College essays are a crucial part of the application process. They are an opportunity for applicants to make a decisive impression on admission committees, and to distinguish themselves from other applicants through genuinely creative, powerfully written, and memorable essays. As a highly skilled and experienced coach, writer, and academic, my job is to help students create their strongest possible essays, and to have a genuinely rewarding experience along the way.
Whether brainstorming, outlining, writing, or editing, I offer guidance at any phase. And don't worry, STEM-centric folks—you write some of the most unique, potent essays of all! I approach my work by balancing results-driven focus with a sense of enjoyment, openness, and humor. Forging a supportive, collaborative relationship with applicants is one of the best parts of my job.
About Dr. Gabriel Mehlman
As a writer, scholar, university educator, and longtime devotee of the written word, I use my combined expertise to offer exceptional guidance and mentorship. I hold an MA and a PhD in English Literature from UCLA, where I taught courses in literature and writing for seven years. Before UCLA, I earned my BA in English (Phi Beta Kappa) from Reed College. My own writing has been published in both scholarly and literary journals, and I have delivered lectures nationally and internationally on a range of literary subjects. In addition to my years of independent coaching, I have previously coached and written material for the College Essay Guy team, and I have worked with boutique counseling services here in Los Angeles, where I live with my wife.
My college essay students have been accepted into the full range of Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Chicago, CalTech, UCLA, Berkeley, Michigan, Northwestern, USC, Carnegie Mellon, and many, many other top colleges and universities. However, one size does not fit all—whatever your top choices, we'll craft essays that distinguish your application.
What Families Say
"Gabriel helped me refine my commonapp and supplemental essays, which contributed to my admission to Harvard. His feedback demonstrated a wealth of experience in the field, so I would highly recommend."
— Adrian, Student
"My child has been working with Gabriel on her college essays for the past five months, and it has been such a positive experience. From the very beginning, Gabriel explained his approach with students, which helped my daughter feel comfortable right away. He’s also been great about replying to my messages promptly and patiently answering any questions. Trust me, I have a lot of questions as a first-time parent going through this process, and he always made me feel heard and supported. My child was initially reluctant to work with a tutor, but after her first session with Gabriel, she realized it wasn’t as bad as she thought. After a few more sessions, she even began looking forward to them. She also really appreciates how straightforward and direct Gabriel is. It helps her understand exactly what she needs to work on and how to improve. With Gabriel’s support, she has learned a lot about herself as a writer, and she always leaves their meetings feeling more confident and encouraged. She has mentioned many times how much he has helped her write more clearly and effectively. I’ve read many of her essays (the ones she was willing to show me!), and they feel so authentically her. Watching her growth has been incredibly rewarding. One moment that really stood out was just a few days before she submitted her EA applications. She suddenly started doubting one of her essays. She had read it so many times that she couldn’t see it clearly anymore. Gabriel made time to meet with her on short notice and helped her revisit her original thinking. That reassurance was exactly what she needed, and she was able to submit everything with ease. We are truly grateful for Gabriel’s guidance and would gladly recommend him to any family looking for a tutor who is kind, thoughtful, straightforward, and genuinely invested in helping students shine."
— Meiying, Parent
"Gabriel has been an exceptional tutor throughout my college application process. He guided me thoughtfully through my UC PIQS and provided detailed, constructive feedback on my UC PIQs. I especially appreciate how open-minded and attentive he has been. He always taking the time to listen to my ideas while offering insightful suggestions that strengthened my writing without changing my voice. His support has made a real difference in my applications, and I’m truly grateful for his guidance."
— Tanish, Student
"Gabriel did an excellent job working with my daughter on all of her essays. He pushed her to think deeply and come up with ideas that were truly meaningful, while also guiding her to express them clearly and effectively. He had her rewrite each essay until they reached the level expected at top universities like Stanford. Gabriel also provided invaluable support with her supplemental essays, making sure her voice came through while keeping the writing polished and compelling. We are very happy with how the essays turned out and highly recommend Gabriel to any family looking for expertise and guidance in the college application proces"
— Rupa, Parent
"Gabriel instantly connected with my son to better understand him as a student navigating the application and essay process. He was able to help my son transform his essay and supplementals to better reflect him as a person and student. Highly recommend Gabriel to anyone looking for guidance and expertise in the college application process!"
— William, Parent
"If you're looking for a writing tutor who’s honest, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to helping you improve, I would most definitely recommend Gabriel. He offers wise, thoughtful critiques--always constructive and geared toward making your work the best it can be. He's an excellent writer with a sharp eye for detail and clarity, and he’ll challenge you in the right ways."
— Kaitlyn, Student
What I Offer
- Provide a comprehensive introduction to college essay writing for those beginning the process. This clear, nuanced discussion will allow us to establish a shared understanding for creating essays that speak with power to admissions readers.
- Brainstorm Common Application essay approaches and determine the strongest, most original directions. As we brainstorm, I will help you identify and develop a unique topic and approach to the essay—one that inspires you, and one that will inspire a reader.
- Provide close guidance during the first draft process. We will work closely on the writing you produce, exploring, editing, planning and reviewing revisions, as we move towards a strong first draft.
- Edit and revise drafts to create an amazing, polished piece. Working through drafts to arrive at the polished jewel is critical.
- Offer close guidance on supplemental essays. We will work through individual schools' supplementals, creating a portfolio of strong essays for each school. This process will involve thorough discussion and planning of individual essay questions. We will also work to identify 'core' essays that can be adapted for multiple schools.
- Edit and revise supplemental essays. As with the Common App essay, editing and revision will allow us to truly reach our ceiling.
- Work with on activities lists and additional written materials. The activities list is a vital part of the process, and the proper selection and phrasing can make a difference for an admissions committee.
- Draw from my range of written resources to supplement our sessions. These include school-specific guides, sample essays from successful applicants, and essay-topic-specific guides.
- Provide clear action items to keep you on track. After each session, we will establish clear steps for you to take before the next session.
- Develop your confidence, skills, and vision as a writer. Our work together will pay dividends well beyond this process. You will emerge with finer and more creative writing skills, an ability to clearly articulate your experience, thoughts, and feelings in writing, and meaningful insights into your experience and what matters most to you.
- Build a meaningful mentoring relationship. Our time together will allow us to get to know one another, develop a rapport and sense of trust, share moments of laughter, and feel a mutual sense of accomplishment in our results.
