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95% of Students Admitted to Top Choices College Essay Bootcamp Dr. Cynthia ColΓ³n Destination YOUniversityβ„’ 10K+ Students Helped TEDx Speaker Β· Best-Selling Author 95% of Students Admitted to Top Choices College Essay Bootcamp Dr. Cynthia ColΓ³n Destination YOUniversityβ„’ 10K+ Students Helped TEDx Speaker Β· Best-Selling Author
Destination YOUniversityβ„’ Β· Dr. Cynthia ColΓ³n
95%

of Our Students Get Admitted to Their Dream Colleges

The essay is the one part of the application your student controls completely. Let's make sure it works.

YES! I Need Essay Help NOW!
10K+Students Helped
23 yrsProven Formula
20+States Served
9TV Networks
Dr. Cynthia ColΓ³n
TEDx Speaker Best-Selling Author Vassar College Alum Former Admissions Officer
Meet Your Expert

Dr. Cynthia ColΓ³n is the leading National College Admission Expert

  • TEDx Speaker
  • Best-Selling Author of Be Committed. Get Admitted.
  • Featured on 9 Television Networks including KTLA, WPIX, WGN, NBC Chicago
  • Worked with over 10,000 students from 20+ states
  • Former College Admission Officer at Vassar College and Private School Counselor
Book A FREE Strategy Call

Students Aren't Rejected.
Applications Are.

Give college applications the attention they deserve.

The Hard Truth

5 Mistakes Students Make
When Applying to College

Most students make at least three of these. Knowing them is the first step to avoiding them.

MISTAKE01
Relies on Grades Alone

60% or more of every applicant pool are all equally academically qualified. Good grades alone will not guarantee admission to choice colleges.

MISTAKE02
Writes About Athletics or Community Service

Athletics, Community Service, and the 3 Ds: Death, Divorce, and Devastation are more common than you think. Without proper guidance, these are topics to avoid.

MISTAKE03
Waits Until Fall to Get Started

Give a teenager 5 months, 5 weeks, or 5 days β€” that is how long they will take to get something done. Get help and get it done now.

MISTAKE04
Applies to the Wrong List of Colleges

The ONLY goal is to maximize choices. Our 30-40-30 Rule allows for "Reach, Target, and Likely" colleges so that students are set up for success.

MISTAKE05
Believing College Admissions Is Fair

Colleges evaluate what students choose to communicate. What is written gets reviewed β€” what is not submitted is omitted from review. Let that sink in.

The Solution

In Order to Succeed, You've Got To...

πŸ”
Uncover Who You Are

What you do becomes the resume. Why you do it becomes the essay. Finding clarity on the WHY takes focused time.

✍️
Establish Writing Status

Writing is a key component to offer evidence of readiness for the rigors of college and convince the reader to vote to admit.

πŸ“–
Create Focused Stories

The essay reveals something that cannot be found anywhere else in the application. It is THE story only your student can write.

Introducing Destination YOUniversityβ„’

"A structured, expert-led approach that takes the guesswork out of the application while ensuring your student puts their best foot forward."

With Our Method, You Will...

Three Outcomes Every Student Leaves With

01
Explore and Grow

The number of possible essay topics are infinite. Within the first 90 minutes of class, students have a list of at least 12 topics!

02
Complete Compelling Essays

Interesting, engaging, and compelling stories take several drafts β€” all completed during the 5-Day Bootcamp.

03
Gain Confidence

The first two days are a bit fuzzy, but by day four, students gain swagger. They leave confident knowing they've put in 110%!

The Essay Strategy

The Signature Core Fourβ„’

Four essay types become the foundation of your student's entire application β€” repurposed strategically across every school on their list.

01
Who Am I?

The personal statement β€” your student's most important piece of writing. Brings their full character to life in 650 words.

02
What Am I Good At?

The activity or skill essay β€” turns a resume bullet point into a story about what your student is actually capable of.

03
What's Unique About Me?

The differentiator β€” the thing no one else in the pile can say. This is often the essay that makes an admissions officer stop scrolling.

04
Why This Major?

For students with a clear direction β€” this essay signals commitment and intellectual maturity. One of the most commonly required supplementals.

Inside the Bootcamp

How Each Session Works

Every session follows the same proven structure β€” so students always know what to expect and leave with real work done.

01
Clear Task

Your student knows exactly what they're working on before the session starts.

02
Real Example

A model essay or framework is shown β€” so they know what "done" looks like.

03
Timer Starts

They write. No distractions. No overthinking. The structure does the work.

04
Work Gets Done

They leave each session with something finished β€” not just started.

Choose Your Essay Camp Week

2026 Essay Camp Dates

All sessions run 9am–3pm PT. Every date is available virtually or in person.

2026 Essay Camp Dates
June 15–19 LIVE Β· Northern CA
June 22–26 LIVE Β· Southern CA
July 20–24 Virtual Only
August 3–7 LIVE Β· Southern CA
August 17–21 LIVE Β· New York City
★ NOTE: The NYC location will run in Eastern Time (9am–3pm EST)
August 24–28 Virtual Only
5
Days of intensive, expert-led essay coaching
25
Hours β€” no homework, no nagging
Personal essay coach assigned to your student β€” not shared with a classroom
Daily feedback so essays are refined in real time β€” not after the fact
3–5 completed essays to start supplementals from β€” no blank page in the fall
Dr. C's book + 40 sample essays from the top 100 colleges

Your student's essays won't write themselves β€” but with the right coach, they won't have to.

Spots in each Essay Camp week are limited. Secure yours before they're gone.

Save My Seat at Essay Camp β†’
Ready to Get Started?

Your Student's Dream College Is Waiting.

The essay is the one part of the application they control completely. Let's make sure it works for them β€” not against them.

Are you ready to learn the systematic approach
that ACTUALLY works?

See All Packages β†’
Choose Your Path

Find the Right Package
for Your Student

Every package includes access to the College Essay Bootcamp. Choose the level of support that fits your student's goals.

⭐ Most Popular
Essentials Signature Elite
Full Access.
Your Pace.
Five Days.
One Expert Coach.
Full-Season Coaching.
Every Application Done Right.
For the self-motivated student who wants the full system without hand-holding. Your student gets a personal essay coach for the most critical week of the application process. The most comprehensive program Dr. Colón offers. Dedicated coach from Essay Camp through submission.
Virtual Essay Camp access (virtual only) Virtual & Live In-Person Essay Camp access Virtual & Live In-Person Essay Camp access
College Essay Bootcamp College Essay Bootcamp College Essay Bootcamp
College Application Bootcamp College Application Bootcamp College Application Bootcamp
Live group coaching (2x/month) Live group coaching (2x/month) Live group coaching (2x/month)
On-demand video library On-demand video library + full recording library On-demand video library + full recording library
All module workbooks (download & keep) All module workbooks (download & keep) All module workbooks + Dr. C’s book & 40 sample essays
Expert feedback on your student’s personal statement 5-Day Essay Camp with dedicated personal coach 5-Day Essay Camp with dedicated personal coach
Feedback on 1 essay (personal statement) Feedback on 3–6 essays (personal statement + supplementals) Feedback on up to 10 essays (personal statement + supplementals)
4–6 polished drafts with daily editing 4–6 polished drafts with daily editing
Signature Core Four™ essays Signature Core Four™ essays
Custom writing templates & brainstorm frameworks Custom writing templates & brainstorm frameworks
Twice-monthly live coaching with Dr. Colón Twice-monthly live coaching with Dr. Colón
10 full application reviews before submission
Personalized strategy session
Ongoing progress checkpoints & accountability coaching
Parent + student logins Parent + student logins (12-month access) Parent + student logins (12-month access)
Limited spots per cohort
Enroll in Essentials → Enroll in Signature → Enroll in Elite →
📅 Not sure? Book a call first 📅 Not sure? Book a call first 📅 Not sure? Book a call first

Looking for exclusive VIP 1-on-1 support for essays and applications? β†’

What Families Are Saying

Real Results. Real Families.

"Dr. ColΓ³n is full of knowledge, passion, energy, and heart. She genuinely cares for her students and helps them to explore their uniqueness and guides them to bring their stories to life. My oldest daughter came out of Essay BootCamp with countless essays, which she used for over 30 supplements. Soon after, we signed up her younger sister and the results were just as impressive. My girls are very different; nonetheless, they both gained insights to the essay and the application process. As a result, both of my girls were accepted into their top colleges with exceptional merit scholarships!!"

Denise B. β€” Parent, Class of 2021 & 2023
Brooklyn, NY Β· Alexandra, College of the Holy Cross, Class of 2025
Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

How many essays will I complete in the Essay Boot Camp?+
All students draft out essays using our signature Core 4 Questions: Who Am I? What Am I Good At? What is Cool About Me? Why This Major? This ensures they have a variety to choose from depending on the essay prompts for each college.
How many essays are required for college admissions?+
Students applying to UCs and other Top 100 colleges will need 4 essays for UCs and 1 Personal Statement for the Common Application. PLUS, each college on the Common App will require 2–4 additional supplemental essays. The number of essays quickly adds up to 8, 28, and as many as 48. No joke! We teach our Core 4 Signature essays to ensure students can retool, repurpose, and reuse for all applications.
Do you know the essay prompts already?+
Yes! The Common Application essay prompts are released annually and we build our curriculum around them. Our Core 4 framework is designed so that every essay your student writes can be adapted to fit any prompt they encounter.
Who can attend?+
The Essay Bootcamp is open to students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. We recommend starting as early as possible β€” the earlier your student begins, the more polished and strategic their application will be.
How does the LIVE Stream BootCamp Work?+
The LIVE Stream Bootcamp is conducted virtually over 5 days. Students attend daily sessions via video conference, complete writing exercises, receive real-time feedback, and work through multiple drafts with their coach. All sessions are recorded for students who need to review.
What can my daughter/son expect?+
Your student will leave with multiple polished essay drafts, a clear understanding of their unique story, and the confidence to tackle any supplemental essay prompt. By day four, students have a noticeable shift in confidence β€” they know they've done the work.
How is this camp different from other essay camps?+
Most essay camps focus on one essay. We focus on the student. Our Core 4 framework ensures your student leaves with a bank of essays they can repurpose across all applications β€” not just one polished draft. Plus, Dr. ColΓ³n's 23 years as a former admissions officer means students learn exactly what admissions readers are looking for.
What's the cancellation policy?+
Please contact our team directly at [email protected] for information about our cancellation and refund policy. We handle each situation individually and are committed to working with our families.