Sofia Blake
College essay coach, writer, and founder of Studio SB Coaching.
I work with students who are trying to make decisions about college and find a way to write about themselves that feels honest and specific. Some arrive with a clear idea; others have experiences and interests they haven’t yet thought to connect. I enjoy the conversations that help them see what they have.
I’m an essay coach with College Essay Guy and the author of The College Application Personal Essay and Journeys to the Heart. I studied at Brown, Sciences Po, and Georgetown, and have lived and worked in several countries.
The student keeps the pen
Before deadlines or essays, most students need someone who will listen well, ask better questions, notice how much they have already done, and help them make sense of it. That is most of the job.
I do not see college applications as separate from growing up. Students are routinely told to build résumés, pursue passions and write compelling essays, often before they have had any real chance to understand themselves. Growth is rarely linear, and high school is usually a mix of exploration, hesitation, discovery and false starts.
So the work is to help a student step back, think clearly, and connect their experiences so they can move with more purpose. Strong applications tend to be a by-product of that, rather than the point of it. And the essay stays theirs: their material, their language, their judgment about what is worth saying.
What students say about working with me
“If I had to go through the college process again, I would not want to do it with anyone other than Sofia”
I can safely say that if I had not worked with Sofia, I would have made the wrong choice in colleges. Throughout the entire process, from October to May, Sofia constantly kept in touch through calls, emails and in-person meetings. She listened without any judgment, and I always felt that what she wanted was the best for me. Even when it was difficult to say out loud, Sofia told me her opinions frankly and pushed me — in the right way — through my stubbornness.
— University of Chicago“I was being heard and given new, valuable perspectives every time”
In an application process that requires deep introspection, working with Sofia helped me ask myself all the right probing questions. Writing about what matters most to me was a long process with many iterations, and Sofia was always present for any kind of brainstorming I needed. She was always honest and detailed in her feedback, giving it like family, and I really valued that.
— Harvard University“I couldn’t imagine writing my personal essay without Sofia”
She is very knowledgeable about every type of college essay and always offered valuable insight to improve my writing. She helped me hone in on the important aspects of my essay to convey who I really am to admissions officers. Not only was I able to write a great essay, I was also able to learn a lot about myself through the process.
— Georgetown University“You kind of understand that great results don’t have to come with painful experiences”
Working with Sofia was very easy yet highly effective. She let me be the master of my essay and never tried to force anything out of me that I did not want to write. The college essay gives many kids a hard time, and working with Sofia made the experience fun and effective.
— Syracuse University“There were many times when I felt overwhelmed and confused, but you always encouraged me to focus on how I felt and what I really needed”
I think it is mostly thanks to you that I decided to go to Middlebury, and I truly feel that was the right choice all along. Because of you I was able to stop overthinking everything and simply focus on which college felt most right for me. Thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and encouraging me to trust myself.
— Middlebury College“The students who would benefit most are students like me — the ones with a lot of ideas but trouble bringing them out”
Before speaking to you, the entire college process was unapproachable in my mind. Your insight, along with your plethora of tools, allowed me to advance step by step. Before I knew it I had finished everything that used to cause me stress. You brought me from staring at an empty Google Doc, stressed about what to write, to putting words on the page.
— Vassar College“Sofia has been a rock for me throughout my application period and further during my academic program”
She gave me wonderful advice and sometimes stern encouragement when I needed it. I always know I can turn to her for honest feedback.
— Georgetown University“I would not be where I am today without the encouragement, advice and support you have given me”
It is impossible for me to forget your role in my career. I still remember how you opened my eyes and showed me how to write an essay. It was not just an essay — it was a process of reflecting on my experiences and learning from them. Thank you for believing in me when I was in doubt.
— Syracuse UniversityBegin with a conversation
Whether your student is still discovering what interests them, preparing to apply, or staring at an empty essay document, we can begin with where they are.