Essay Specialist

Omar Zakaria

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Meet Omar

Omar knows good writing.

Omar Zakaria holds a degree in English with a focus on Creative Writing from Yale University. In college, he dedicated himself to understanding the craft of compelling writing. Throughout his academic career, he aimed to make his writing clear, succinct, and relevant to whoever was reading it.

One particular experience turbo-charged his passion for teaching writing. He worked at the non-profit organization New Haven Reads, which helps middle and high school students whose reading skills are below grade level to improve their reading and writing skills. There, he honed his ability to help students find their voice and improve their prose, regardless of where they were in their development as writers.

Omar believes reading is the best way to understand how to write and develop a personal and distinctive writer’s voice. Even the same story transforms depending on who is telling it and how they tell it. It pays to study the masters; Omar’s favorite essayists are George Orwell, David Sedaris, Zadie Smith, and Michel de Montaigne. He likes to recommend short essays to his students by someone who has grappled with the same questions or problems they do, which helps students identify meaningful themes and refine their tone. He also champions the principle of “show, don’t tell.” This guideline has encouraged his students to write engaging, honest narratives, in which every sentence is so good that it is hard not to read the next one.

Currently residing in New York City, Omar works in the film and television industry, writing and developing screenplays. His hobbies include tennis, baking, rock climbing, and adventures of all kinds.

Omar Zakaria

Omar Zakaria

Essay Specialist

Omar is a Member Of:

National Association for College Admission Counseling

Experience Working With Omar

I have no regrets when it comes to my college admissions process with the above-and-beyond help of Kim Heffernan[read more]2025-04-30T14:42:07-04:00

I have no regrets when it comes to my college admissions process with the above-and-beyond help of Kim Heffernan. From the start, she was bubbly, motivating, and reassuring. I always looked forward to our meetings! She set me up with an amazing essay specialist, Omar Zakaria, who always supported my crazy ideas and celebrated even the smallest achievements. I was given plenty of wonderful resources throughout the process, including a resume builder and a sports recruiter specialist. Kim always pushed me to do my best, but she helped me balance my school and extracurriculars. I always felt like she was helping me to become the best I could be, while staying true to myself and my interests. The feedback I was given made my experience very smooth, and I felt like I could speak my mind. I am eternally grateful to Kim and Omar, and I am so excited for college!

~ Walt Whitman High School Student ’25

Embrace your journey

Learn about our experience and great results.

Embrace your journey

Learn about our experience and great results.

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