About
About JoAnn Pileggi
Writing Mentor/Consultant. Journalist and Television News Reporter with 30 years of experience, now helping college applicants find and tell their own story.
Thirty years of getting to the heart of a story
As a Journalist and Television News Reporter with 30 years of experience in short and long form writing for multimedia platforms, I want to help your aspiring college student define, design and create his or her best possible essay.
Gathering information and asking the right questions, I have spent decades getting to the heart of subjects. I have written more than five thousand succinct and deadline driven stories from natural disasters to cutting edge medical technology. I've had the opportunity to interview Joe Biden, Beyoncé, Barbara Bush, President Bill Clinton and Bon Jovi as well as victims and survivors, heroes and homeless people, telling their stories with compelling, rich words.
Capture the reader immediately
In television journalism, you must capture the attention of the viewer immediately. High school seniors writing college application essays have a similar challenge with admissions decision makers. It is critical that a student's essay makes the best first impression! It's a unique opportunity to show more than just test scores, grades, advanced coursework and extracurricular activities.
A plan for “high stakes competitive writing”
Experts have called the college essay “high stakes competitive writing”. It is. And that is why we will follow a plan. I'll start with an in depth interview of your son or daughter. Together, we will uncover passions, interests and philosophy. The interview will be an introspective activity to help each student uncover and identify things about themselves to enhance his or her college application. Once I truly get to know who each student is, we can zero in on a suitable essay topic and get to work.
Together we will find that writing the college admissions essay will be an amazing opportunity to confirm each student's academic accomplishments and show individuality through writing.
My goal is for each student to “come alive” to the essay reader… that venerable college admissions decision maker.
I want them to get noticed with an essay that draws on their unique talent and ability. Sessions will be imaginative, creative, thoughtful and entertaining – all possible in 6 steps to the Final Draft.
Each student will complete the process with an essay that will set them apart from other candidates and get them through the admission door!
Interview and video presentation prep
If needed, I will provide additional services to help prepare an applicant for an interview or video presentation.
A mother of three
As a mother of three, I am all too familiar with the challenges my children face when tackling a writing assignment. As a professional Journalist/Television News Reporter, I love writing.
It is my mission to make writing a more positive experience by giving students the extra tools needed to become better writers.