College Essay & Writing Coaching for Students with ADHD
For bright students who have more to say than they can get onto the page
Your student is smart. You know it, their teachers know it, and in conversation it's obvious. But when they sit down to write, the ideas that flow so easily out loud don't make it onto the page. They stare at the blank document, write the first sentence ten times, or wait until the night before a deadline. If that sounds familiar, you're not looking at a writing problem. You're looking at the place where writing and executive function collide, and it's exactly where most tutoring and classroom support fall short.
Many of the students I work with have ADHD. Others have dyslexia, slow processing speed, anxiety, or simply know that traditional academic structures haven't worked for them. What they share is this: they have more to say than they know how to put on paper. I've spent more than 10 years helping students like these with college essays, academic writing, and the executive function skills that make all of it possible. My approach is built around how your student actually thinks, not a one-size-fits-all method.
The goal isn't just a finished essay. It's a student who learns how to start, sustain, and revise their own writing, and who walks away more confident than when they began.
Ready to get started?
In my coaching for students with ADHD, I offer:
A Conversation-First Approach
Many students with ADHD are stronger talkers than writers at first. I draw their ideas out through conversation, then help them get that voice onto the page.
Process Made Visible
I break overwhelming assignments into clear, concrete steps. For students who struggle to get started, this is often what unlocks everything else.
Voice-Protective Feedback
I help students strengthen their writing without flattening it. The aim is always writing that sounds authentically like them.
Executive Function Built In
Planning, time management, and revision are teachable. We build them through the writing itself, so progress transfers to schoolwork and beyond.
Looking for more on supporting students who learn differently?
Explore guides on my blog, including writing coaching for students with ADHD and what to look for in a coach if your student learns differently.
Coaching Options
The right kind of support depends on your student's goals, their timeline, and where they're getting stuck. Here's how I typically work with students who have ADHD and other learning differences:
College application season — For students working on personal statements, supplemental essays, and scholarship essays, I offer structured college essay coaching packages that provide continuity and support across multiple schools and deadlines.
Ongoing academic writing — For students who need help becoming stronger, more independent writers across their classes, I offer writing coaching, available as targeted feedback or live sessions.
Planning, organization, and follow-through — For students who struggle to manage their workload, study, get started, or stay on top of deadlines, I offer executive function coaching.
Many students benefit from a combination of these. Not sure what your student needs? That's what the free consultation is for. We'll talk through where they're struggling and figure out the right fit together.
FAQs
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Yes, frequently. Many of the students I work with have ADHD, and many have an IEP or 504 plan in place at school. While I'm a coach rather than a special education provider, my whole approach is built around how students who learn differently actually work, with attention to planning, task initiation, and the executive function challenges that make writing harder. If your student has specific accommodations or a learning profile you'd like me to understand, we can talk through it during the free consultation so I can tailor my support.
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Tutoring usually focuses on getting a specific assignment done. Coaching goes deeper. Rather than editing a paper or fixing one essay, I help students understand how to plan, draft, and revise their own writing, and I build the executive function skills underneath, so the progress carries over to the next assignment and the one after that. The goal is a student who becomes a more capable, independent writer, not one who needs me for every paper.
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Yes. While I support many students through the college application process, I work with students year-round on academic writing, executive function, and building the skills that make school feel more manageable. Some students work with me intensively during essay season; others work with me throughout the school year on writing and organization. We'll find a rhythm that fits your student's needs.
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Yes. I'm based in New York City and work with students here, with in-person sessions available on a limited basis. Most of my coaching happens via Zoom, which means I also work with students across the country and around the world. Wherever your student is, the approach is the same: personalized, one-on-one support built around how they learn.