From Score to Story — Crafting Stronger Applications

What do you do?
We’re admissions consultants, specializing in standardized testing and in admissions essays. In our experience, it is on these two counts that students can most improve their applications: a 200-point jump on the SAT and a beautifully revealing personal statement get students admitted to schools that would otherwise be out of reach.


What is your standardized testing strategy?
Every child is different. Some students suffer from clear gaps in their knowledge, while others are primarily held back by test pressures. For this reason, we at the Atelier begin with a diagnostic, which allows us to identify skill gaps. From this diagnostic, we build a tailored and targeted plan to address these gaps in the order that will lead to the fastest gains. Regularly, we assign further diagnostics, so as to assess progress and refine our plan.
This approach works: our students regularly gain 200-300 points on the SAT and 6-8 points on the ACT.
For standardized testing, we work hourly.


What about for admissions essays?
A great essay says something beautiful and true about a student. We’re here to help you express this beautiful self. This is an inherently bespoke process, not only because every student is different, but also because there is no magic formula to good writing. There’s only the relationship between your words and your reader. We’re here to help you think through this relationship—so that you can get the best of yourself on the page.
To this effect, we work in two ways: either through our complete comprehensive packages or hourly.


How do your packages work?
Our packages are essentially all-inclusive one-on-one writing courses. We teach students to think like a writer, from the conception phase of their essays all the way to their last supplemental.
No two students are alike, so no two courses are the same. With some students, we spend a lot of time taking apart great pieces of creative non-fiction, so that they can build up their own arsenal. With others, we spend time doing a variety of writing exercises, so that they can find their voice. With others still, we jump right into the essays.
This highly bespoke approach is what allows our students’ differences to shine through. Pressuring students into the same rigid process just leads to the same essays, when what students need first and foremost is to showcase their uniqueness.
The great advantage of our packages is that they allow us to take our time. Because writing beautiful, truthful essays can take a lot of time. Over the years, we’ve found that it’s best to be flexible, to not feel pressed. You need to have the time to make mistakes, to take detours. You need to have the time to find your voice, your story.


What do your packages include?
Our complete package covers up to eight schools. It is designed to be comprehensive. Your dedicated editor will guide you through your Common App personal statement, your supplemental essays, your activities list, and the additional information section. The package includes as many drafts as you’ll need. The package also includes as many internal reviews of your essays as necessary.
Unlike most of our competitors, we don’t rush you. What matters to us is that you emerge with essays you can be proud of.
Some programs, because they require extensive additional writing, count as two schools. You can add schools to our base package for a per-school fee.
Feel free to contact us for our full brochure.


What if I want to work hourly instead?
Not everyone has the time or the resources to commit to a comprehensive package. We understand. That’s why we also work by the hour. Hourly work can cover brainstorming, outline shaping, line-level revision, or help with specific supplements—depending on where you are in the process. We will start by assessing your needs, then we will put together a personalized plan towards your essay goals. We’ve helped many students this way too!


Do you ghostwrite the essays?
We don’t. Not only because it’s unethical, but also because it would be doing you a disservice. Admissions readers have a real nose for authenticity. It’s your voice they want to read, not that of a professional writer.


Where do your students get accepted?
In America, our students have been accepted to all of the well-known schools, from the Ivies and the UCs, to Stanford and MIT, and many others. In Europe, our students have been accepted to Oxford and Cambridge and other Russell Group universities, as well as Bocconi and Delft, and many others.
Our students have also been accepted to many lesser known but just as wonderful schools.


Do you work online?
Yes. All of our work happens over Zoom, email, and Google Docs.


Who would I be matched with?
Our standardized testing team is made up of experts with a history of achieving significant score jumps. Together, we’ve helped thousands of students navigate the difficulties of the SAT and the ACT.
Our essays team is made up of professional writers who have books and plays out in the world, and MFAs from the best universities in the world. When we’re not helping students with their words, we’re busy crafting and editing our own. Basically, we’re always thinking about how to make writing more effective.


What are your rates?
Our hourly rate is €200 (before tax). We’re happy to discuss how many hours might be needed once we've talked about your student’s current level, timeline, and target score/schools. Feel free to contact us for more details.


Can I meet with you to understand how this works?
Absolutely. We’re always happy to set up a call and answer all of your questions. Just email us.