An 8-week program that combines AI-powered self-discovery with expert coaching and peer support to help students write authentic, compelling college essays that admissions officers actually remember.
Limited to 8 students per cohort
"Admissions officers can spot consultant-written essays from a mile away. What they can't ignore is genuine authenticity."
— Gina Lanette, UCLA
University of Chicago
Amelie brings deep expertise in youth development and educational equity. As an analyst at BlackRock and former outreach director for WYSE, she understands both the business of education and the human side of mentorship. A passionate writer with a background in economics and gender studies, she ensures The You Lab balances rigor with authentic student voice.
"The most powerful essays don't announce their themes—they reveal them through specific moments. When a student writes 'I learned the importance of perseverance,' I ask them to show me the exact moment their hands trembled, the specific words that changed everything. That's where authentic voice lives: in the details only they could know."
University of California, Berkeley
Ariav is the technical architect behind The You Lab's AI platform and a passionate essay and admissions coach. A proud transfer student from Laney College, he understands firsthand the college application journey. As Technical Product Lead at Rescope, he's built systems that enhance rather than replace the writing process—because at heart, he's a writer who loves helping students find their stories.
"I used to think good writing meant using big words and complex sentences. Then I transferred from community college and realized: the best essays sound like you're talking to a friend who really gets you. Technology should help you find that voice, not create a new one. That's why I built our AI to ask questions, not write answers."
San Francisco State University
Genee is a licensed marriage and family therapist and self-proclaimed AI skeptic who brings decades of experience helping people discover their authentic voices through writing. Her psychology-first approach keeps The You Lab grounded—ensuring technology serves genuine self-reflection, not shortcuts. Above all, she's a passionate advocate for the power of storytelling to transform lives.
"In thirty years of therapy, I've learned that people don't need someone to tell them who they are—they need someone to help them remember. Writing is the same. The story is already inside each student; our job is simply to create space for it to emerge. That's not something AI can do alone, but it's something AI can help us do better."
Personality assessment, voice discovery, core narrative
Drafting, peer feedback, refinement
Final essays, supplementals, cohesive package
~1-2 hours/week
90 mins/week
24/7 access
Value comparison: Traditional 1-on-1 essay consultants: $3,500-8,000. Generic group programs: $800-1,500. The You Lab: Premium personalization at group program efficiency.
Our curriculum combines proven essay coaching techniques with breakthrough AI personalization, developed by experienced college admissions experts.
The program helped my son find his authentic voice. His essays went from generic to genuinely compelling. More importantly, he grew as a person through the self-discovery process.
"I have always been passionate about helping others. Throughout my life, I have volunteered at many organizations and learned valuable lessons about leadership..."
"The woman's hands shook as I helped her fill out the asylum application. I didn't have a translator, so I drew pictures. That's when I realized communication isn't about perfect words..."
Absolutely not. The AI is a tool for self-discovery, not a ghostwriter. Students do all the writing themselves. The AI asks personalized questions, helps students reflect on their experiences, and provides feedback on their drafts. The student drives the entire process.
ChatGPT is a general-purpose tool. Our AI is specifically trained on our proprietary curriculum, understands each student's personality profile, and follows a structured 8-week journey designed by essay experts. Plus, students get human coaching and peer feedback that ChatGPT can't provide.
We offer 1-on-1 coaching sessions at $200/hour that can be booked as needed throughout the program. Students can work directly with their group coach for additional support on specific essays or challenges.
The ideal time is junior spring or senior summer. This gives students enough time to complete the program before application deadlines while the college process is fresh in their minds.
We use Gallup StrengthsFinder as our primary assessment, supplemented with proprietary components we've developed specifically for college essay writing. This combination gives us a comprehensive understanding of each student's unique voice and perspective.
Maximum 8 students per cohort. This ensures everyone gets meaningful individual attention during group sessions while benefiting from diverse peer perspectives.
No - this is your student's journey. The cohort sessions are student-only to create a safe space for authentic sharing. However, we provide regular updates to parents on progress and milestones.
All sessions are recorded and available within 24 hours. We also offer make-up options for students who need to miss sessions due to conflicts or emergencies.
Download: "5 Signs Your Essay Sounds Like Everyone Else's"
Questions? Email us at hello@youlab.io