Jay Frisby

Meet Jay

“Tell me about yourself…” This seemingly innocuous directive can evoke an immense and immediate sense of dread among students and parents alike. The college essay is often unlike any writing assignment students have encountered in the past, and many students are unsure of how to even begin. Writing about one’s self can be a vulnerable, uncomfortable, and challenging prospect. By breaking this process down into manageable steps, Jay Frisby aims to empower students to reframe a potentially daunting essay assignment into a rewarding process of self reflection and discovery. Jay wants every student to walk away from this process with a true sense of pride in their own life story. In essay and interview work, Jay provides students with the tools and support to craft a narrative that not only touches on the universe within their specific history, but also leaves students with a story that they feel accurately and compellingly reflects their passions as well as their unique journeys in life.

Jay believes that everyone has a compelling story, but that one’s concept of self can sometimes be a roadblock in this process. What might appear as a mundane fact or event may, in reality, contain the seeds and beginnings of a dynamic and captivating essay. Jay’s goal is to help students to sift through these fragments and embers of ideas to refine them into a story that clearly and effectively illuminates the inner world and individual passions of each student.

Education & Experience

Jay Frisby received a degree in Theatre Studies from Yale and is a storyteller by trade, having performed as an actor on stages around the world and across the United States. After his time working at Yale College Undergraduate Admissions, Jay has continued to work with students on college essays and test preparation as a personal tutor for more than fifteen years in both Manhattan and Washington, DC. Jay continues to perform at theaters around the DC area, and in his free time, he can typically be found engrossed in all things Manchester City Football Club related.