We mentor students in Seattle’s Eastside and nationwide

Essay Mentors are more than just writing coaches, editors or tutors. Sure, we can write, but more importantly we know how to guide students through a self-discovery process, help them learn new ways of telling their story, and build new writing skills that schools simply don’t teach.

This is why we call ourselves mentors: we’re here to support these young adults. We challenge them, we stick with them when the going gets tough, and we help them write the best essays they can.

The essay is just the beginning. Our mentors have backgrounds as coaches and consultants in a range of personal growth, leadership development, and training fields. This is why our students write such effective, powerful, and enjoyable college essays.

Over two thousand students and parents have come to our workshops. Our process works so well that we’re now training teachers, staff and volunteers in schools and nonprofits around the country. They love it, and the kids love it.

No-Obligation Parent Consultations

If you’re not sure what to think about college essays, you’re not alone. They can be as bewildering as any other part of the college process.

In a twenty-minute call with Barak Rosenbloom, our Chief Essay Mentor, you’ll have a good sense of the role essays will play for your child and what support—professional or from you—would make sense.

We mentor kids locally in person and over the phone or via Skype nationwide.

Schedule my parent consultation

Our Mentors

Barak Rosenbloom

Founder and Chief Essay Mentor

Barak is the founder of Essay Mentors. This is his 12th year mentoring students in the greater Seattle area and across the country. He’s the creator of our kid-tested, admissions-proven four-phase process that is now being used by schools and nonprofits coast to coast. Barak started life-after-college as an English teacher; spent five years at the US Department of Labor; and for fifteen years was a leadership, organization development and communication consultant. He had more fun running his teen leadership program at the Summit at Snoqualmie and in 2012 dropped his adult clients and put all of focus on creating Essay Mentors and making a difference in the lives of teenagers. He has a B.A. from Williams College in English and History, and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Michigan.

Anne Herman

Training Director and Mentor

Anne is a longtime coach and mentor, and a prize-winning writer of memoir and personal essay. As a coach, she has helped over 12,000 young people and adults from diverse backgrounds quit smoking. She has also coached leadership programs since 2001, helping people find and express their greatest strengths. She leads workshops on writing memoir, emphasizing finding the deeper meaning. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy, an A.A. in Photography, and a Certificate in Writing the Modern Memoir. She is committed to making even challenging projects fun!

Leisa Ashbaugh

Content Strategy Advisor and Mentor

Leisa is an accomplished writer, editor and communication consultant. For decades, Leisa has been helping people and businesses identify and clarify their message, and then put it into words in a way that communicates their values and priorities. Her client list includes some of the world’s best-known software and communications companies and start-ups alike. She holds a Bachelor of Business of Administration from Pacific Lutheran University, and ever the earlier-adopter, she was a member of the first cohort group of the University of Washington’s Master in Communication/Digital Media program – now known as Communication Leadership.