When it comes to applying for things we really, really want, dreams and goals can get lost in the shuffle of deadlines, asking for letters of recommendation, deciding where exactly to apply… the list goes on and on.
Oh, and you have to write about yourself.
And be convincing.
You have to be the perfect candidate, while being yourself, stay realistic about your competitiveness while having the courage to go for it, have absolute certainty about what you are doing and why…
Now, put all of that into writing. It is as simple as that!*
*This isn’t simple at all. That’s why I’m here!
Applying to undergraduate programs, graduate schools, crafting an artist statement or an individual grant proposal can all turn into stressful processes full of self-doubt and painful mistakes.
Undergrad Applications
I believe the personal essay can be an empowering and fun experience no matter what a student’s relationship with writing is. For many of my clients, writing the personal essay gives new insight into why they are pursuing college in the first place.
For those who are more confident in their writing skills but want guidance in the application process itself, I offer a variety of options for creating an application plan. Understanding the high school resume, preparing for conversational interviews, selecting schools, and even exploring different major and career paths– these are all areas I can assist you with.
High School Programs
Whether applying to private high schools or looking at special programs or internships while in high school, the personal statement is an important tool for convincing others to give you a chance.
For those who are more confident in their writing skills but want guidance in the application process itself, I offer a variety of options for creating a plan. Understanding the high school resume, preparing for conversational interviews, analyzing prompts, and even exploring different special programs– these are all areas I can assist you with.
Graduate Applications
Whether you have been out of school for a while and are planning to return for a professional degree, or you are looking at staying in academia, I can work with you on any aspect of your graduate school goals.
If writing isn’t your thing, or you haven’t done much of it since your first year in college, I can work with you on personal statement coaching for a wide variety of programs. In the past, I’ve worked on statements for Masters and Ph.D. programs. No matter your reasons for pursuing graduate school, the personal statement can be a powerful tool to prove your readiness for the field you hope to excel in.
Artist Statement & Grants
The artist statement combines the difficulty of writing about oneself with the challenge of translating visual elements onto the written page. What do you want your viewer to focus on? How can you convince gatekeepers that your art has something to say?
I’ve given talks and written articles on artist statements and individual grants. Whether you are a visual artist, a writer, or another creative, let my writing expertise and art background help you craft an effective statement about your work.
For the past eight years, I have been helping all kinds of people, from artists to scientists, future professors to start-up dreamers, submit confident applications. I worked for two years as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Carnegie Mellon University and judged writing competitions for Boise State University, Idaho’s Scholastic Writing Awards, and literary contests. As a professional writer in both literary and popular magazines, I combine my experience and training from my MFA in Creative Writing to help you harness the power of narrative in your application writing. My work as a college English instructor along with my two years at Boise State’s Writing Center mean my approaches to writing and higher education are based in the powerful combination of peer-reviewed scholarship and “been-there-done-that.”
I am an application coach that provides transparent, informed, and empathetic strategies for future students and creatives all over the world who want to submit confident applications in an increasingly competitive climate. When it comes to navigating application writing, I draw from my wide variety of training and teaching approaches to find a way to make application writing clearer, easier, and (dare I say it?) fun. That’s right, I promise I can make this process fun!
A knowledgeable and critical reviewer. Jackie reviewed my essay for college. Her feedback was extremely helpful and helped steer my essay in the right direction. She worked with me to piece together the theme and form a cohesive essay.
Jackie is an admissions guru. She not only helped me perfect my statement of purpose, personal history statement, and responses to short answer questions, but she guided me through all aspects of the admissions process. She helped me plan out my timeline for taking the GRE, asking for letters of recommendation, and for working on my applications. She advised me on how to approach one of my recommendation writers who seemed to be putting off writing my letter until the very last minute. She has even taken the time to answer my many questions about financial aid, what admissions officers look for, and other aspects of the admissions process and life as a graduate student. I am eternally grateful to Jackie for her honest feedback, her magical ability to help others word things in the perfect way, and for all of her support throughout the admissions process. Thanks to her, I will be starting a masters in my dream program at my dream school in the fall.
Whether you want access to a personal coach throughout a several month application process or you need expert guidance in writing a high-stakes personal statement, I offer flexible coaching that is uniquely tailored to your needs and communication style. Every client works directly with me, one-on-one.
Do you prefer speaking over video chat? We can do that. Does video chatting make you uncomfortable but you’re no stranger to emojis? We can use chat boxes for live discussion. Whatever level of “face-to-face” you want, we can figure out a communication style that works best for you, and we can change how we chat at anytime. Clients are welcome to text me with quick questions or follow-ups. Any combination of communication will be available to you during your time working with me. No matter your time zone, I’m here to support you.
Your time is valuable. With no bulky forced packages of services you could do on your own time with the right information, I can help you pinpoint exactly where you need more guidance and where you can soar on your own. My ultimate goal is to provide you with the knowledge, confidence, and methodology to tackle any future applications all on your own. Though, if you want to come back and work on something super-specific (like one of those “tell us all of your hopes, dreams, and a time when you failed in 150 words maximum”) I’m happy to help.
Working with me on applications and personal statements means being vulnerable, and sharing many aspects of yourself, so I feel it is only fair for me to share a vulnerable memory of my own. My first graduate school acceptance came after a dog-walking shift in San Francisco where I was earning less than minimum wage. I distinctly remember crying in my car as I stared in disbelief at my acceptance email. The previous six months of writing my applications, completing painstaking research, refreshing my email, and worrying no one would ever say yes had all been worth it. I ended up attending a different program that contacted me several weeks later, but my point is, I’ve been there. I understand the stress, the risk, and even needing to change your day-to-day routine temporarily so that you can give your applications your all.
Figuring out what you want to do is difficult enough, but following through on every step of the research, application, and waiting can feel impossible if you don’t have the right support.
I love helping people discover their passions and revel in the confidence achieving clear goals can bring. I believe in my mission of giving people an insider understanding of how application committees work. By understanding your audience, whatever special program, college, university, artist gallery, or fellowship committee you are presenting yourself to, you can learn to think from their perspective and figure out how to frame yourself in the best possible light while staying true to who you are.
Jackie is an amazing college application essay editor! In only the first two lessons, my essays improved so much more than I originally thought possible. She was able to edit and send back my essays within 24 hours of me sending them to her and she is extremely flexible which is perfect if you have a busy schedule. It was really easy to tell from the beginning that she has had lots of experience and she has given and continues to give the best advice and suggestions. Jackie is also very organized and approachable and will tailor her work based on your needs. I highly recommend hiring her as your editor for any essays!
She is extremely helpful in helping me brainstorm more deep and creative ideas for my next draft, and she also gives me lots of great advice in taking my essay to the next level. She cares about the opinions and concerns of students, and I am excited to work with her more!
Best tutor I’ve seen. So efficient. Flexible time to accommodate the needs. Mind-blowing editing skills. I would recommend her to anyone who needs help with college application essay or professional writings.
A knowledgeable and critical reviewer. Jackie reviewed my essay for college. Her feedback was extremely helpful and helped steer my essay in the right direction. She worked with me to piece together the theme and form a cohesive essay.
My daughter has been working with Jackie over the past couple of weeks to revise and rewrite her main college essay and supplemental essays. Jackie has been a godsend as my daughter didn’t want to share her essays with me and she didn’t have a lot of support from her school to work on them. Jackie knows exactly what the colleges are looking for and also is a great writer and editor so I know when they are done working together, my daughter’s essays will be polished, concise, clear and ready to submit. Thank you Jackie!
Jackie is an amazing college application essay editor! In only the first two lessons, my essays improved so much more than I originally thought possible. She was able to edit and send back my essays within 24 hours of me sending them to her and she is extremely flexible which is perfect if you have a busy schedule. It was really easy to tell from the beginning that she has had lots of experience and she has given and continues to give the best advice and suggestions. Jackie is also very organized and approachable and will tailor her work based on your needs. I highly recommend hiring her as your editor for any essays!
Jackie is an admissions guru. She not only helped me perfect my statement of purpose, personal history statement, and responses to short answer questions, but she guided me through all aspects of the admissions process. She helped me plan out my timeline for taking the GRE, asking for letters of recommendation, and for working on my applications. She advised me on how to approach one of my recommendation writers who seemed to be putting off writing my letter until the very last minute. She has even taken the time to answer my many questions about financial aid, what admissions officers look for, and other aspects of the admissions process and life as a graduate student. I am eternally grateful to Jackie for her honest feedback, her magical ability to help others word things in the perfect way, and for all of her support throughout the admissions process. Thanks to her, I will be starting a masters in my dream program at my dream school in the fall.
With Jackie’s help, I was able to create a project proposal that earned me funding for my summer.
It felt as if Jackie was leading me through dangerous territory. I came out the other side with a new artist statement and all in one piece! I worked much harder with her help than I would have on my own. She made it interesting and fun. I’d recommend her to all my friends.
Last month’s Wyoming Women’s Business Center Roundtable speaker, Jackie Sizemore, CEO and Owner of Point of View Consulting, spoke on Crafting Strategic Artist statements & Biographies. Her material and guidance was fantastic. In fact, some of the best insight I have learned all year. Her presentation revealed key strategies for discovering your core values as a writer and using them to effectively engage and motivate people.