ObiCoach Flex Essay Workshop

The reality is that admission to the many selective schools requires not only great grades, and test scores, but also outstanding essays. Let’s take UCLA as an example: they had 150,000 applications for about 6000 spots in last year’s class. At least 30,000 to 40,000 of those applying were academically qualified – had the grades and test scores to get in and succeed. So how do they determine who will get the invite? They spend 6-8 minutes per student reviewing the 4 submitted 350-word essays to determine the which students will be the best additions to next year’s incoming class. Those essays are the most important writing the students have done in their lives to date. It’s a very specific kind of writing – different than most writing students have been taught. An investment in this workshop is possibly the most important investment you can make in the college application process.

The Flex Essay workshop leverages video and Google Classroom to deliver an effective, convenient workshop you can do from home on your own schedule. We leverage a proven process developed over years of helping hundreds of students write outstanding essays through personal coaching and classroom-based workshops. We have captured the process along with the wisdom and insights to develop this home-based workshop. We provide step-by-step guidance along with tips and advice through videos and Google Classroom assignments. That is combined with personal review and feedback on your essay ideas and draft essays.

Woodside is working with ObiCoach to deliver a best-in-class essay approach. Each Woodside workshop starts with an in-person kickoff session on the high school campus. Each student is then assigned a personal essay coach who will review the student's ideas and essay drafts and provide the student with feedback over the weeks following the kickoff session. Thanks to the generous support of the Woodside High School Foundation, and this program initiated by the Fund-a-Need for elevating College and Career Readiness, Woodside students receive this workshop and personal coaching completely free of charge.

ObiCoach worked with experts in college admissions, in teaching and in helping student write outstanding essays through private coaching and through classroom-based workshops. Hundreds of students have been guided through this essay process with admission to a whole range of universities including the most selective. Over the years, we have developed a well tested and proven process that helps the students determine what to write, how to write it, and how to get it done.

Classroom-based workshops typically cost $1500 to $3000+ per student and are usually only available in the summer. Hiring a private coach typically costs $3000 to $5000+ and seldom do private coaches have the depth and breadth of experience when it comes to essay writing. Few can accurately claim to have successfully coached dozens much less hundreds of students, and few have a focused expertise on essay writing.

Good schools should be accessible to more than just the wealthiest families. By leveraging technology, everyone’s time can be used much more efficiently. Expert lecture content is captured by video and the step-by step direction is delivered in Google Classroom – so there is no need to use valuable coach time to deliver it again and again for each student. Instead, our coach's time is spent where the expertise is well-beyond most other private college coaches – on reviewing the draft essays and guiding the student where they need to go.

Sooner is better. Good essay writing takes multiple drafts and a larger investment of time than most expect. We advise getting your four UC essays and Common app essay done as soon as possible. These essays can often be tweaked or re-purposed for any of the other essays a student may later need.