Every writing instructor and college advisor at Ellipsis was selected for the depth of their own experience, as well as their demonstrated ability to uplift students on the creative writing or college advising journeys.
Between them, our creative writing instructors have received Pushcart Prizes and a number of the most selective creative writing publications and fellowships in the industry today. They've studied (and subsequently taught) writing at the world's top universities, including Harvard, UPenn, Columbia, Vanderbilt, and beyond.
Our college advisors first attended top Ivy League and Ivy+ institutions. Now, they work to unlock similar results for students eager to forge successful paths to the world's top institutions.
Scroll down for our full roster of creative writing instructors and college advisors for the 2026-2027 academic year.
On Ellips's impact
When I look back at my past five years working with Ellipsis, I realize how much Peter and other wonderful Ellipsis mentors have poured into my writing career and shaped me into who I am today. Being recognized by Scholastic National, YoungArts, and many amazing literary journals, getting into my dream college, the list goes on.
How we reach authenticity
My advisor helped me see which stories were most powerful and resonant, refine my writing with precision, and amplify the emotional honesty that made my essays truly authentic.
How we build relationships
Peter has been a great adviser and writing coach. He is supportive and encouraging, yet blunt in the best possible way. That honestly is extremely valuable when most mentors sugarcoat the truth.
From a Parent
Through Ellipsis, my daughter Kaviya discovered her voice and even received the incredible opportunity to represent our city of Houston as Youth Poet Laureate. Ellipsis has given her creative life—both on and beyond the page—true purpose and direction.
From a Parent
Peter was there for us every step of the way — even during last-minute college essay crunches, jumping in to help no matter how late it was. It has been amazing to watch my daughter grow, find her voice, and achieve her dreams. We cannot thank Ellipsis enough.
Our Approach
Ellipsis's creative writing instruction and college advising tracks run on personalized, one-on-one mentorship. Through strategic narrative construction and attention to every draft, we empower Ellipsis students to tell stories only they can tell.
01
Whether you're pursuing creative writing instruction or college advising (or both!), we focus on teaching the mechanics of storytelling. Each cycle, our students reach for the stars — and, through strong writing and thoughtful consideration of audience, land among them.
02
While other advising firms rely on rigid rotations or packages, we strive to offer support precisely where you need it. Students can use session hours flexibly between instructors, across genres, and according to their precise goals. Every student gets mentorship shaped around their journey and goals, even as they evolve.
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Beyond simply cultivating writing skill, storytelling ability, or admissions awareness, our instructors and advisors have lived this work. Our writing instructors have studied and taught at top colleges and graduate programs, while our advisors have read and analyzed thousands of college essays. We're ready to help you succeed.
Getting Started
No portfolio to assemble before you can build a portfolio. Just a conversation, a plan, and a way to begin.
Step 01
A no-pressure call to talk through where you are as a writer, what you're working on, and what you're hoping to accomplish — whether that's a contest portfolio, a publication goal, or a long-term writing practice.
Schedule a call →Step 02
During the consultation, we'll talk through which of our instructors are the best fit for your genre, goals, and timeline — and whether splitting time across multiple specialists makes sense for you.
Meet the team ↑Step 03
Pick a starting bundle that fits your scope and schedule. Hours are flexible — usable across instructors, across genres, and synchronously or asynchronously, however serves you best.
See packages ↓Every Ellipsis engagement starts with a session bundle — a set of hours you can spend on synchronous meetings, asynchronous draft review, or any mix of the two.
Hours are fully flexible. Bundles auto-convert across instructors with no conversion fees (only differences in hourly rates apply), and they auto-convert between Creative Writing and College Advising for students pursuing both. One bundle, one balance — no rebooking, no repurchasing.
Ideal for: Student writers seeking targeted support on specific projects, goals, or contest submissions.
What's included: Five hours of personalized tutoring, usable for synchronous meetings or asynchronous feedback.
You can expect: Focused assistance on tasks such as revising a set of poems, preparing a contest submission, or working through a particular writing challenge. A flexible starting point for students who need expert guidance on a specific aspect of their writing.
Ideal for: Students aiming for deeper support across multiple projects or goals.
What's included: Ten hours of individualized tutoring, adaptable for synchronous meetings or detailed asynchronous feedback.
You can expect: Enough runway to revise a cohesive portfolio, strategize for upcoming contests, and refine submission materials for publications — with any remaining space devoted to dive deeper into craft, explore new creative directions, and polish work with intention.
Ideal for: Students seeking holistic, long-form support throughout their writing development.
What's included: Twenty hours of comprehensive tutoring with a member of our creative writing team, suitable for meetings and detailed feedback.
You can expect: Close mentorship across multiple genres and/or through a season of writing contests and publication deadlines. Optional focus areas include drafting and revising new work, strengthening craft foundations, preparing contest submissions, strategizing publication goals, and workshopping creative portfolios.
Ideal for: Students seeking transformational, personalized mentorship from Ellipsis founder Peter LaBerge.
What's included: Twenty hours of one-on-one creative writing tutoring exclusively with Peter, billed at the founder tier and usable (or renewable) across your full writing journey.
You can expect: Expertise in developing a standout portfolio, strategic planning for contest submissions, and meticulous editing — with informative craft lessons along the way. You'll benefit from Peter's experience as editor-in-chief of The Adroit Journal for the past sixteen years, as well as a Scholastic Awards Regional Judge in both poetry and prose for over a decade.
Ideal for: Students committed to a comprehensive, long-term writing development strategy spanning craft, collection-building, publication and contest recognition.
What's included: Fifty hours of personalized tutoring with an Ellipsis creative writing instructor, plus priority scheduling during peak periods and priority access to Peter's schedule.
You can expect: In-depth, long-term support across all stages of writing — drafting, revising, and preparing for contests and publications — with continuous, well-paced attention to every facet of creative and artistic growth.
Ideal for: Students seeking elite-level mentorship with maximum personalized attention over one or more years of instruction.
What's included: Fifty hours of one-on-one tutoring with Peter, plus priority access to additional sessions during high-demand periods.
You can expect: An immersive partnership with direct mentorship from Peter, designed to craft a writing portfolio that authentically represents the student's voice and aspirations. You'll benefit from Peter's experience as editor-in-chief of The Adroit Journal for the past sixteen years, as well as a Scholastic Awards Regional Judge in both poetry and prose for over a decade.
Ideal for: Students seeking targeted support on specific application components.
What's included: Five hours of personalized advising, usable for synchronous meetings or asynchronous essay reviews.
You can expect: Focused assistance on specific tasks (for instance, refining an existing Common App personal statement draft, strategizing for a particular group of supplements, or polishing the Common App honors section and activities list). A flexible, low-commitment option for students who need expert guidance on particular aspects of their application.
Ideal for: Students taking on a meaningful slice of the application — multiple essays, school-list refinement, or a focused supplement strategy.
What's included: Ten hours of personalized advising, flexible between synchronous meetings and asynchronous review.
You can expect: Enough runway to develop a Common App essay through multiple drafts or to tackle two or three supplements, stepping back periodically for higher-level strategic discussions.
Ideal for: Students seeking guidance through multiple high-stakes stages of the college process — from building a balanced school list and establishing a college-facing narrative to bringing the Common App Personal Statement from idea to polished draft.
What's included: Twenty hours of personalized advising, usable (or renewable) across the full admissions arc.
You can expect: A sustained working relationship through at least a significant portion of the application season, with room for revision, contingency, and the strategic conversations that meaningfully sharpen a candidacy.
Ideal for: Students seeking guidance through multiple high-stakes stages of the college process — from building a balanced school list and establishing a college-facing narrative to bringing the Common App Personal Statement from idea to polished draft.
What's included: Twenty hours of one-on-one advising with Peter himself, billed at the founder tier and usable (or renewable) across the full admissions arc.
You can expect: An intensive partnership with the same advisor whose top-quartile students have, for the third year running, all gained admission to top 20 universities.
Ideal for: Students starting the process early — typically sophomores or juniors — who want comprehensive support across leading up to (and including) the college process. Also ideal for students who know they'll want to work closely with an Ellipsis advisor on every step of the college advising process.
What's included: Fifty hours of personalized advising, with the longest runway we offer outside the founder tier.
You can expect: Long-arc strategic guidance: school-list construction, summer program planning, internship and editorial-experience advising, and the full application cycle when it arrives.
Ideal for: Families committing to long-form, high-touch partnership with Peter, often from early in the high school years through application submission.
What's included: Fifty hours of one-on-one advising with Peter, billed at the founder tier and usable (or renewable) across the full admissions arc.
You can expect: Long-arc strategic guidance from the same advisor whose top-quartile students have, for the third year running, all gained admission to top 20 universities. Level 4+ students often receive in-depth, tailored advising across school-list construction, summer program planning, internship and editorial-experience advising, and the full application cycle when it arrives.
Ever wished you had a direct line to the professional literary world? With The Teen Writer, a free occasional newsletter organized by Ellipsis founder Peter LaBerge, you'll find worthwhile creative writing submission and applications opportunities, and even a writing prompt or two. Sign up below to get (teen) writing!
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