The Rise of the Essay Coach

By BEN GOSE

While applying to a master's-degree program in clinical psychology at Columbia University, Maura Plante chose to focus on her future rather than her past. In the first draft of her application essay, she wrote about her desire to move away from corporate life — she had spent 13 years in various marketing positions — to pursue a passion for research on depression and domestic violence.

But then she hired Margo Bartsch, who called for a rewrite. Ms. Bartsch is an essay coach who lives in Burlington, Vt., and operates a Web site called College Essay Coach. She worked with Ms. Plante, then living in Florida, via phone and e-mail for several hours over the course of a month, at a rate of $75 per hour.