Sam
Fee Structure
Word Count | 1 Day | 2+ Days |
---|---|---|
1 - 250 | $199 | $149 |
251 - 900 | $425 | $375 |
901 - 1200 | $495 | $435 |
1201 - 1500 | $599 | $495 |
1501 - 2000 | $799 | $655 |
2001 - 3000 | $1199 | $799 |
3001 - 4000 | $1299 | $1199 |
4001 - 5000 | $1399 | $1299 |
5001 - 6000 | $1599 | $1499 |
6001 - 7000 | $1799 | $1599 |
7001 - 8000 | $1999 | $2199 |
Consultation | $199/hr |
About Me
Sam is a writer, editor and university lecturer who has taught writing for almost two decades in the US and Europe. After graduating from Oxford University with a First Class Degree in Philosophy and Modern Languages, he spent a brief period working in magazine journalism then earned an MFA in creative writing from UC Irvine. He taught writing and literature to undergraduates at UC Irvine for close to a decade. Since leaving California he has taught at NYU, Bard and RISD, where he was on the Literary Arts faculty for 4 years and was a graduate writing advisor. Over the years he has edited thousands of essays, stories, articles, books and personal statements, and has developed a fine ear for eliciting what is unique and compelling in each writer’s voice and their perspective on the world.
Sam brings a rich diversity of professional experience and intellectual interests to his editorial practice. As a writer of fiction and creative non-fiction, Sam has earned fellowships from the Fine Arts Work Centre, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the MacDowell Colony, and the Dora Maar House. He has mentored successful business professionals, doctors, architects, fashion designers and computer engineers. As an editor with a philosophical background he is particularly skilled at honing the central ideas that drive a piece of writing. He taught incarcerated women through the Bard Prison Initiative and continues to mentor refugees and torture survivors at Freedom from Torture in London. An avid runner and squash player, currently he lives with his partner and daughter in Paris, where he writes, leads writing workshops and works as a freelance editor.
Education:
Oxford University
-MA in Philosophy and Modern Languages
University of California, Irvine
-MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction)
Expertise
- Medical School
- Business School
- Law School
- Graduate Programs
- Undergraduate Programs
- Academic Essays
Reviews
I can't say enough good things about working with Sam. With my MBA Essays, he teased out the most important details that shaped my narratives. At the same time, he highlighted places where I had wandered off on tangents. The final narratives felt tight and purposeful. Beyond structure, he's great at polishing writing, and in impressive time! After his passes, my writing suddenly sounded smarter and more graceful, while maintaining my style. I've worked briefly with admissions consultants before, and when it came to elevating my essays, their help was far too generic and at times felt superficial. You won't find this with Sam because he's first and foremost a writer (and an excellent one at that). He will take take with your concerns, and he's also just a laid-back kinda person, easy to work with. I'll definitely be asking for his help again in the future.
- MayaSam came highly recommended to me by a friend who had previously used his editing services. He significantly improved my grad school application essays and brought them to life! I can honestly say that it was the best investment that I have made, and I’m grateful that he was able to take the time to work with me. Sam was extremely responsive throughout the process, helping me structure my story, provide edits, and sharpen the drafting to engage the reader. We went through four edits of the essays and each time his edits and feedback were on-point and extremely valuable. It was a pleasure working with Sam, and I would highly recommend him to anyone!
- WilliamSam helped me with the essay of my favorite program. He helped me make it more structured and interesting to read. So, I came back to him for another essay. Although the questions were similar, Sam read my essay carefully, found the difference in my response, and helped me revise the essay accordingly. I really appreciate him for being both professional and responsible. My last essay was so tricky that it required me to show my personality and tell my stories in short sentences, meanwhile, to make them interesting. My version included too many details, even wordy. But Sam helped me make it super concise, and more importantly, vivid!!! His editing is straight-forward, and he also included comment and remark in his edited version which was super thoughtful. He never changed my story, so I am comfortable the story is still what I want to tell the AO and about the real me! Besides, he is very responsive and flexible. He worked on my essay during the New Year holiday. I could not be more appreciative for his help. In short, I highly recommend Sam to other applicants.
- TinaIt's really a pleasure working with Sam. He fixed the wording in my essays and bringed them to life. He's also been very communicative and supportive. Thank you!
- Tina