“I am so grateful to the parent who recommended Devon to our family. She helped our daughter with her essays from conception to completion, and throughout, she was unfailingly generous with her attention, her praise, and her expertise. She always encouraged my daughter to be her authentic self — in both content and style. My daughter loved her time with Devon, eagerly anticipating every zoom, and emerging from each session with real progress. The best part was that my husband and I were able to stay out of the process entirely, and that helped preserve our relationship with our daughter during the incredibly stressful process of college applications. The final result was a crisp, entertaining, deeply personal essay that highlighted my daughter’s unique skills and passions and that helped get her accepted to her dream school, Yale. ”

“When it came time to craft a personal statement for college my son was overwhelmed. Though a strong writer with many ideas, he could not pinpoint what he wanted to write and he certainly did not want his parents involved. Devon came to the rescue. She was invaluable shaping and refining his thoughts into a strong, insightful essay that filled me with pride. Whenever a deadline loomed, my son found great relief knowing that Devon would support him through it. She diffused his stress and encouraged his engagement not only provoking thoughtful essays but confidence in managing the entire process. We are beyond grateful for Devon’s guidance particularly when my son was accepted to his first choice, University of Chicago. Thank you Devon. - Laura G”

““My essay writing experience with Devon was unlike any writing workshops and classes I had ever attended. She uses a highly supportive approach, eager to dive into conversation which further adds up to a truly personal experience. while still growing my writing skills. Devon is efficient at editing, without impeding on the integrity of the original. I highly recommend Devon to anyone seeking to relieve the weight of the application process.””

“When writing about oneself, it’s easy to live in the world of accomplishments and achievements. I came to Ms. O’Brien with a (not so personal) personal statement, a few supplementals, and essay prompts from over a dozen schools. Though crunched for time, our meetings and conversations enabled me to venture outside my comfort zone, to write about my childhood, my relationships, and the interests that make me unique. We were able to showcase my passions for art, architecture, and design, passions that yielded acceptances to top programs in each creative discipline. I give Ms. Devon O’Brien my deepest thanks and utmost recommendation!”

“Dear Devon, thank you for accompanying my daughter along her writing journey. When her passionate ideas met your dedication and enthusiasm for storytelling, she found her voice; read her stories has been truly amazing. Your professional approach and equally kind interaction gave her confidence and she enjoyed the learning process with you.” ”

“Hello Devon! Thank you so much for showing me how to craft a beautiful story from my logical and sometimes technical ideas. With you, I learnt how to decompose and recompose my own words and thoughts like a puzzle. I enjoyed listening to your comments and your questions, your perspectives helping me traslate my “too scientific” ideas into the beautiful language of storytelling. Thank you! You help me to reach the next important step in my life!”

“Thank you very much Devon for being able to draw out my daughter’s talent and help her to work hard and consistently! Your passion, your energy, your enthusiasm together with your tranquillity and kindness have been essential for improving her writing skills and feeling more confident. ”

“Hello Devon! I hope you are doing well! I have received some news from colleges and wanted to let you know. I got admitted to Case Western and Northeastern early action! I even got into the honors program at Northeastern and they gave a small scholarship too. I got accepted to Boston College, Emory University, and the Trinity Columbia Dual BA program!!! Thank you so much for all your help with the admissions process! I also learned a lot about how to write in general, which does not come naturally to me, so I really appreciated our time together! Thank you for all your help! ”

“I am so glad to have had the opportunity to work with Devon. Before our meetings, I struggled with perfectionism and procrastination. Devon helped me overcome my self-doubt and taught me not to be afraid of making mistakes. She was a thoughtful editor and at no point did I feel like she was writing my essay for me. Devon is kind, funny, and sophisticated and our meetings were enjoyable as well as productive. I highly recommend Devon to anyone feeling overwhelmed by looming college essays.
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“I can’t express my appreciation enough for the advice and guidance Devon gave my daughter. Devon was absolutely instrumental in my daughter being accepted into her dream school. When she began the essay writing process, she was overwhelmed. Devon helped my daughter to trust her inner voice and pull together a lot of different threads and weave them into a meaningful and impactful narrative. I think the skills and confidence my daughter learned with Devon will benefit her long after the college application process has ended. ”

“Devon was excellent and really helped me think through my essay ideas and come up with a solid plan. There is so much information out there and it was really nice to be able to bounce ideas off someone with so much experience. It helped me a lot and it could not have turned out better. Thank you Devon! ”

“We could not be more happy with the help that Devon provided to our daughter with her college essay. They met on a number of occasions and had some great discussions that helped her to chart a nice path.  They really connected and given all of Devon’s experience, she gave our daughter the confidence to be herself and trust her instincts.  As parents going through the process for the first time, Devon provided helpful ideas and a steadying influence. We highly recommend Devon. ”

“I am so grateful for Devon. Working with her tremendously eased the college essay writing process, and allowed me to blossom into a better writer. Devon allowed me to express what I wanted in my essays, and perfected them in ways I could not have done otherwise. I felt very confident in my writings upon submission and know that they truly conveyed who I am as a person. I know that these skills I learned will be useful to me all throughout college and beyond.
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“We are truly grateful to have Devon help our daughter with the essay portion of her applications. Devon directed her through initial writing exercises to evoke unique facets of our daughter’s personality and achievements. She was able to help our daughter articulate in her own words answers to the various school specific questions as well. It made the process less daunting for our daughter and really hands off for us as parents. She kept us on track to be done in a stress free timely manner. We wholeheartedly recommend Devon as a guide to any family that is about to embark on this college essay journey. ”

“I came to Devon thinking my Personal Statement was perfect. After Devon asked me one question, it was evident to me that my writing needed edits and introspection. I worked with her over several sessions and I know that I grew as a writer as a result. Devon got me to explore themes and perspectives that made my essay strong, cohesive, and something I am really proud of.”

“I called Devon in a panic. I knew that my son needed guidance with crafting and editing his Personal Statement. He has a compelling story to tell but the writing lacked depth and nuance, and I knew he needed an “outside mentor” to help guide him. We had less than a week to meet some deadlines, and Devon jumped right in. She rose to the occasion. Devon was the right fit for my son. She has a calm and insightful approach to working with teens. Our son loved working with her. She helped him amplify his own voice, with his own agency, and express the story he needed to tell with emotion and insight. We are forever grateful to Devon for her patience and flexibility. ”

“
Devon was a calming presence when working through the college essay writing process. She instilled confidence and clarity during a very stressful time for my son. He felt good about his essay and short answers and was able to apply early with her organization of keeping to a specific time line. We were thrilled when our son was accepted at his top choice school ED. I highly recommend her! ”

“What a blessing to have Devon to help guide our daughter through the process of writing her personal statement. We knew if would be a more joyful process if our daughter didn’t have to take our notes or answer to us in any way. In fact, we were so confident that Devon was guiding her appropriately that we did not even read her essay until weeks after she pushed send on her application. Devon’s experience with so many applicants gave weight to her opinion and comments so much that our daughter felt confident to write an unconventional and even kooky essay about a topic that one would not expect in a personal statement, and boy did her voice and personality leap off the page. She was accepted early decision at her first choice school. Thank you, Devon! ”

“Devon worked with my son on his personal statement for his college applications. She helped him formulate his thoughts in a concise, truthful, and unique-to-him way. She gave him tools that he will use going forward. Best of all, he loved the whole experience. There is no one better to guide a teenager during the pressure-filled time of senior year. I highly recommend Devon. My son’s essay was better than anything I could have imagined.”

“Writing a good essay can seem daunting. It’s an applicant’s one and only chance to add something to the story that may not be reflected in the narrow scope of one’s GPA. This is where Devon O’Brien comes in. Not only is she knowledgeable about the art of writing, but having assisted many students getting accepted into top-tier universities, she understands what a college admission board looks for in an applicant. Yet, what stood out the most about Devon and her teaching style was how it seemed to be based in empathy. For me, writing with the knowledge that my words will be assessed as “worthy” or “unworthy” is an experience that produces vulnerability and anxiety. And while one can never really get rid of these unpleasant feelings, it was with Devon’s kind and careful tutelage that I found myself more easily able to bear them. ”

“Devon did wonderful work with my child, whose confidence in her writing had all but vanished in the churn and pressure of writing for school. She was paralyzed at the prospect of writing a college essay that would reflect who she was, who she had been and who she might become.

With Devon, my daughter rediscovered that writing is, most of all, a process of discovery, an experience of adventure. During their Zoom sessions, I heard laughter, intense discussion, and occasional shrieks of recognition. Out of it all emerged a college essay written with the self-possession of a person who had found a voice. That essay opened doors that would otherwise have been closed to my daughter.”

“Devon’s work was greatly appreciated. She helped me say what I was trying to say in a much clearer and more straightforward manner, without ever changing the core of what I was trying to express. She helped me reach the best version of my ideas, and gave me new vocabulary to use and experiment with here and there. Overall, she made the process of writing and editing feel a lot less stressful, and made me more certain of my ideas. Devon mainly gave encouraging feedback and helped me write the best essays I possibly could. If I were to try to do that alone, by myself, it would’ve taken a lot longer. But, most importantly, your essay will still be your own essay even with her help.”

“Devon, I am writing this note as a form of commendation for all the benevolent acts you have done for me over the years. Your help with my college essays was simply prodigious in its benefits to me, and I say this with the utmost veracity! I will forever aspire to have an ounce of your constant gaiety, effortless decorum, and genuine disposition. Your Jane Austen Circle was so laudable, as it taught me to be a close reader, and to understand the importance of paying attention to new words while I am reading. (I do it with every book now!) P&P still remains one of my favorite books, and it is all because of you!

You are truly an amazing role model.”

“I found Devon O’Brien through a mutual friend during my college application process. Before Devon, I was nervous about the quality and the direction of my essays. However, from the first meeting, I could tell Devon was going to be instrumental in my college application process. Not only did she help me successfully brainstorm and give my essays direction and guidance, but she also helped me meaningfully edit and hone my essays into coherent final drafts. Her knowledge of the college admissions process as well as her writing skills together helped me write essays that got me into my dream schools. I highly recommend her to anyone who is potentially struggling to write their college essays or who is looking for someone to help their good essays reach a level of greatness. I cannot thank Devon enough for all that she has done for me!”

“Over the weekend, our daughter committed to Brown University, her dream school for several years. We are so thankful for your constant support, your guidance, and your experience with not only the essay portion of the application, but the entire college application process. Feather Inc. made all the difference. We can’t thank you enough! All our best.”

“The idea of working with my parents on my essays seemed out of the question. Devon seemed the ideal person to go to. Devon had me sit and just write about myself, giving me small prompts to go off of, but mainly telling me to let my ideas wander. Devon and I went through and came up with many different drafts. We found one we really loved. Edit by edit, we tweaked it to perfection. By this time my face-to-face time with Devon had ended, but we continued to work over the phone, through email and Google Docs. The time that I spent with her was invaluable to my success. She always knew exactly what to do with my drafts and the deadlines, in ways that neither my parents nor I could have done on our own.”

“I reached out to Devon when I realized I had done as much as I possibly could with my personal statement.  I knew I wanted someone who had a way with language and the ability to ask profound and enlightening questions that would propel my writing to a higher level. After discussing and ‘soul-searching’ with Devon for a couple of hours at my favorite patisserie/boulangerie, I had a score of notes and a clear sense of direction. I confidently finished my essay.”

“Devon’s input was invaluable. She inspired our daughter to dig deeply and find out what unique qualities she will bring to a university—this was after months of procrastination.  With Devon’s gentle encouragement, Posey came up with a great and truthful angle she was very happy with.”

“Devon’s spot-on editing feedback, her command of the language, as well as her playful humor, creates a synergy in the writing process that curbs the internal critical voice of the writer so that creativity can flow. Whether Devon is imparting wisdom about the writing, or sitting with my son as midwife on the critical college essay, she delivers on her promises with a distinctive flair, and a sense of comportment and savoir-faire that inspires both confidence and joy.”

“As an educator with LAUSD for over twenty years (as both an English teacher and high school Principal) I know the work entailed in the college application process. I’ve even run a private workshop for students in the Larchmont/Hancock Park community preparing for high school applications. All that said, when the time came for our oldest daughter to embark on the process, I knew I wanted her to work with Devon at Feather Inc. The journey they took together was everything we’d hoped for as our daughter and Devon worked through a variety of prompts (for private and public universities) and engaged in a meaningful and deeply rewarding writing process. Perhaps most importantly, our daughter took ownership of the process and we were able to focus on the other pieces of the puzzle. Our daughter was able to write about what really mattered and secured several generous offers to attend the schools of her choice. Thanks, Devon!”

“Devon was able to help my son express himself more freely in his college essay. She helped him realize that he IS a good writer.  When I read his essay it truly brought a tear to my eye. 

Thank you Devon for working with my son. You have given him the extra confidence he needs to be a successful writer at Wesleyan this Fall!
~Donna E”

“I turned to Devon when the essay-writing process became stressful for my daughter.  Devon sat patiently with her while she wrestled with several topics.  None seemed quite right and it was a challenge to wade through the process as the deadline loomed.  Devon had faith that my daughter would hone in on what was authentic and true to herself — which is what colleges want to know.  She wrote a wonderful essay, and importantly, learned a lot about herself and gained confidence.  A bonus was that my daughter was accepted by nearly all of the schools to which she applied, including her first choice, Barnard College.
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“During a period of the college application process in which students are being bombarded with advice on how to appeal to admissions officers, Devon helped our daughter find a story that first and foremost rang true to her. Devon was patient, kind, encouraging, and thoroughly dedicated to helping our daughter find her voice.
~Hugh G.”

“Cannot thank you enough for all of your help.  We had an amazing experience with you and I believe that you really nurtured and enhanced a love of writing in our daughter. She was inspired, engaged and lit-up when she was working with you. I think she is a better writer and enjoys the act of writing more because of her time with you. Thanks for everything you guys did together.
~Grateful mom. ”

“Devon worked with my daughter on her personal statement, helping her distill her voice, her story, and her dreams into one essay - a tall order! More importantly, she instilled in my daughter a sense of freedom, empowerment, creativity, and mastery in personal essay writing that took her through to every last supplement in the application process.  She managed to enjoy all those the short answers and used Devon’s tools to brainstorm, edit, edit, and refine until each essay represented and reflected exactly who she is. While the essays may help get her into college, the skills and empowerment will help her be successful IN college. Can’t heap enough praise on Devon for teaching our daughter the writing process in action!”

“Devon helped my son and later my daughter, as well as the son of a close friend. All three had vastly different styles, personalities and interests — ranging from Varsity starters to high level dance/drama — and their stories, college desires and goals were equally divergent. Yet Devon drew out their best individual voices. The happy result was that all three wrote well, honestly and compellingly. I highly recommend Devon. I insisted my friend hire Devon for his son — and with no hesitation. All of these three teenagers were much better for the experience. They also still like and admire her and keep in touch. Five stars!!

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“Thanks Devon for all of your assistance. You supported Katie so much, helping her find confidence and her voice as a writer. You made her feel very comfortable, which enabled her to open up and express herself in her writing without a fear of judgment. We hope that some of the schools that she applies to will express interest in our very special, talented daughter and that she will have multiple offers to choose from. There are so many different components to applying to college, especially as a theater major, with loads of additional time needed for auditions and filming, uploading, interviews, etc.  There doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day while also continuing to take high school and college classes simultaneously. Having your professional guidance made it a far easier and richer experience for our family. 

We are grateful for your excellent guidance. I am looking forward to meeting you over coffee after our vaccines.”