Writing Coach and College Admissions Essay Counselor - San Francisco, California

Cindy Zawadzki

In our son's college application journey, Dan Lichterman was a key figure. Initially daunted by the common app essay task, our son's first several attempts fell short of his lofty goals. Bringing Dan on board provided fresh air, much-needed support, and significant stress reduction. With patience and genuine care, Dan fostered a relationship that allowed our son to express himself freely. Through insightful questions, Dan guided our son in discovering his unique strengths and provided a nurturing environment to discuss personal challenges and growth openly. No longer feeling frustrated with the process, our son reveled in writing once again and eagerly looked forward to sharing his progress with Dan. Dan's expertise gently guided our son as he turned those personal narratives into a captivating essay that authentically portrayed his character. Even when other college advisors doubted the essay, Dan instilled in our son the confidence to stand by his idea. His essay was not typical but it was uniquely him. We firmly believe that this essay played a significant role in securing offers from top 25 universities and liberal arts colleges, showcasing Dan's exceptional ability to empower students on their journey to admission. As our daughter approaches this stage, we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to work with Dan again. Not only is he a great writer and coach, he is also just a wonderful person.

Kari Abe

This review is long overdue because I wanted to keep Dan a secret and keep him available for my kids. Now that all my kids are where they want to be due to his help, I am ready to share:) Over the past 5 years, I have used his service 3 times with 3 very different kids with different needs and aspirations. In each case, my kids were able to exceed the expectations school counselors had set for them and they were accepted at Berkeley, UCLA, NYU etc. Trust me, with 3 kids, we have gone through countless private counselors and editors and most are useless. We kept going back to Dan. He actually takes the time to help the kids think through their essays to make the most sense, and his ability to draw the best stories out of them is unparalleled. Most counselors only do a cursory superficial grammar check but Dan’s approach is truly empathetic, and genuine care is put into guidance and follow through. Do not hesitate, contact him now!

cynthia clarkson

Dan is nothing short of a unicorn waving the magical fairy wand of success. We had an incredibly short timeline with two student essays and a parent statement due in less than 2 weeks. What Dan was able to develop with my sons was nothing short of miraculous. Their essays showcased their voices perfectly and captured the spirit of what they needed to convey to a T. The process was inspiring. I would liken it to unlocking a piece of your psyche that you were previously unaware of. You become the master storyteller of your journey and experience. Dan's expertise helps you whittle down the superfluous and hone in on the critical components that get admission officers to say YES!! Cannot wait to call on Dan again when it's time for our daughter. We truly felt he was invested in our children's success and genuinely cared about crafting the best possible statement. Thank you Dan! Forever top notch in our book.

Konrad Zawadzki

Dan was instrumental to my college applications. His unique process not only led to stellar essays but also helped me discover more about myself.

Sophia Yang

Like any other rising senior, I came into the college applications process with a good amount of dread and anxiety. However, Dan’s laid back personality made me feel much more at ease, and the process no longer seemed so daunting. He clearly outlined his process for writing a personal statement, first by taking the time to get to know me through an interview session, then by choosing the most representative components to craft a richly detailed narrative. Dan worked with me through sessions that were sometimes arduous, but the end result was a piece of writing that encapsulated my identity in a way that I never could have done. In between sessions, the homework I had was to answer questions, whose responses would be woven in during the following session.

I began the process unsure of what part of myself to showcase in my essays and what direction I wanted to take them, but Dan patiently helped me to rediscover the priorities that were most important to myself and guided me throughout the process, allowing my own voice to shine through. At the end of our sessions, I left feeling a much more confident contender for higher education.

Ultimately, what makes Dan stand out is his gift for storytelling. He’ll guide you through the process of brainstorming, writing, where he really does guide you every step throughout the way to finalize a product that reflects you and tells your own story. He really helped me to minimize the stress of the college applications process by being understanding and easy to work with while producing phenomenal essays. Dan really does focus on the applicant and makes their best qualities shine through.

P S

I came to Dan for help with writing my personal statement for graduate school. From the initial consultation, I was drawn to his approach. We began by taking a deep dive look into all the ways we could connect my life experiences to the prompt. From there, we identified the best angle and began writing. Throughout the writing process, Dan did an excellent job in help guide the essay in a cohesive manner. Upon completion, I was truly amazed by the essay we had written. In addition to having an excellent personal statement, I also found myself becoming a better writer, learning how to approach a writing task and tell the best story I can.

With the help from Dan, I was accepted into an Ivy League master's program and I have no doubt that the personal statement was a large part of my admission.

Sharon Ryan

Dan is a gifted writing coach and I was most fortunate in finding him! The connection he made with my daughter made all the difference. Dan not only was able to understand exactly what kind of a person she was, but then helped her understand and express herself with depth and authenticity. His writing expertise is complimented by his calm demeanor and encouraging style, and he completely deescalated what is typically a very stressful process. My daughter got into the best schools in the nation, and I would encourage anyone who is considering using Dan's services to hire him immediately!

Elizabeth Aragon

My son had the pleasure of working with Dan for his college essay process. Although my son is an exceptional writer for research papers, it is difficult for him to write introspectively. Through Dan's brainstorming process, my son found his authentic, unique personal story. After reading his Common Application essay, it brought tears to my eyes because it was so beautifully written and revealed who my son truly is. Dan made the college writing process fun for a student who is more of a research writer than a creative one. My son told me that Dan taught him just not how to write a good college essay, but how to tell a story. Dan has made a lasting impression!