Why the Personal Statement Matters

Admissions officers face the challenge of choosing between thousands of equally qualified applicants with top grades and test scores. That’s why personal essays carry enormous weight. A strong essay allows admissions officers to understand a student’s goals, accomplishments, intellectual abilities, and personality. According to the College Board, essays are a major factor in who gets accepted.

Considering that officers read 5,000+ essays per year, a compelling personal statement can be the deciding factor between acceptance and rejection. Most students don’t know how to write a college essay, or even where to begin. For many, it’s their first time writing in this unique style, which isn’t taught in school.

How Dr. Castilla Guides Students

Dr. Castilla helps students every step of the way, turning the college essay from a stressful task into a powerful admissions advantage.

Here’s how he works with students:

• Personalized Brainstorming: Uncovering each student’s unique experiences, passions, and strengths to generate standout essay ideas.

• Structured Guidance: Organizing essays for maximum clarity and impact, from opening to conclusion.

• Style & Tone Coaching: Ensuring the student’s voice shines through authentically, with attention to diction, tone, and style.

• Iterative Feedback: Providing actionable critiques to refine grammar, structure, and especially content until essays are polished and compelling.

• Confidence Building: Demystifying the essay-writing process so students feel proud and confident in their work.

Dr. Castilla teaches students how to convey who they are in a compelling and competitive way. They write memorable and engaging essays that are read enthusiastically by admissions officers.

It’s an art form,and he’s mastered it!

“Hi Alex, I heard back from Northwestern… and was ACCEPTED! Just wanted to reach out and say thank you. I truly appreciate our thorough discussions and have definitely become a better writer because of our time together.”
— Sam, Northwestern

“I loved applying to colleges! Not what you hear very often, but Alex’s guidance made the process valuable and even cool! His expert literary critique allowed me to submit my college application with confidence. Alex genuinely brought things out of me that I never believed were there.”
— Sara, New York University

“Alex has outstanding skillsets, great integrity, and the highest ethical standards as a college counselor and international educator. He has a winning and innovative approach to counseling, which has helped numerous international students achieve their dreams of studying in the US. I offer him my highest recommendation.”
— Dr. Prashanth, MIT

“Always the student’s best advocate, Alex helped them hone their applications, and especially their college essays. He had an excellent rapport with his students, and it was therefore no surprise that, as a whole, they received a great set of offers from very competitive universities.”
— Joe S., High School Principal, International Baccalaureate