FAQ
Q: When's the best time to start the college application process with you?
Spring of junior year! CCC offers group Zoom classes for highschoolers in the spring and summer before applications open. We also recommend starting 1:1's with our coaches in January of junior year as well. A longer runway will unlock more creativity and freedom as we begin the brainstorming process together.
Q: Who are your coaches? How do you assign students to coaches?
You can meet our team of coaches here. Coaches are matched with students based on their individual availabilities.
Q: Do you offer free phone or Zoom consultations?
We do not! If you have any questions, please first make sure you fill out the form on the main page. If we do not respond within 3 business days, then feel free to reach out to Team CCC at cassandracollegecoaching@gmail.com.
Q: I'm a parent. Can I sit in on my student's Zoom sessions?
Our CCC coaches prefer working with students directly on a 1:1 basis! In the past, Cassandra has found doing Zooms 1:1 is instrumental in getting to the heart of students and discovering who they really are as a person. If you would like, you can choose to sit on on the first Zoom meeting, but for meetings beyond that we would love to get to know students from their point of view!
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Q: How long does it take coaches to edit?
3 business days per editing round. We do offer rush pricing at double the original price, which guarantees turnaround in 1 business day per editing round.
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Q: What are your holidays this year?
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This year, we will be observing MLK, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day.
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Q: How do you price your editing packages?
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We price based on the max wordcount of the essay question. We will only edit essays that are within 50 words of the max wordcount. To receive pricing info, please fill out the form on our home page.
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Q: Why does your editing package include 2 rounds of edits?
We have found that two rounds of edits are much more instructive for students. The first round is usually more bigger picture, and the second round is more minute/nitty-gritty flow-oriented edits—read more about the editing differences on our main page. If students need another round, they can absolutely purchase it, but typically our coaches have found that we get all our work done within those two rounds, especially for students we've already been working with on Zoom!
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Q: When do I have to turn in my second draft?
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Students MUST turn in their second draft within 2 weeks of receiving Round One edits. CCC is not responsible for completing work turned in after the deadline.
Q: Can you edit my essay again after 2 rounds of edits?
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Yes! If you would like more feedback, please order another editing package since we charge per rounds of essay revisions.
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Q: Can I ask follow-up questions after I go through the editing package?
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Out of consideration for our coaches' time, we won't be able to answer follow-up questions after you have received edits. You can order another editing package if you would like further review.
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Q: What's the difference between pay as you go vs bundles?
If you would like to work exclusively with Cassandra, we offer bundles that include a certain number of Zooms and editing packages for your list of schools. This includes significant discounts and countless other benefits, including access to Cassandra and honors/awards review. If you are interested in seeing price points for these bundles, please let us know. You can start with pay-as-you-go with your coach and upgrade to a bundle with that coach at any time.
Q: How do you communicate with students during the process?
Email!
Q: Can you tell me if my essay is Ivy League-worthy?
We get asked that question all the time! Unfortunately there's no real standard for this because some people have average essays and get in because of amazing grades/extracurriculars, and others have amazing essays who do/don't get in. It really depends on the holistic viewpoint of the admissions officers! This is why we ask students to diversify their college list with safeties and matches. Beyond that, what we can do is make sure that your essays capture your story and voice as much as we can.
Q: Can I use AI to help me write my essay?
CCC will not edit essays that utilize AI generated language. We don't want students to jeopardize everything they've worked towards by using AI.
Q: Should I read more example essays online?
If you have started the process of brainstorming and writing your college essays, we recommend that you don't read example essays in this stage. It's writing time! Those other essays will only distract you from finding your true voice.
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Q: What other essay coaching do you offer?
Cassandra has worked with students in creative writing, grad school applications, transfer applications, critical essay writing, summer internship/program applications, applications to competitive high schools, and more. If you are interested in other modes of coaching, fill out the form on the main page and make a note of that.
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Q: Do you offer holistic college counseling services?
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At this moment, CCC does not offer college counseling services beyond essays and activities/honors review on the application. However, we will happily refer you to our trusted partners. Please email cassandracollegecoaching@gmail.com if you are looking for more comprehensive counseling services.