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College Essay and Application Help

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As students approach their final year of high school, families all over the world begin the thrilling, terrifying, overwhelming, and potentially expensive process of applying to college. Writing an application can be a beautiful and even fun experience though, for the whole family. A student figures out the importance of their life story and compiles it toward an exciting future that is, hopefully, affordable. I'd like to help you identify and explain, in 650 words or less, what makes you special.

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I have been coaching students for the last five years into their favorite colleges across the country. I taught writing at Harvard and Michigan for more than a decade. I was also a dean at Harvard where I developed a deep understanding of college cultures and administrative systems. I'm excited to offer you this knowledge and these skills as we step toward a future that fits you and your family well! ​Feel free to email me with any of your questions or needs! ​

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Application and Essay Workshops
For Schools and Organizations

In these workshop, your students' will calm their worrying selves through a greater understanding of the college application process and themselves. We will draft recommendation letter emails, consider identities, create audacious aspirations, and write ridiculously fast and messy rough drafts. We will consider the gems within those drafts and start shaping them toward their potential. We will discuss how to choose a school, write about extracurriculars, and get into a college! 

I'll be in touch soon!

Individual Essay Consultations
Scheduled by appointment

I offer individual consulting for students working on their college applications and essays. I counsel them as they comb through their life stories, write essays and short answer questions, and build a vision for their futures. I guide them through conceptual and line edits as they learn critical college composition skills. 

This service costs $140/hour. We can discuss how much time your particular needs may require while scheduling out one hour at a time. 

 

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    Jill Constantino
    ​About Me

    Hi, I'm Jill! I am a flower farmer, a writer, an anthropologist, and a college coach who lives in rural Maryland. But I don't think professions or titles should confine us. I was also a fox researcher in the Channel Islands, a high school science teacher in rural North Carolina, a bike messenger in Seattle, and a bartender and Fulbright Scholar in the Galápagos Islands. I received my doctorate in cultural anthropology from the University of Michigan, then taught writing and anthropology at Harvard where I was a Dean. ​

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    After the fancy days, my husband and I moved to a farm in Maryland where we raise four kids, a dog, and some chickens. I wrote a memoir called Tangled Beings. It is about motherhood, fishermen, and the Galápagos Islands (in revision with Tessler Literary Agency). I have a new book called The People's Guide to College Applications and Essays (forthcoming in Spring 2025 from  Prometheus Books). When I'm not writing, chasing raccoons and hawks from my chickens, or selling iris rhizomes to the greater DC area, I teach college application and essay writing workshops from my barn. I coach students into their favorite schools across the country while mentoring parents into contentment. 

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    Feel free to write with any inquiries or thoughts! Jill

    jillcelesteconstantino@gmail.com

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