Packaged for Admission

You have about six seconds to convince an admissions reader that you BELONG in their incoming class...

...But most students (and counselors!) spend months of agony, polishing drafts...but still miss the mark!

But with our “Lockwood Launchpad - Packaged for Admission” system, you get complete clarity, strategy, and polish...

...so your essay speaks what you mean, stands out, and LANDS.

The Problem (Why Most College Essays Fail)

Tell me if this sounds familiar..

• You (meaning, your kid) stares at the blank page, trying to “find your voice”,  but it ends up sounding cliché or generic.

• You (still "your kid") choose essays that feel safe, but you know in your heart that they're not memorable, interesting or original.

• Your school counselor gives you feedback like: “Make it more personal,” “Show don’t tell,” or “This needs more focus”...but you're frustrated because these comments feel like they're canned responses --  out of some guidance counselor textbook -- and just  sooooo vague...plus they don't explain specifically how to make those changes!

• You're under EXTREME time pressure, juggling deadlines, schoolwork, extracurriculars, maybe test prep, and numerous senior year classes responsibilities.

Here's what happens.. 

Either your essay is rushed and sloppy;  or you get stuck in an endless loop of "iterating" and "ideating" without ever really knowing whether it's good enough.

But here's the thing...

When essays don’t work, it’s hardly ever a "writing problem". 

It’s lack of strategy + polish + feedback, that leads to:

• Submissions that blend in, because they read “same as everyone else”

• Lost opportunity to shape your narrative

• Stress and uncertainty at the eleventh hour

You deserve better. 

Here's how to transform your essay draft from "Meh" to Masterful...

The Lockwood Launchpad - Packaged for Admission System

Here’s the lowdown on this brand new special offer:

1. 60-Minute Strategy Kickoff Meeting

We begin with an in-depth session to dig into your background, goals, voice, strengths, challenges, and stories. I’ll review your extracurriculars, transcripts, college list, ask targeted questions to uncover your narrative, i.e. your “why,” your turning points, your angle.

Think of this as the "raw material" for what we’ll build together.

2. Strategic College List

Based on your academic profile, interests, ambitions, and personal story, I’ll tweak or help craft a curated list of 10-12 colleges/universities that match your competitiveness and goals, maximizing your chances while aligning with your fit.  This way you'll be assured that you have a balanced, strategic list.

3. Edited Personal Essay

First, let me explain how important this part of the program is.

The personal statement is your "Closing Argument" that states the VALUE you'll bring to that college community...

...and WHY the admissions committee should pay attention to YOU. 

If you can't explain that, your application is Dead On Arrival.

The first step is for you to submit your draft (or initial idea) to us.

Then, we -- meaning one of our editors and I -- that's two sets of expert eyes if you're keeping score at home --  will return a fully edited, commented upon version, covering structure, clarity, voice, impact, flow, and proofreading.

We will reshape, refine, and enhance, making sure the final essay feels like you, but elevated. 

Warning:  I don't pull punches.  And I hardly ever hear the word "subtle" in the same sentence as "Andy." 

I'm here to give you the best advice possible, even if you don't want to hear it, so that your essay STANDS OUT. 

4. 30-Minute Feedback & Wrap-Up Meeting

Once you receive the edited essay, we’ll meet again for 30 minutes to walk through changes, clarify nuances, field your questions, and make final touch adjustments together, if necessary.

How It Works (Step-by-Step)

Net net:  a submission-ready essay and a balanced, strategic list of colleges.

Our Promise

With The Lockwood Launchpad, you won’t just get essay editing help, you’ll get a strategic, competitive, deeply "you" story...optimized for the admissions process so that you stand out among 50,000 competitors with the same grades, and same SAT or ACT scores.

You’ll have clarity and confidence going into submission of your November and later applications.