J.R. Writing Advantage provides one-on-one writing tutoring, college admissions essay coaching, custom writing camps, and workshops for students from 4th grade through college. Students receive help with schoolwork; magnet, IB, and communication arts programs; college admissions essays; standardized testing; and creative projects. Services are delivered online or in person by Jill Rendelstein, a writing expert with over 20 years of teaching experience.
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Students are constantly asked to write but rarely taught how to do so. Unfortunately, the classroom environment, and even many of its teachers, breed writing anxiety for students as they fear the blank page, or their own writing, and its repercussions.
The fix: a repeatable process that offers students a way in and through their writing every time they sit down at the computer. Brainstorming, freewriting, outlining, drafting, and line editing, taught step-by-step, turns writing from a source of dread into a sense of pride and ownership. Instead of stiff, awkward sentences, students write in their own authentic voices.
Four service tracks for students from elementary school through college. Each includes clear deliverables and flexible scheduling.
Who will benefit: Students in 4th grade through college who want to strengthen writing habits, confidence, and skills for any subject.
What's included: As a process tutor with over 20 years of experience, Jill specializes in removing anxiety from writing while taking a student's skills to the next level. Sessions begin with an assessment of student skills, and the building of a personalized plan around grade level and coursework: brainstorming, drafting, and completing real reading and writing assignments, not generic worksheets, plus standardized test preparation, as well as reading comprehension and analysis. As a former college instructor, Jill also prepares students for the demands of college and professional-level writing. Process tutoring works on a committed, month-to-month basis, with most students committing to at least six months. But real competency can require more time, as students begin at various levels and learn at different rates. Students leave not just with stronger writing, but with a new sense of enjoyment in the process, and the tools to write any type of communication, at any level, on their own.
Format: Online or in person.
Who will benefit: High school students preparing college admissions essays, including the Common App and supplementals.
What's included: For over 20 years, Jill has worked with students on essay writing that reflects their personalities and sets their applications apart from the elite pack. Independent educational consultants are generalists, who build college lists, map application strategy, and manage deadlines, with essay help usually just one item on a long checklist. Even classroom teachers, however well-meaning, are rarely trained in the essay-writing process itself. Jill's background as a writing instructor and writer set her apart, leading students through every step of the process, from brainstorming to line-editing, for each essay, alleviating the anxiety for both students and families. Try a package covering one essay or several; work one-on-one or invite friends along for a more enjoyable way to write college essays.
Format: Online or in person.
Who will benefit: Students who want a focused or exploratory writing experience outside the school-year structure.
What's included: A custom camp built around a student's schedule: one topic or several, across a flexible six or eight-week session. Choose from college admissions essay writing, creative writing, elevating writing style, standardized test preparation, academic and subject-area writing, and finding an authentic voice. Meet one-on-one or with a small group of friends.
Format: Online or in person.
Who will benefit: Students who want a creative or academic workshop experience, individually or with friends.
What's included: Choose an existing workshop or build a custom one, journaling, short story writing, memoir, or academic, admissions, and professional essay formats. Workshops include reading and discussing established works alongside shaping a raw idea into a finished piece.
Format: In person or online. Group workshops held in home by request or online.
Jill Rendelstein is the founder and writing coach at J.R. Writing Advantage, with over 20 years of teaching experience. Jill delivers creative, interactive workshops, and one-on-one experiences to level up writing strategies and skills for professionals and students around the world. She teaches anxiety-free process, energetic writing, next-level line editing, analysis, and authentic voice. As a graduate from American University, she received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, with a concentration in the Teaching of Writing. While working as a College Writing instructor at The George Washington University and The American University, she continued to conduct original workshops for prestigious DC Metro area institutions, such as the Pentagon, FortyPlus of Greater Washington, Montgomery County, MD schools, prominent law firms and more.
Jill has written for publications, such as The World & I magazine and The Washington Times newspaper. She lives with her husband, two teenage daughters, and her pitbull Charlie, in the DC Metro area.
J.R. Writing Advantage tutors students of all ages and skill levels — elementary, middle school, high school, college, and graduate students. Specialties include college and graduate-school admissions essays, academic writing across subjects, reading comprehension, standardized-test preparation, and creative writing.
Jill leads each student through the entire essay process — from brainstorming and freewriting through outlining, drafting, and next-level line editing — for every essay. The goal is an essay that reflects the student’s authentic personality and sets the application apart from the elite pack. Students may work on one, two, three, or several essays in a create-a-package, and may invite up to five friends to share sessions.
Jill has been instrumental in admissions acceptance for hundreds of students to their top college choices, including Yale, Harvard, Duke, Notre Dame, and Stanford, along with many other top universities and competitive programs.
The summer before senior year is ideal. Starting early allows time for brainstorming several angles, drafting and revising, and producing supplemental essays for multiple schools without rushing. As universities phase out the SAT/ACT, the admissions essay has never been more important — beginning early is the single biggest advantage a student can give themselves.
Both. One-on-one student tutoring and college essay coaching are delivered online or in person. Virtual sessions work well for students anywhere; in-person sessions are available throughout the DC metro area, and group workshops can be held in your home by request.
Yes. Students may invite up to five friends for a low-cost, fun way to write college admissions essays or work on creative writing together. Working alone gives students closer instruction; sharing a session offers deeper discounts. Group sessions can be held virtually or in your home by request.
Most student writing anxiety comes from staring at a blank page with no plan. Learning a repeatable writing process — brainstorming, freewriting, outlining, drafting, line editing, and time — sets students at ease and creates a clear, confident writing tone. Instead of stiff or awkward language, students begin hearing their own voices coming distinctly across the page.
Many tutoring companies hire inexperienced young adults and apply cookie-cutter lessons for subject tutoring and admissions essays. Jill looks at the whole individual — speaking with each student about interests, hobbies, strengths, and weaknesses in writing and reading — and uses creative methods to tailor every lesson to that student. Each student also walks away with the tools to eventually graduate from the program and write confidently on their own.
Yes. Jill helps students brainstorm, analyze, and complete reading and writing assignments for any course subject. Once students learn the writing process, they can apply it to history papers, science write-ups, lab reports, and any other discipline throughout school and beyond.
Yes. Standardized-test preparation is part of student services, including the writing portions of admissions tests and the Extended Constructed Response. Even the dreaded ECR can be exciting once students know how to approach it — it’s all about the writing process.
Jill Rendelstein is the founder and writing coach at J.R. Writing Advantage, with over 20 years of teaching experience. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in the Teaching of Writing from American University and has been a College Writing instructor at George Washington University and American University. She has worked with students from Landon, McLean, The Potomac School, Walt Whitman, Winston Churchill, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and Montgomery Blair, and has placed hundreds of students at top universities.