Why us?

Founder and Coach

Brough (pronounced “Bruff”) Hansen is a filmmaker and award-winning screenwriter with 20+ years of experience crafting powerful stories that connect. For nearly a decade, he’s brought that same storytelling expertise to the college admissions space—first as an editor and coach for a top New York consulting firm, and since 2020 as founder of Gunning Essay Coaching.

Brough helps students uncover their most transformative life moments, find the confidence to tell those stories in their own authentic voice, and apply professional narrative techniques that make essays stand out in the most competitive applicant pools. His process is grounded in empathy, curiosity, and the belief that the best essays reveal not just what you’ve achieved, but who you are.

Brough named the company Gunning in honor of his late grandmother’s maiden name—a woman who lived by the principle of leading with your heart.

BA, Dartmouth. MFA, Brown.

Other Essay Coaches...

... fixate on the superficial—perfect grammar, fancy vocab, and bragging about achievements—relying on safe, formulaic essay structures and “polishing” the draft until it sounds generic and sanitized.

... overlook the student’s authentic voice and personal story; they may shy away from vulnerability or unconventional topics (or humor!), resulting in essays that don’t truly reveal the student.

... limit support to a few sessions, rushing the process and leaving a student’s real story underdeveloped.

We Flip the Script

At Gunning Essay Coaching, we prioritizing authenticity and emotional impact over formula. Instead of avoiding difficult topics, we encourage students to embrace honesty—even discussing failures or doubts—because it's those real, introspective moments that really resonate with admissions.

We use storytelling techniques from theater, film and literature to help students craft truly unique narratives (not cookie-cutter essays). And unlike others, we offer unlimited coaching sessions, giving each student all the time and guidance needed to find their voice and make their essay shine.

High Quality, Fair Prices

Many private coaches charge significantly more (often double our rates) and still offer only basic editing or limited support. We do things differently—providing an immersive, personalized coaching experience at a fair price. Here’s what sets us apart:

Unlimited One-on-One Support

Work with your coach as much as you need, for one flat rate. There’s no cap on calls, video sessions, emails, or draft reviews. We’ll be there every step of the way until your essay is the best it can be.

Storytelling Expertise

We use a professional-writing approach to craft your narrative, building your authentic voice and emotional truth into an engaging story structure that stays with admissions readers.

Proven Results

Our students have gained acceptance to Ivy League schools as well as top 20 National Universities and Liberal Arts Colleges. Our approach honors the student and impresses admissions.

Transparent, Competetive Pricing

You’ll always know the cost upfront and it’s half of what competitors charge. We never tack on fees or extras. What you see is what you pay, and we'll support you until you’re satisfied with the result.

Book Your Free Consultation

We'll give you tips, read a draft, or begin our collaboration. Wherever you are in the process, book now to find out how we can support your application journey.