Your coach for college essays

Who I Am

I’m Katie Jesionowski, your coach for college essays. I graduated from the University of Chicago, where I played basketball and am now a proud member of the Graduate Women’s Athletic Association (GWAA). For nearly 25 years, I’ve served on the GWAA committee that evaluates and selects female athletes for awards at its spring banquet. In that role, I’ve read close to a thousand essays and learned to recognize—within just a few sentences—which ones stand out and which blend into the crowd. Too often, they all sound the same.

That experience, combined with my lifelong love of writing, led me to develop a unique process for helping students discover their own voice.

A Lifelong Love of Writing

I’m now in my second year of studying memoir writing with The Writing Circle – an experience that has sharpened my ability to guide students in finding and shaping their own stories.

Mentorship & Coaching

I’ve also been a mentor with Student Sponsor Partners (SSP) in New York City since 2017 and spent years coaching youth sports, both of which taught me how to support and guide young people.

My Professional Background

Before starting College Essay Katie, I co-founded and ran MySuperFoods, an organic, kids snack company, for 10 years. Earlier in my career, I spent seven years working in advertising and most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer at a family consulting business. These roles sharpened my skills in storytelling, communication, and leadership—all of which I now bring to my work with students.

Why I Started College Essay Katie

My two goals are simple:

  1. Help students write essays they feel proud of—because when you’re proud of something, you can’t help but share it with enthusiasm.
  2. Reduce stress during one of the most pressure-filled times in a student’s life.

Personal & Relatable

I live in Summit, NJ, with my husband and twin daughters. I often tell my students in our first session that I lost my wallet, glasses and winter coat during my senior year of high school. I know firsthand how stressful the college process can feel.

Why a Coach Matters

That’s why I believe in the value of a coach. A coach doesn’t do the work for you; they give you confidence, structure, and encouragement so you can rise to the challenge. That’s what I aim to do with every student I work with. I look forward to meeting you!