay Confidence feels like having the most knowledgeable writing coach by your side, cheering you on. As both a writer and a mom of a high school senior who just went through the college application process, I wish we'd had this book earlier!"
-- Rachel Rabkin Peachman, coauthor of When Children Feel Pain

"This fun and motivating book offers the best skill-building and step-by-step strategies to help students face their dreaded personal essay. An added benefit is the huge boost to self-understanding, an essential component of mental health, which will only help the students when they arrive at college. College Essay Confidence lives up to its name and is highly recommended."
-- Mia Nosanow, MA, LP, author of The College Student's Guide to Mental Health

"Jill Margaret Shulman brings her insight and expertise (and some much-needed humor) to what can feel quite overwhelming and anxiety-producing. Her approach doesn't just help students write stronger essays; it nurtures confidence, calm, and authenticity along the way. I wish College Essay Confidence had been there for my children when they were applying to college!"
-- Cheryl Vigder Brause, mindfulness instructor and cofounder of pausetobepresent.com

About the Author

Jill Margaret Shulman, author of College Admissions Cracked: Saving Your Kid (and Yourself) from the Madness, is a college admissions expert with an empowering, low-stress approach to success. Her experience spans both sides of the process -- as an evaluator of incoming applications to top colleges and as a coach and mentor for high school seniors through her college essay coaching service, In Other Words. Jill has also taught college writing and has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Parents, and elsewhere.

JillShulman.com