Make your college application essays shine with Heartwood Editing’s thoughtful, nonjudgmental advice!
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Heartwood Editing offers practical guidance along the way as you create, revise, and polish your essays.

Heartwood Editing will help you:
      ◈ brainstorm topics
      ◈ highlight strong content
      ◈ clarify your message
      ◈ catch errors
      ◈ raise your confidence

​“Working with you has helped me to pinpoint the message I want to send to colleges. You’ve also helped me refine my writing style so that I convey ideas strongly and clearly. Your feedback was always thoughtful, detailed and very helpful. Thank you so much for everything!"​   
​-Maya, Sequoia High School & UCLA

Kind Words​

You brought calmness to our household in a time of high school senior craziness! We all trusted your judgement on the essay drafts and by setting up deadlines for the drafts and final edits, it really took the pressure off of all of us. Not having to nag on our end made the college essay process so much easier and, dare I say, pleasant? I would HIGHLY recommend you to others that are looking for help with their college application essays.  -Trish, Woodside High School parent, class of 2020 

Noteworthy
Where my students have been accepted: ​
American University
Bates College
Boston College
Boston University
Brandeis University
Cal Poly, Pomona
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Carleton College
Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada)
Carthage College
Chapman University
Clemson University
Colby College
Colorado College
Colorado State University
Cornell University
CSU (California State Univ.) Chico
CSU Fullerton
CSU Humboldt
CSU Long Beach
Fordham College
The George Washington University
Gettysburg College
Grinnell College
Harvey Mudd College
Humboldt State University
Indiana University
Ithaca College
Kenyon College
Lehigh University
Loyola Marymount University
Macalester College
McGill University
McMaster University
Michigan State University
Middlebury College
Northern Arizona University
Occidental College
Ohio State University
Oregon State University
Penn State
Purdue University
Rutgers University
San Diego State University
Santa Clara University
Seton Hall University
Simon Fraser University
Smith College
Southern Methodist University
Stanford University
State University of New York
Syracuse University
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of Alabama 
University of British Columbia
UC Berkeley
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UCLA
UC Merced
UC Riverside
UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Cruz
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Hawaii
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of Michigan
​University of Minnesota 
University of Northern British Columbia
University of Oregon
University of the Pacific
University of Pittsburgh
University of Puget Sound
University of Redlands
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
​University of Southern California
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Victoria
University of Washington
Wheaton College
Whittier College
Willamette University
Williams College
Xavier University
*not all schools required essays

​Graduate school:
UC Santa Cruz (MA/Teaching Credential Program)
Dalhousie University (MSc in Physiotherapy)
Western University (MSc in Physiotherapy)
University of Toronto (MSc in Physiotherapy)

Heather's guidance and editing really made the essay writing part of my college application process go smoothly. The brainstorming sessions with her really eased my tension--she helped me to select only the best and most relevant topics for each prompt and organize my ideas. Her editing aided me to fine tune my drafts to more polished essays at the end. I am so thankful to her for being such a great help!"  -Woodside High School student, class of 2020

😅Worth it!! Really appreciate your help! -her mom

We are so appreciative of Heather’s wonderful, easy, and warm manner of engagement.  She made what can be a daunting college application/essay process very manageable and doable. Her professionalism and approachability are second to none!
-with gratitude, the Morimoto family

My daughter worked with Heather and we could not be more pleased. She did a thorough interview to really get to know her and helped her voice shine though on all the essays. Heather is flexible, professional and highly recommended.
-Lizbeth, Menlo School parent

Thank you for all the help, guidance, and advice on the college essay process. You made the stress level decrease quite a bit.
-parent, Sequoia High School & UCLA

Thank you so much for all your help with my daughter! You were definitely a key to her successful applications.
-Jane, Sequoia High School parent

I found your edits extremely useful at this stage. I already had the general argument of my essay, but needed to make everything flow better, something I was struggling to see after reading my own essay so many times.
-Woodside High School & Tufts University

Heather’s essay assistance provided great insight for my daughter during the essay writing process. She was thoughtful and encouraging and made sure that my daughter’s voice remained. I highly recommend you use Heather.
-Ann, Woodside High School & UCSB parent

Thanks a bunch! You are the first educational professional I have hired and I am so happy I found you.
-parent, St. Francis High School & Southern Methodist University

This was such a great resource for kids. I have only heard wonderful compliments. I wish we could duplicate you!
-Lisa Camera, Woodside High School teacher, on Heather giving feedback to AP English students on their first-draft college essays

Thank you so much for the feedback and edits! Your advice is super clear and very helpful."
​-Woodside High School AP English student

Heather helped my son find topics that were meaningful to him and as a result his voice and personality really came through. Two private colleges have already made early admissions offers, both with generous merit scholarships. Heather is a pleasure to work with—positive, responsive, and flexible. I can’t recommend her highly enough. 
​-Mary, Woodside High School parent 

Beyond timely feedback and incredible professionalism, Heather’s tolerant and nonjudgemental character makes it easy to perfect essays that should be, by nature, very personal. Thanks Heather!            -Alex, Woodside High School & UCLA

Heather was approachable and easy to talk to. I found her edits to be insightful, and I really appreciated how she helped me organize and focus my essays.
​-student, Stanford University

My son truly thoroughly enjoyed working with you and felt that your input was invaluable!
-Kay, parent, Woodside High School & UCLA

We could not have been happier with Heather's services. Her edits and suggestions were always thoughtful and on point while respecting my son's unique point of view and voice. Highly recommended!
-Lucia, parent, Woodside High School & UCLA

Again, we want to thank you for your work with our daughter on the essay portions of her applications. I think the very positive response she got from her list of colleges reflects that her essays conveyed clearly who she is and what she can contribute to their college community.
​-Jay, parent, Woodside High School & Gettysburg College

It's really important to be comfortable with the person that you're working with because all the information is personal. After I met Heather and shared parts of my personality, we maintained a friendly and trusting relationship to make the process effective. Her second perspective is very valuable since it's similar to an admissions officer, except you use the feedback before applying. 
-student, Monta Vista High School & Cal Poly SLO

​Heather radiated kindness and calm as she helped my daughter and her friends begin the process of thinking about college essays. She really knows how to connect with high schoolers and her advice and tips were very helpful.
-Amy, parent, on a presentation to a girl scout troop