THE ESSAY ARTIST
ABOUT
I help high-achieving students tell the story only they can tell.
Most students come to me with the same problem.
They have done everything right. The grades are there. The activities are there. The test scores are there. And when it comes time to pull it all together into a cohesive, compelling application, they do not know where to start.
That is where I come in.
My name is Erin Bailey. I have spent over 15 years working with students as an educator, writer, and college admissions coach. I earned my bachelor's degree in Film and Television from Boston University and my master's in the Teaching of English from Columbia University, where I now serve as an Alumni Admissions Ambassador at Teachers College. I have taught in New York City, Denver, and abroad. And I have guided hundreds of students through one of the most high-stakes processes of their lives.
Here is what that looks like in practice.
I work with students on every dimension of the application. Building a strategic school list that accounts for fit, finances, and post-graduate outcomes. Managing the timeline so nothing falls through the cracks. Developing the narrative thread that connects who your child is, what they have done, and where they are going. Positioning their strengths for the specific schools on their list. And coaching every essay, personal statement, and supplementals alike, from blank page to a draft they are genuinely proud of.
This is not essay tutoring. It is full-cycle application strategy, delivered one-on-one, by one person who knows your child's story as well as they do by the time we are finished.
The students I work with arrive overwhelmed. They leave with clarity about who they are, confidence in how they present themselves, and writing that is specific, honest, and entirely theirs.
That clarity does not just open doors to college. It stays with them.
When I am not coaching, I am chasing after my two kids, experimenting in the kitchen, catching local theatre, and hunting for secondhand scores on Facebook Marketplace. I take the last one very seriously.
Ready to talk about your child?
I offer a free 15-minute call for families who want to understand what this process looks like and whether we are a good fit. No pitch. Just a real conversation.
VALUES
EXCELLENCE
Excellent results through excellent instruction, while enjoying an excellent client experience.
CURIOSITY
Be curious about your world. Be curious about what you will learn about yourself at the end of the process. Personal narrative writing is a journey of self-discovery and it is priviledge to be along for the ride- for me and for admissions officers who will read your masterpiece!
COURAGE
Writing is an inherently courageous pursuit. It is hard and fraught with obstacles and self-doubt. I believe that everyone has a great story to tell. Our strength lies in what makes us different and being willing to write our vulnerability on the page is our greatest asset.
JOY
Yes, we know that applying to college is stressful, but it's also something to celebrate! I approach every coaching session with optimism, excitement, and a twist of fun. When you enjoy the writing process, the positivity is reflected in the final product.
EQUITY
I believe that we must change the imbalances of power and priviledge in our country. Education is a powerful tool to create a world where people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community have access to opportunity, wealth, happiness, and security.