Begin the arc with intention, pursue education with purpose.

The Arc Project is a highly personalized college counseling service that supports students not only in gaining admission to the schools they aspire to, but in discovering a deeper sense of purpose. Our work begins with helping students articulate who they are and what matters to them—so that the arc of their journey, both academic and personal, has a clear and compelling trajectory. Each student receives close attention, rigorous feedback, and holistic mentorship. The beginning of the arc is inward: clarifying values, voice, and motivation. From there, we help shape strong applications that reflect not just achievement but intention. The goal is not simply to gain admission, but to enter college prepared to pursue a life of meaning, integrity, and purpose.

Services

For many families, the college admissions process has become not only high-stakes, but increasingly opaque. As acceptance rates at selective institutions continue to fall, students are asked to present themselves with clarity, coherence, and maturity—often before they fully understand who they are or where they want to go. In this landscape, strong guidance is not optional; it’s essential. At The Arc Project, I work closely with a limited number of students each year, providing one-on-one mentorship that is strategic, intensive, and highly individualized. Together, we navigate every element of the application process—from school list curation and essay development to interview preparation and extracurricular positioning—with precision and purpose.

Each engagement begins with a strategy session that assesses not just where the student is academically, but how their personal and intellectual story fits into the broader arc of their growth. From there, we work to uncover what is most distinctive about them: their values, experiences, motivations, and direction. This process is both rigorous and reflective. The goal is not simply to help students “stand out,” but to ensure that what sets them apart is deeply authentic—shaped through careful inquiry and expressed with clarity. The result is an application that is not only competitive, but grounded in a sense of purpose that resonates beyond admissions.

The Arc Project is built on the belief that a strong application is a byproduct of self-knowledge. When students understand where they’ve been and where they want to go, they don’t just present themselves more effectively—they arrive at college better prepared to engage, contribute, and thrive. This work is not about performance. It’s about preparation—for college and for everything that follows.

To inquire about availability or schedule an introductory conversation, please feel free to reach out or book a consultation.

  • From choosing schools to building timelines and crafting strategy, I help students approach the process with confidence and clarity. This includes guidance on early vs. regular decision, school list development, recommendation letters, and application organization. The goal is to reduce overwhelm and stay focused on what matters.

  • College essays are not a writing exercise—they’re a self-inquiry. I guide students through a structured yet personal writing process that includes brainstorming, outlining, and iterative feedback. My approach helps students find the center of their story, develop a clear structure, and revise for strength and authenticity. Includes support for the Common App essay, supplemental essays, and school-specific prompts.

  • We have to explore who we are before deciding where to go. At the heart of my work is a mentorship model: one-on-one conversations that make space for reflection, purpose-finding, and direction-setting. Through regular meetings and guided exercises, students learn to articulate what drives them—and how to translate that into a compelling story for admissions, and for life.

  • Selective scholarships and honors programs often ask for more—more intention, more clarity, and more voice. I work with students to approach these applications with strategy and depth, from understanding selection criteria to developing standout essays and preparing for interviews. Whether applying for university honors programs, national merit scholarships, or private awards, we’ll craft materials that reflect not only academic strength, but authentic purpose.

  • The traditional timeline isn’t right for everyone. Whether you’re considering a gap year, service program, or alternative learning experience, I offer mentorship to help students reflect deeply, plan intentionally, and move forward with clarity. Our work may include personal exploration, opportunity research, and narrative development—so that every choice feels grounded, not off-track. This is about ownership of your journey, not deviation from it.

“The process helped my daughter align her application with something more meaningful: her own values, voice, and direction. She didn’t just get into college. She understood why she was going. That made all the difference.”
—Parent of Maya R., Stanford Class of 2027

“What stood out to me was how personal the process became. Jack helped my son figure out what he cared about and how to express that without sounding like anyone else. By the time he submitted his application to Williams, it felt like it truly belonged to him.”
—Parent of Noah T., Williams College Class of 2026

“Jack helped our son slow down and think deeply about what mattered to him. The writing process became a space for reflection, not just performance. That mindset helped him feel more grounded and ultimately made his application to Michigan far stronger.”
—Parent of Aiden J., University of Michigan Class of 2025

AI Statement

In an era when artificial intelligence can draft essays, mimic a student’s voice, and generate application responses in seconds, it’s easy to believe that the college admissions process can be outsourced. Headlines have only reinforced this illusion, portraying AI as capable of replacing even the most personal aspects of a student’s application. At The Arc Project, we work from a different premise. Your values, your sense of direction, your reasons for applying—all of these elements cannot be synthesized by an algorithm. They must be unearthed through time, reflection, and honest dialogue with someone who listens closely and knows how to guide.

At the same time, admissions committees have become increasingly attuned to the use of AI in applications. As generic, overly polished essays grow easier to produce, reviewers are looking for something harder to fake: real voice, real thought, and most importantly, a clear sense of purpose. Ironically, the spread of AI has made authenticity more valuable than ever. Students who can articulate who they are—clearly, thoughtfully, and with conviction—distinguish themselves. Self-discovery, then, is not only personally meaningful, but has become the most potent competitive advantage.

AI can organize ideas or tidy up grammar, but it cannot do the inner work that gives an application depth, coherence, and conviction. That is where The Arc Project begins. Through close mentorship and intentional inquiry, we help students identify what matters most, and teach them how express it with clarity and integrity. The arc of one’s life is not something to be generated, but discovered through skilled mentorship and the discipline that it can help instill.

About

Jack Brookes is a writer, educator, and college admissions mentor with over eight years of experience supporting students through undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral applications. He has helped students gain admission to top liberal arts colleges, state universities, and Ivy League institutions by combining strategic insight with a deep commitment to clarity, self-knowledge, and authentic expression.

Jack holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Comparative Literature from St. John’s College and earned his M.A. from Harvard University. During his time at Harvard, he worked in a range of educational capacities—as a teaching fellow, writing tutor, and mentor to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Before graduate school, Jack spent several years immersed in Zen Buddhist monastic training, where he studied and practiced the arts of reflection and focused inquiry. That training continues to inform his approach to mentorship: patient, attentive, and attuned to the inner work that strong writing and meaningful direction both require.

At The Arc Project, Jack offers highly individualized mentorship designed not only to build strong applications, but to support students in articulating who they are and what matters to them. Through a close, collaborative process—brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and refining—he helps students craft essays that are not only persuasive but powerful. Sessions begin each spring and continue through the college application season.

Let’s Begin the Conversation

Whether you’re a student preparing for college, a parent seeking thoughtful guidance, or someone looking for clarity in the application process, I’d love to connect. I work with a limited number of students each year to ensure close attention and meaningful mentorship. Please message to set up a free consultation.