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Seven Lessons to a Finished College Application

If your senior has not started yet, they are not behind. They are right where most rising seniors are. The College Application Kickoff Series is our free roadmap that turns the whole overwhelming process into seven clear lessons, each with a printable worksheet that moves your senior one real step forward.

What’s Included:

Lesson 1: The Common App
Lesson 2: The Activities List
Lesson 3: The Essay Brainstorm
Lesson 4: The Personal Statement
Lesson 5: The “Why This School” Essay
Lesson 6: The Supplemental Essays
Lesson 7: The Master Timeline

It is the same authentic, aligned, and verifiable™ approach we teach every one of our students. Enter your email and we will send you all seven lessons. Your senior works through them at the pace that fits their summer, and by the time school starts in fall, they are organized, not panicking.

Brad Herzog

Essay Consultant

Brad Herzog is a professional writer, speaker, and essay consultant with over three decades of experience helping people shape powerful, compelling stories. A graduate of Cornell University, Brad has written more than 50 books and hundreds of nationally published magazine articles on topics ranging from sports to civil rights to space exploration. His children’s books have sold over half a million copies, and his travel memoirs have been praised as “the new classics of American travel writing.” He has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, and TEDx, where his talk, “Catching Creative Ideas,” has been viewed by nearly half a million people.

Melissa Brown

Essay Consultant

Melissa Brown is an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and the author of numerous short stories – including an upcoming new collection. Melissa has worked as a producer and executive producer at MSNBC and ABC News affiliates in Seattle and Washington, D.C. She has a B.A. in History from Duke University and has a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Melissa has a second M.A. in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She has taught many creative writing and nonfiction essay workshops. Melissa enjoys teaching the personal essay and helping students to communicate thoughtfully and creatively about their life experiences. Also, Melissa has three college-aged children.

Cat Zusky

Essay Consultant

Cat Zusky holds a BA in English from Dartmouth and both an MA and PhD in English from UC Santa Barbara. She is an educator, student advocate, and writing coach with twenty-two years of experience teaching, editing, and writing. For over a decade, Cat worked at the prestigious Brentwood School in Los Angeles, where she served as English Department Chair, Class Dean, Director of Student Life, and the designated essay specialist for the college counseling office. Drawing on her experience teaching every grade from kindergarten through college, Cat meets each writer where they are in the process. She loves helping students craft written work that is both authentic and intentional. Originally from New England, Cat has lived in the Marshall Islands, California, and now Northwest Montana, where she teaches writing at a tribal college. Outside the classroom, she enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, baking, long road trips, and exploring music of all kinds.

Julie Cohen

Co-Founder

Julie Cohen is a co-founder of The College Curators and a college counselor with a background in law, leadership, and advocacy. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and was named to Phi Beta Kappa, earning her JD from the University of Illinois. As a member of both the California and Illinois Bar Associations, Julie began her career as a commercial litigator with Katten, Muchin, Zavis & Weitzman, where she developed the critical thinking and organizational skills that now inform her strategic work with students. While raising her children, she served as Parent Association President and Ex-Officio Board Member of The John Thomas Dye School. Julie earned her Certificate in College Counseling with distinction from UCLA and is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). She spent 20 years co-chairing the Los Angeles Alumni Interview Committee for the University of Pennsylvania. Julie is also a member of the Southern California Regional Advisory Board for Penn. Her deep involvement in alumni leadership, combined with her professional training and firsthand experience raising her own children, fuels her ability to guide students with empathy, structure, and insight.

Sarah Aibel

Co-Founder

Sarah Aibel is a co-founder of The College Curators and a college counselor with a strong background in business, marketing, and strategic advising. She graduated cum laude from Columbia University and holds an MBA from the University of Southern California. Before launching The College Curators, Sarah spent her career as a marketing executive at companies including Mattel, Lionsgate, and Prodege. She also served as the Parent Association President of Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences.

Sarah earned her UCLA Certificate in College Counseling with distinction and is an active member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). She spent over 15 years interviewing prospective Columbia students and currently serves on the board of the Columbia College Alumni Association. She is also the former Vice Chairman of the Columbia Alumni Legacy Circle and a former board member of Columbia College Women.

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Seven Lessons to a Finished College Application

Your Free 9–12 College Roadmap

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Brad Herzog

Essay Consultant

Melissa Brown

Essay Consultant

Cat Zusky

Essay Consultant

Julie Cohen

Co-Founder

Sarah Aibel

Co-Founder