Over the course of a month, you have given me more confidence and motivation to write than I have had in 18 years. It wasn’t until this year I began sharing my writing, so you avice and criticism meant so much. I really felt like you cared about my growth as a write and believed in me.

Alison R.

I have no doubt that I wouldn’t have been able to write such great essays without your lessons, which have also made me a better writer. I appreciate the time and thought that went into assisting me.

Brock W.

I think my writing has improved because of you, but I also feel like I’m more open, candid, and confident. It was a tough process for me—writing and sharing my feelings are not my best skills. However, I started to look forward to our meetings. I miss our time together; I think it was a once in a lifetime experience.

Bridget M.

I wanted to sincerely thank you for helping me take my essays to the next level! You have been so wonderful to work and chat with and I will, of course, keep you updated on my admission results.

Anders T.

Thank you so much for helping me with my Common App essay. From our first session, all my fears of submitting a generic, overdone essay immediately went away and I knew I would create an essay that was uniquely me.  I also learned about myself and my special qualities. Most of all, thank you for helping me put into words who I am.

Kaitlin D.

I honestly couldn’t have gotten through this without you. I have enjoyed every session with you. And also, thank you for helping me learn a little more about myself and life lessons.

Haley P.

Judy is the absolute best! I could not have imagined a better person to help me with the college essay process. She helped me craft essays that reflected who I am as a person.

During the months that I worked on the college application process with Judy, I felt at ease even though my peers doing the exact same thing were extremely stressed. She has a very organized process from start to finish, which made me feel more creative and more focused. Even more so, she was extremely personable and accepting. No matter what my experiences were, I felt I could share them with Judy. I am extremely happy with how all my essays turned out! She helped me get into my #1 school, University of Michigan, as well as get accepted as a Preferred Admit to the Stephen M. Ross School of Business which has an 18% acceptance rate.

Most importantly, not only did she help me create great essays, she drastically improved my writing ability. Her emphasis on eliminating fluff and creating captivating introductions has helped me in school, life, and so much more. In fact, when I took the SATs in the fall of my senior year, my Writing score increased 70 points to a 710/800. She is unbelievable and I would recommend her to every kind of student of all different abilities!"

Nick R.

I came to you looking for help writing a nice common application essay, but ended up with a relationship. I asked for a tutor but got far more. When my grammar mistakes needed correction, you gave me life long wisdom to go along with it. For all of that, I would like to say thank you.

James W.

When I began the college application process my only goal was to complete my applications quickly and with as little pain as possible. I'm a student who is motivated by deadlines and time schedules. Judith was a perfect partner. She kept me motivated, on task and focused. Writing about myself was the hardest thing I could imagine doing. Judith not only helped me compose my essays, but more importantly, she helped me create a full picture of who I am and tailored that portrait to each college and university that I applied to. I was able to present a complete package of who I am, how I would fit into a particular program and what my goals for the next four years are.

Judith helped my family reach a very important goal. She helped us keep our promise of making the college application process drama free and an exciting adventure instead of a pressure filled nightmare. Her help, expertise, experience, and encouragement were more than I could have hoped for. Judith was the best investment my parents could have ever made for me, and I know I will take the tools she taught me to Vanderbilt University and eventually share them with other students when I become an educator.

Jordyn M.

Before beginning the college application process, I had skimmed through essay topics, but I still had no idea what I intended to write. I dismissed any ideas that came to mind, perpetually searching for something more interesting. During my first meeting with Judy, we went through a series of questions to help her get to know me. By the end, though, I became more aware of myself as a person. Within a couple of hours, Judy helped me realize that I had a story to tell.

Over the next few months, my relationship with Judy transformed into a friendship. She was always full of life, supporting me and encouraging me to honestly express my thoughts and beliefs. “Is it the truth?” she would ask. With every essay, it became easier to spark ideas and make my writing more powerful. Together, we spent hours on each piece, polishing every word until it seemed to flow perfectly. I really began to love writing, and each week, I looked forward to hear what Judy had to say about my work.

I am very grateful to have gotten the chance to meet and work with Judy. She truly inspired me as a writer and as a person. Most importantly, she believed in my stories and gave me the perfect guidance in animating them through my writing.

Surabhi G.

Mrs. Donato was the best support system I had during the process. Each week I would write an essay, email it her and we would meet to go over her edits and brainstorm for the next prompt. Day or night I could email with questions on prompt ideas, phrasing, or what schools to apply to- even though one of her favorite lines is “I’m not a guidance counselor, but..” It is fast moving but it IS manageable with pacing, support, and organization. I am so gracious for all of the effort and time Mrs. Donato has put in to my future. It was the wisest investment my parents could have made and I know wherever I end up next year, I wouldn’t have done it without her.

Sophia F.

I recently completed the college application process, and worked closely with Judith Donato for all of my writing requirements. Mrs. Donato’s process, personality, and supportive style were not only a breath of fresh air in the midst of an extremely stressful process, but also made a huge contribution to my success.

I came to Mrs. Donato with a lot of ideas, but little direction. She provided me with structure and helped me to articulate my thoughts. We spent several sessions working together to make edits and brainstorm ideas, and after each one I was sent home with a new assignment. It wasn’t formulated or prescriptive. She catered to my unique learning style and made the writing process personal to me.

Perhaps the best way to describe working with Mrs. Donato as a person is this. After telling my parents about my college acceptance, she was the first person I wanted to call. Having worked so closely together and having gotten to know each other quite well, I felt that she was invested in my success. I so appreciated her support and the time she took to help me find my story. It takes a unique person to help someone else find their voice. Mrs. Donato did just that, and much more.

Sydney H.

Working with Judy has been an incredible experience. First and foremost she gave me confidence as a writer. I never used to believe I was a good writer until she showed me my potential. She has improved me as a writer and as a communicator. Secondly, she is not an editor who will write your essays for you. She will play devil's advocate at every turn just to make your essay the best it can be. Finally, she is a great friend. During all the stresses of the college search she is the one person who has the experience and wisdom to calm you down and motivate you to do your best.

Joel P.

Thank you so much for helping me with my college application essays. With your help I got into University of Richmond early decision. It was a great Christmas present! I hope your business continues to grow and many more students have the pleasure of being under your assistance.

Kristin B.

I absolutely loved working with Judith Donato on my college essays. Without her, I wouldn't have been able to write the amazing essays I submitted to all my colleges. Not only did I complete all my essays way before the deadlines, but they were all the best copies I could write because of the help I got from Mrs. Donato. She facilitated the tedious writing requirements and helped me craft wonderfully written essays. I had so much fun working with Judy; every session we had was full of laughs. I would whole-heartedly recommend her services to every student in the application process; Mrs. Donato is awesome!

Dina R.

Before I met with Mrs. Donato, I had a pile of essay questions and no idea what to write. But that didn’t stop her. Within our first session, she knew who I really was, and knew how to help me put onto paper what I couldn’t find the words to say. Together, we streamlined, poked, prodded, and painstakingly pieced together my rough drafts into what I consider to be my best writing. Her wit, compassion, and upbeat attitude made this essay writing not only bearable but also enjoyable. I believe I not only became a better writer, but that I made a lifelong friend.

Michelle C.

Judy's insightful and thought-provoking questions really helped me flush out the ideas and thoughts I wanted to express in my essays. She helped me develop my own skills and a clear voice as a writer. I loved working with Judy--she has been a wonderful, energetic, and caring mentor, and her approach made the whole "college essay" process manageable and even enjoyable.

Hannah Claire E.

Mrs. Donato provided endless help to me when I applied to college. I submitted applications to numerous schools, and I not only had to compose a common application essay, but write supplements as well. She helped me formulate and brainstorm possible essay topics that were pertinent to my various interests. When it came to editing, her insightful and careful corrections made my writing seem effortless. All the while, she allowed me to maintain my own original thoughts concerning the essays. The entire process proved less daunting with her help. Both My mother and I found her extremely supportive and flexible when listening to our ideas. Mrs. Donato was both motivational and inspiring when assisting me in transferring my thoughts to paper. Her help was instrumental in presenting myself to colleges as a strong applicant. I highly recommend using Mrs. Donato as a tutor.

Jessica and Mrs. Jane R.

My experience with Judith Donato was invaluable. Applying to fourteen colleges was not easy. Multiple essays, the common application, and many short questions, Judith’s teachings allowed me to focus on each one and write to the best of my ability.

I saw a drastic improvement in my writing. She was able to help me reveal emotion in my essays; by asking in-depth questions and listening to everything I wanted to say, she enabled my writing to come to life. At one point, she separated my essay into various sections, thus allowing me to focus on individual pieces rather than the whole. Judith helped make the stressful period of applying to colleges extremely bearable, and I could not recommend a better teacher.

Jeff B.

Judith Donato is an articulate teacher. She effectively conveys creative ideas in a logical manner. Together we were able to come up with a strong theme for my admissions essay, which was referred to in my interview. This was a positive start to my college career at Drexel University. Thank You, Judy

Barry C.

Writing the college essay was one of the most stressful parts of the application process. I fortunately had Judy’s help to guide and strengthen my college application essay. I presented her with my rough draft and together we worked to perfect both the general structure of the essay as well as the detailed grammatical errors. I never once felt pressured to insert or remove any areas of my essay; she left all the decisions up to me. Her creativity and knowledge of writing and grammar allowed her to contribute excellent suggestions that ultimately transformed my essay and left me feeling confident as I applied to my dream school.

Kristin G.

Working with Judy dramatically improved my college application essay. She was extremely helpful and insightful. Throughout the entire process she was hands on, and allowed me to better articulate and phrase my ideas. Judy effectively helped me organize and structured my essay. She helped pinpoint important academic achievements and extracurricular activities and seamlessly incorporated them into my writing. Working with her allowed me to form a great essay, that was unique and entertaining to read.

Samantha A.