Meet Ben Urwand: The Mind Behind Real College Essays

Meet Ben Urwand: The Mind Behind Real College Essays

When it comes to writing a college essay that truly stands out, there’s no shortage of advice out there—most of it generic, vague, and painfully uninspired, here's how we can help!

Shahar Link
August 17, 2025

When it comes to writing a college essay that truly stands out, there’s no shortage of advice out there—most of it generic, vague, and painfully uninspired. But Ben Urwand, founder of Real College Essays, has built his coaching approach on the opposite: precision, authenticity, and storytelling that actually makes admissions officers sit up and read.

Ben has helped students turn their life experiences—big and small—into essays that are not only deeply personal, but also strategically crafted to highlight what colleges really want to see. His students don’t churn out the usual “service trip to Costa Rica” or “sports injury comeback” stories; instead, they learn to write essays that are impossible to forget because they could only have been written by them.

Why Ben’s Approach Works

With years of experience as both a teacher and a writer, Ben blends the art of narrative with the science of admissions strategy. He teaches students how to:

The result? Essays that not only meet word counts but leave a lasting impression on the people who hold the keys to acceptance letters.

Upcoming Webinar: Inside the College Essay Process

I’ll be hosting a live conversation with Ben where we’ll dig into the exact methods he uses to help students write essays that work. We’ll cover:

Whether you’re a student, a parent, or an educator, you’ll walk away with practical insights you can use immediately.

Date & Time: Sept 2, 7pm ET

Location: Zoom

Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/XR_Z-yPxSwCWEq514vpdCA

Ben Urwand doesn’t just coach students to “write a college essay”—he shows them how to tell their real story, the one that makes admissions officers want to meet them in person. Join us to learn how.

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