Phone: 858-259-2592
Fax: 316-223-4334

Del Mar, California

Email: info@CollegeEssayServices.com

Education writer and columnist Marsha Sutton specializes in education and children's issues. She graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy in 1976 and pursued a successful career in marketing communications for high-tech companies for 15 years before moving to journalism.

Marsha has been covering education for several North San Diego County newspapers for 14 years and has won more than a dozen awards for her writing from such organizations as the San Diego Press Club, the Society for Professional Journalists and the Independent Free Papers of America. Her work has appeared many times in the Opinion pages of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the North County Times and other local newspapers and magazines.

Marsha was the founding education writer, providing news and editorial coverage, for Voice of San Diego, a ground-breaking on-line daily newspaper established in 2005 to cover local San Diego politics and other issues. Voice of San Diego today is recognized nationwide as one of the first of its kind to offer daily, in-depth coverage and analysis of citywide issues.

In addition to freelance writing, Marsha currently pens a weekly column, "Education Matters," for the Carmel Valley News, Del Mar Village Voice, and the Rancho Santa Fe Review.

She was also the first education editor for the newest addition to San Diego's on-line media market: San Diego News Network. Until operations were suspended in mid-2010, SDNN was a comprehensive source for local, national and international news, politics, business, sports, arts and entertainment.

Marsha lives in Del Mar with her husband of more than 30 years and their two sons, one in high school and the other a student at Northwestern University in Chicago.

2008 Awards:

San Diego Press Club
First Place, Non-Daily Newspaper, Education Category:
"Dissension Over Spanish Program"
(Carmel Valley News)

San Diego Press Club
Third Place, Daily Newspaper, Political/Government Category:
"Did Del Mar Overpay for its $1 Bridge?"
(North County Times)

Independent Free Papers of America (national contest)
Second Place, Editorial Writing Category:
"Shutting Down the Del Mar Schools Foundation"
(Carmel Valley News)

2007 Awards:

San Diego Press Club
Second Place, Non-Daily Newspaper, Commentary Category:
"Bringing Borat's Depravity to 10-Year-Olds"
(Carmel Valley News)

San Diego Press Club
Third Place, Non-Daily Newspaper, Education Category:
"Seeing STARs"
(Carmel Valley News)

2006 Awards:

San Diego Press Club
Second Place, Non-Daily Newspaper, Education Category:
"Understanding Charter Schools"
(Carmel Valley News)

Independent Free Papers of America (national contest)
Second Place, Education Category:
"Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whacha Gonna Do?"
(Carmel Valley News)

2005 Awards:

San Diego Press Club
Honorable Mention, Non-Daily Newspaper, Education Category:
"Torrey Pines Reaches for the STARs"
(Carmel Valley News)

2004 Awards:

San Diego Press Club
Second Place, Non-Daily Newspaper, Education Category:
"Ashley Falls Laptop Program Sparks Controversy"
(Carmel Valley News)

San Diego Press Club
Second Place, Non-Daily Newspaper, Profiles Category:
"Beloved Rabbi Leaving Post"
(Carmel Valley News)

Society of Professional Journalists
Honorable Mention, Non-Daily Newspaper, Education Category:
"State Budget Crisis Upends Local School Districts"
(Carmel Valley News)

Society of Professional Journalists
Second Place, Non-Daily Newspaper, Opinion/Editorial Category:
"When 'Rated G' Isn't"
(Carmel Valley News)

2003 Awards:

San Diego Press Club
First Place, Non-Daily Newspaper, Opinion/Editorial Category:
"New Bridge Would Benefit Troubled Waters"
(Carmel Valley News)

2002 Awards:

San Diego Press Club
First Place, Non-Daily Newspaper, Education Category:
"Gifted Education -- The Next Frontier?"
(Carmel Valley News)

Independent Free Papers of America (national contest)
First Place, Opinion/Editorial Category:
"Intrigue in Carmel Valley "
(Carmel Valley News)

Independent Free Papers of America (national contest)
Second Place, Opinion/Editorial Category:
"A Sad Farewell to George Harrison"
(Carmel Valley News)

Independent Free Papers of America (national contest)
Second Place, News Category:
"Pardee Offers Community Theater on Townsgate Property"
(Carmel Valley News)

Independent Free Papers of America (national contest)
Third Place, News Category:
"School Board to Consider Options for Relieving Torrey Pines Overcrowding"
(Carmel Valley News)

2001 Awards:

Independent Free Papers of America (national contest)
Honorable Mention, Features Category:
"Local Cotillion Teaches Children the Art of Etiquette"
(Carmel Valley News)

Independent Free Papers of America (national contest)
Second Place, Features Category:
"Music Advocates Band Together to Provide Music Education"
(Carmel Valley News)

San Diego Press Club
Second Place, Non-Daily Newspaper, Education Category:
"Tying Money to School Performance Stirs Controversy"
(Carmel Valley News)

San Diego Press Club
Honorable Mention, Daily Newspaper, Opinion/Editorial Category:
"An Illogical Educational Motivation"
(San Diego Union-Tribune)

Opinion pieces published in the San Diego Union-Tribune:

A Countywide Offensive Against the Achievement Gap -- 10/19/07

Preaching Evolution in the Name of God -- 2/9/07

The following opinion pieces are no longer available in the San Diego Union-Tribune Archives:

Teacher Contracts -- 4/4/03

Heavy Backpacks -- 12/20/02

Special Education Money -- 3/27/02

Kindergarten Readiness -- 8/17/01

API Money -- 2/15/01

December Dilemma -- 12/7/2000

Potter Mania -- 7/20/2000

Martin Luther King Day -- 1/14/2000

Solana Beach Joint Library -- 7/8/99

School Start Times -- 4/9/98

Articles published in the North County Times:

Did Del Mar Overpay for its $1 Bridge? -- 9/2/07

Guns Fuel the Nightmare at Virginia Tech -- 4/22/07

Vista Wife Running for Herself and Others -- 3/31/07

Encinitas Superheroes Fight Blood Cancer -- 3/20/07

Dirt Turned on San Dieguito Park Miracle Field -- 2/24/07

The following articles and editorials are no longer available in the San North County Times Archives:

New Solana Beach School Stirs Controversy -- 3/28/02

Parents are Key to Education -- 1/31/01

Children's Creative Workshop Summer Program -- 6/21/98

Articles from Voice of San Diego on-line newspaper:

District Assaults Charters with Kind Regards -- 4/19/06

Happy Birthday Charles Darwin -- 2/13/06

Education's Love Affair with AVID -- 8/4/05

Link to Current Column in the Carmel Valley News/Del Mar Village Voice

Articles from the Del Mar Village Voice concerning the Del Mar Union School District's controversial sale of district property:

Turning over the Shores Deed -- 8/2/07

The Cost of Keeping Secrets -- 5/11/06

Shores Property Controversy: Surprises All Around -- 4/27/06

Common Application for the Class of 2011

Essay Topics

Short Essay: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences (150 words or fewer).

Personal Essay: Please write an essay (250 words minimum) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below.

1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.

3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

4. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

5. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

6. Topic of your choice.

University of California Essay Prompts for 2011 Applicants

Respond to both prompts, using a maximum of 1,000 words total. You may allocate the word count as you wish. If you choose to respond to one prompt at greater length, we suggest your shorter answer be no less than 250 words. Stay within the word limit as closely as you can. A little over -- 1,012 words, for example --- is fine.

Prompt #1 (freshman applicants):
Describe the world you come from -- for example, your family, community or school -- and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

Prompt #1 (transfer applicants):
What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field -- such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities -- and what you have gained from your involvement.

Prompt #2 (all applicants):
Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

College Essay Services is NOT an essay-writing service. These types of services are readily available on-line -- from people who are paid to generate essays from scratch. We view this practice as highly unethical, and are opposed to what we regard as cheating on the college essay process.

Instead, we help students find their own voice, uncover their passions, and put their interests and insights into words that convey sensitivity, honesty and genuine reflection.

Every student has a story to tell. Using their own experiences as a guide, all students have within themselves the ability to express the values, goals, interests and opinions they embody.

CES helps students understand what they already know, express their own thoughts on paper, refine their personal writing style, and create authentic essays.

But we do not write essays.

I look back on the first time we sat at the kitchen, and you started asking questions and he started to express himself. We knew he had lots stored up, but he never really expressed himself. You tapped into a part of Connor that freed him.

I want to thank you so much for taking such an interest in Connor. I hope some day he realizes how much you helped him. It is so important for kids to have people like you in their lives to help them take the steps down a path, to look in windows, to open doors, to attempt to find what they are looking for in life. So I want you to know that you were greatly appreciated.

-- Jeanne R., San Diego, CA

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Your high ethical standards and unwillingness to compromise those standards are one of your strongest assets. You are not just a writer; you are an exceptional communicator with a higher purpose. There are very few journalists I have known who have your level of passion for excellence. The quality of the end product is always excellent. This will translate to quality for the individual contracting your services. We respect tremendously the work you have done and wish you the best of luck.

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-- Rodrigo B., San Diego, CA (Accepted to Claremont McKenna College, fall 2009)

*****

CES charges $500 for the complete service -- from idea to finished essay. This includes up to six hours of consulting.

For students who need fewer services and prefer not to buy the complete package, CES charges $100 per hour.

Whether with the package or the hourly rate, CES provides assistance for all essays -- the Common Application, the University of California application, and all individualized supplements required by many universities. The supplemental applications may include additional long essays, as well as shorter, one-paragraph essays.