Ivy Eyes Editing was founded in 2005 by Yale graduates , not as an essay writing or content generation company, but as a writing consultation firm. We work with all types of clients and applicants to push their thinking, develop authentic content through intellectual partnership, and build writing skills for the future. As editors, this process is more fulfilling for our team, and as former students, this ethical standard is paramount.
Consider the following excerpt from a recent admissions essay:
"What are you most passionate about? Why?" (250 word maximum)"I am most passionate about corporate responsibility and social justice, and exploring how businesses can profitably advance human rights. My father fled Cambodia in 1977, leaving dozens of family members behind. As an undergraduate at the University of Texas, I learned about the brutal 1994 genocide in Rwanda and was shocked that despite the historical lessons we have learned as a society, another genocide had occurred in my lifetime. Shortly thereafter, I joined a group of students working to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in Iraq."
With this opening paragraph to a short essay, we suggested that the applicant truly target the prompt. The prompt says it all here, and we encourage all applicants to convey passion from the onset of the essay. We asked: what are the real details of your family history? How can the transition from a family history linked to Rwanda to Iraq be strengthened and substantiated? How can you show that a personal history cemented values that later translated into real action?
These types of questions drive clients to share more color on their experience and literally present a more complete, comprehensive picture of themselves. From our point of view, the best writing does not possess the most sophisticated, refined prose; the best writing is able to ask the most probing questions. After the initial critique, candidates email us back with answers to our targeted questions, which typically provides us with all the content we need to produce a final, polished revision.
As writers, what we impose is a clear emphasis on story-building. Even for the most sterile and empirical prompts, we encourage constructing real narrative arcs and building depth through the use of multiple layers and threads. We push ‘authenticity’ and ‘humanity’ in all our clients’ writing, which we believe are key components of an effective admissions essay, at any level. If the admissions essay or personal statement is to add real value to your application, they must push the rest of your materials one step further—and humanize you. They must reflect the forces that drive you, and the details not evident from your resume.
In the admissions space, this exploratory (and almost investigative) approach is crucial. Candidates must write about stories that they can truly ‘own.’ How does this translate into the interview setting? How does this help candidates in both the short-term and the long-term? Ultimately, helping candidates craft stories that truly reflect their experience and purpose will prove most valuable.
As with any other consultation business, the key is not in taking ownership of clients’ work, but in driving clients to achieve their goals within their own brand and writing style. In other words, Ivy Eyes Editing is not seeking to transform a quotidian, poorly constructed, underdeveloped essay into a PhD-level masterpiece. Instead, we work as consultants and thought partners with clients, helping them to write at their fullest potential and develop effective ways to distill their unique stories, cultivate their narrative voices and market their successes.
Outside the admissions space, Ivy Eyes Editing works with job applicants, business owners, and students to help them refine their content. Our strength is in our range. Our editors have all graduated from Yale, include published authors and MBA’s, and have a wide array of career experience. Largely because of the variety and breadth of our editors’ backgrounds, we are equipped to work with Ph.D’s on their dissertations, consulting firms on their business proposals, and international entrepreneurs on their web content and marketing materials.
For individuals that are considering this type of service but uncertain about where to go, we offer a free initial assessment as a testament to the superior quality of our work. We are confident in our level of impact—and are happy to demonstrate that to any prospective client. We hope this gives more general insight into our process. Choosing the right editing company for your needs can be difficult, but we aspire to make our perspective and approach completely transparent.
Email us today for a free assessment to see how we work, and how we can help you make your writing the most positive, compelling and authentic reflection of you, your company or your mission.
Sincerely,
Janson Woodlee
Ivy Eyes Editing
www.ivyeyesediting.com