Editor Profile Whitney Bruce

It might be two o’clock in the afternoon, or maybe two o’clock in the morning. Either way, the admissions officer reading your essay has spent hours and days evaluating students with excellent credentials. You have just moments to stand out from the crowd.

To me, the admission essay is a personal glimpse into an often-impersonal process. Many times it’s the personal story an applicant tells in the essay that leads to a memorable discussion in the admissions committee.

Over my professional career, I have evaluated more than 15,000 applications for admission to Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Michigan. I have listened to students tell their tales in interviews; I have read their stories in essays, both good and bad. I’ve seen the gimmicks, and I know when the essay doesn’t truly address the question.

As a high school counselor, I have helped students take their experiences, find their own voice and translate it to the printed page. With a counseling perspective, I am able to assist my clients in putting their best foot forward. Each student has a story to tell, and I consider it my mission to help you uncover and clearly tell that story. Whether you are a high school sophomore or junior at the beginning of your college search or a senior putting the final touches on your application before the deadline, I can assist you in making the best possible choices.

I have specifically developed expertise in the several areas:

General college guidance: I can assist families from the very beginning of the college search process on topics including course selection, extracurricular activities, summer plans, researching and evaluating colleges, creating a balanced list of colleges for application, and the application process, including essay development. Students who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in all academic areas or are looking to transfer institutions can benefit from this type of planning and assistance.

BS/MD: I have worked with a number of students applying to these very specific and demanding programs. Successful applicants have given great consideration to their future career as a physician, and their records must reflect their commitment both in academic achievement and extracurricular endeavors.

Medical School and Residency Personal Statements: The medical school and residency personal statements are tightly focused essays that introduce an applicant to the selection committee. I have successfully guided students through the writing and editing of these pieces since the mid-1990’s, helping them display the experience, maturity, and focus sought by these programs without hiding their individuality.

My students have been accepted to colleges large and small, rural and urban, both highly touted universities and lesser-known gems. Some of the colleges include: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, Haverford, Columbia, University of Chicago, Rice University, University of Virginia, University of Michigan, and Davidson.

I’m happy to help you apply to your gem programs.

Would you like to work with Whitney on your application? Just fill out an inquiry including any information you think will be helpful. Whitney will contact you ASAP.