College admissions essay coaches have been hanging out shingles since the early 1990s. The business has grown sharply over the past decade thanks to the ease of editing via the Internet and students' desire to gain any possible edge as many colleges have become more selective. The companies, with names like Cambridge Essay Service, EssayEdge, IvyEssays, and With Honors, often play up the elite-college pedigrees of their editors. The growing popularity of the Common Application--which was intended to relieve stress on applicants by allowing them to fill out fewer forms--may inadvertently be prompting more students to seek essay help. Nearly 300 colleges now accept the Common Application, twice as many as a decade ago. Students can choose among five essay topics. Prices for essay help range from $20 for basic proofreading to more than $1,000 for a soup-to-nuts package with brainstorming and multiple edits. Some students say the cost of an essay coach is a small price to pay for reassurance on the part of the application that induces the most anxiety.