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 juniors 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 your coaches to edit?
3 business days per editing round. We do offer rush pricing at an additional 50% of the original price, which guarantees turnaround in 1 business day per editing round.
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Q: Why does your editing package include 2 rounds of edits? Can I just get 1 round instead?
We typically discourage single round of edits and 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: What are your pay as you go prices and bundles? What's the difference?
For price points, please fill out the form on our main page and we'll get in touch. Bundles include a certain # of Zooms and editing packages for the common app as well as all supplemental essays for a certain # of schools on your list. On our form, please make a note that you're interested in seeing the bundles.
Q: Do editing packages within a bundle still only include 2 rounds of edits?
For bundled students, we work with students until they are fully satisfied with their essays. We still try to keep the editing rounds to 2, mostly for the student's benefit so we don't edit them until death. Again, Cassandra has found that if students are working with coaches on Zooms beforehand, students typically only need 2 rounds.
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.
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: Do you offer holistic college counseling services?
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At this moment, CCC does not offer college counseling services beyond the storytelling portion of the application. However, we will happily refer you to our trusted partners. Fill out the form on the main page to find out more.