Get It Write College Advising + Essay Counseling

Get It Write College Advising + Essay Counseling I’m a college admissions strategist, mentor, and mom of three. Learn more here www.get-it-write.org I'm here to take the mystery out of applying to college!

I bring calm to the chaos of college admissions by turning stress into strategy and uncertainty into opportunity. With my expertise and guidance, students and their families learn the ins and outs of the college admissions process and ultimately apply to select best-fit colleges with purpose and confidence - and much less stress! I developed my grade-based programs based on what I see missing every year when I start working with seniors. Starting early (in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades) ensures we tackle the college admissions landscape like pieces to a puzzle, turning over each piece to see what there is to work with and developing a cohesive and strategic application plan focused on successful outcomes. With special focus on the essays and writing components, students learn how to make the most of what's truly the only part of the application over which they have total control. Student writing reveals vital information about them beyond grades and test scores that helps admission officers and scholarship committees understand the person behind the application and picture who they would be inviting to join their campus community. Working with me ensures you Get It Write. I’m committed to widening the lens beyond prestige, name brand recognition, and rankings and empowering students to discover best-fit colleges and universities where they feel accepted in more ways than one. If you need help discovering how to maximize this opportunity to present yourself authentically and effectively and achieve your goals, reach out to learn how we get started. Stephanie Kwo Friedl
College Advisor + Essay Counselor
www.get-it-write.org

08/15/2026

Sure, some colleges are eliminating supplemental essays altogether, but for now, if a college gives you another relevant opportunity to tell them who you are and why you belong there, take it.

“Optional” doesn’t mean “unimportant.” Don’t play hard to get. 😉

07/30/2026

Who am I kidding? I can’t. 😂

There simply isn’t enough time to explain everything that’s included in my college advising programs during a 25-minute intro call.

That’s why, before we even hop on Zoom, every family receives a detailed College Planning Guide with information about:

• advising program options
• program rates
• grade-level support
• personalized coaching
• planning tools, trackers, and resources
• timelines and what to expect
• answers to the questions most families ask

That way, our conversation can focus on what matters most: your student.

Where they are now. Where they hope to go. And whether I’m the right person to help them get there.

Because college advising isn’t just about applications.

It’s about helping students make thoughtful decisions, discover what makes them distinctive, and navigate the process with confidence.

The applications are simply the end result.

I’m not saying you should apply Early Decision.What I am saying is that you need to know the data.Early Decision isn’t t...
07/26/2026

I’m not saying you should apply Early Decision.

What I am saying is that you need to know the data.

Early Decision isn’t the right strategy for every student. It’s binding, it limits your ability to compare financial aid offers, and the Early Decision applicant pool isn’t the same as the Regular Decision pool. It often includes recruited athletes, legacies, and other students with institutional priorities.

So no, you can’t simply compare ED and RD acceptance rates and assume every applicant gets the same boost.

But here’s what every family should understand:

At many selective colleges, a significant portion of the incoming class is already filled before Regular Decision applications are even reviewed.

That changes the admissions landscape.

When you’re researching colleges, don’t stop at the published acceptance rate. Ask questions like:

• How much of the incoming class is filled through Early Decision?
• How many seats remain for Regular Decision?
• Is Early Decision the right strategy for my student?

Research Like It Matters.

Because better information leads to better college decisions.

07/23/2026

Skip the job description and use those characters wisely.

Whether you have 350 characters in the UC application or 150 in the Common App, admission readers already know what a tutor, lifeguard, soccer player, or club president does.

Don't spend your limited space repeating the responsibilities they already expect.

Instead, use those characters to give your reader a 10-second glimpse of you in action.

What did you notice?

What problem did you solve?

What impact did you have?

How did you make someone else's experience better?

What did you care enough to improve?

Now open your Activities List and ask yourself one question:

Am I describing the job... or am I helping an admission reader picture me doing it?

If you're describing the job, you're probably telling the reader something they already know.

If you're helping them picture you doing it, you're helping them understand who you are.

If your PIQ ends with "This experience taught me..." this is for you.More often than not, you've already shown me.After ...
07/16/2026

If your PIQ ends with "This experience taught me..." this is for you.

More often than not, you've already shown me.

After reviewing dozens of UC PIQs this month, one pattern keeps showing up:

❌ Instead of explaining what the experience taught you...

✅ Show me the moment that changed your thinking.

❌ Instead of summarizing everything that happened...

✅ Choose one meaningful scene and let it carry the weight of the response.

❌ Instead of telling me you're resilient, intellectually curious, or a leader...

✅ Write in a way that lets me discover those qualities on my own.

❌ Instead of using vague words like passion, leadership, or perseverance...

✅ Replace them with specific actions, observations, and moments that reveal those qualities naturally.

The strongest PIQs don't have the most extraordinary stories.

They have the clearest thinking.

Your job isn't to convince the reader who you are.

It's to write in a way that lets them arrive there themselves.

Share this with your teen who may be guilty of one or more of these.

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