“The college essay is the hardest part of the application process,” said New Haven, Conn.-based Pierre Huguet, CEO of H&C Education .

“It’s also one of the most important elements of your application. For many students, it’s difficult to get going, feeling pressured to sum up everything they’ve accomplished, everything they are, in 650 words. So where to begin? And, for many students, it can be just as difficult to conclude — how do you know when you’re done?”