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Real College Essays

High-Impact Tutoring Characteristics - Self-Reported

This provider self-reports that it includes these high-impact tutoring characteristics in its program design, however, these statements have not been independently verified by NSSA.

  • Dosage: Three or more tutoring sessions a week; Tutoring sessions are scheduled for a minimum of 15 minutes for early elementary and/or minimum of 30 minutes for upper elementary/secondary
  • Tutor consistency: Students are matched with a consistent tutor for more than 80% of sessions

Please see Tutoring Quality Standards for more information on all high-impact tutoring characteristics.

Organization and Contact

Organization Type
For Profit
Headquarter Location (City, State)
Los Angeles, CA
Contact Name
Ben Urwand
Contact Email
ben@realcollegeessays.com

Program Overview

Mission

Real College Essays helps students write authentic, thoughtful college application essays through live, one-on-one coaching. We help students interpret their experiences, develop meaningful ideas, and communicate clearly in their own voices. Our mission is to make the essay-writing process intellectually rewarding while ensuring that students retain ownership of their work.

Program Description

Real College Essays provides live, virtual, one-on-one coaching for Common App personal statements, UC Personal Insight Questions, supplemental essays, transfer applications, and other application writing. Students work with published writers and experienced educators, including PhDs, to identify strong topics, develop their ideas, structure their essays, and revise their writing for clarity and impact. All substantive coaching takes place through real-time conversation rather than asynchronous editing. Tutors guide students through the writing process but do not write or rewrite essays for them. Sessions are scheduled according to each student’s needs and application timeline.

Type of Service

Tutoring program that offers one-on-one and/or small group tutoring directly to students, either in-person, virtually, or through both modes of delivery.

Year Program Launched
2022

Students and Offerings

Number of Students Served in the Most Recent School Year
50-99
Student Populations Served
Students seeking enrichment or advanced learning
Grade Levels
11th Grade,
12th Grade,
Post secondary
Subject Offered
English Language Arts (ELA),
Other
Other subjects
College application essay writing
Languages of Instruction
English

Service Area

States of operation — virtual
Nationwide (all 50 states)
States of operation — in-person
Limited to specific states/cities
California: Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area

Delivery Model and Staffing

Delivery Mode
Virtual with a human tutor (e.g. Zoom)
Setting
Not tied to the school day,
Summer programs
Tutor-Student Ratio
1:1
Number of Weeks Per Program
6 weeks or less, 7–9 weeks, 10–12 weeks, 13–20 weeks
Number of Sessions Per Week
One day per week, Two days per week, Flexible scheduling based on each student’s needs and deadlines
Number of Minutes Per Session
46–60 minutes
Type of Tutor
Published authors and experienced educators, including PhDs
Does your program engage with parents?
Yes
Family Engagement Description

Onboarding (e.g., introduction to tutoring program, tutors, and staff), Scheduling (e.g., session availability based on student needs and parent consultation for preferred timings) , Attendance (e.g., reminders for upcoming sessions and feedback on attendance issues), Student progress (e.g., regular progress reports shared)

Customer and Cost

Customer Type
Student, Family
Average cost for typical tutoring cycle
No fixed program cost. Students schedule hourly sessions as needed, with no required package or minimum commitment.

Research Evidence

Randomized controlled trial (RCT) study conducted?
No
Quasi-experimental (QED) study conducted?
No