Bronco Finish Line

Bronco Finish Line is the Graduate College’s writing assistance program that helps guide graduate students from draft to finished product.

Need help formatting your thesis/dissertation? Schedule an appointment with our formatting specialist today.

Meet our writing coaches!

Need a quick review of your paper? Students can conduct writing appointments via email. Submit your email consultation today.

Tessa Valero, Graduate College, faculty/staff studio portrait by Priscilla Grover

Tessa Valero | Writing Coach

Tessa Valero is a graduate student in the Interdisciplinary Masters, M.A. program studying Embodiment, Healing, and Resistance. Tess earned her B.S. in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Sociology and Gender Studies at BSU in the Fall of 2021. She is passionate about peer-to-peer and community support, and hopes that students feel uplifted and affirmed during their sessions. Tess specializes in research-based writing that weaves lived experience, creativity, and critical analysis. She has experience with assisting students both inside and outside of the classroom. Whether students are looking to improve their writing, hone research skills, or all of the above, Tess is excited to collaborate with all disciplines and backgrounds!

Schedule a Zoom appointment with Tessa

Studio Portraits, Photo by Hue Herrick

David Schwartz | Writing Coach

David Schwartz is a second-year Masters of Arts student in English Literature at BSU. He obtained his B.A. in English Literature at BSU in the Spring of 2020. Following this Master’s program, he intends to pursue a Master’s in Secondary Education and later a Ph.D in English. He specializes in textual analysis and research-based writing. He has experience in working with high school English students and private tutoring amongst friends.

Schedule a Zoom appointment with David

Studio Portrait, Aly Sebright, Photo by Hue Herrick

Aly Sebright | Writing Coach

Aly is a second-year Master’s student currently studying English Literature. Graduating from Boise State in the Spring of 2020 with her B.A. in English Literature, Aly is passionate about working with students to not only improve their writing, but to help them recognize the power of their own voices. With experience working in the Boise State Writing Center for three years, Aly specifies in working on literary/film analysis, research-based writing, and writing in the areas of personal statements/scholarship and admittance essays.

Schedule a Zoom appointment with Aly

Specialized Writing Help

Bronco Finish Line is Boise State Graduate College’s writing assistance program designed specifically for graduate students. Whether you would like to brainstorm an idea for a project, or you have a final draft that needs polishing, our writing coaches can help with any step of the writing process.

Our goal at Bronco Finish Line it to improve both the writing and the writer. Therefore, we ask questions that help the writer expand or clarify an idea and identify patterns of style errors, teaching the writer how to recognize and correct their work on current and future projects.

With guidance from our coaches, student writing sessions will enable the writer to move from draft to finished product with confidence.

Student Success Stories

Kole Dawson

Former Finish Line Student

The Graduate Success Center has been a lifesaver for me. The writing coaches are extremely friendly, professional, and committed to helping each graduate student succeed in their writing. I have learned valuable tools and without them I would not have been able to succeed in my first semester of graduate school. I highly recommend stopping by and working with the writing team. They will do everything in their power to help students succeed.

Michelle Earwicker

Former Finish Line Student

Julia Broderick

Former Finish Line Student

The Graduate Student Success team supported me through my thesis and gave me a sense of community in the Graduate College. Writing is a process, and this department was there for me through the painful APA process, revising sentence structures, and helping build confidence. Additionally, they are the kindest people on the planet. I worked both on campus and off during my graduate experience, and The Graduate Student Success Team was flexible with my schedule, available by email, and helped me with time management as I revised my final thesis. The team I had the honor of knowing at The Graduate Student Success Department were a highlight of my graduate experience.

Jennilee Overocker

Former Finish Line Student

I received my Master’s of Education: Curriculum, Instruction & Foundational Studies at Boise State University in 2018. During the second year as a graduate student, I visited the Bronco Finish Line in the Graduate College to receive writing assistance for nearly every academic and research assignment. Every session felt as if it were my first because I was treated with the same patience and quality assistance each time. I value what I have gained in grammatical knowledge and writing skills. I would recommend this service to every graduate student encountering a major writing project.

Sarah Lausch

Former Finish Line Student

Writing your master thesis is hard work and exhausting, to say the least. Track changes and comments from your committee quickly become your everyday life, but when you finally set the last dot it is the best feeling ever! The Graduate Student Success Center was a life saver for me during this stressful time. I was always welcomed with smiles, encouragement, and a lot of advice. Not just did my thesis turn out successful, but I learned so much about academic writing and always had a good feeling when I left the office. I am already looking forward to future sessions to work on my dissertation!