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507: What Colleges Want (Part 7A): Recommendation Letter Crash Course for Students and Families

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

Release Date: 04/09/2024

605: Navigating College Applications with AI: How High School Teachers and Students Use Tools Like ChatGPT show art 605: Navigating College Applications with AI: How High School Teachers and Students Use Tools Like ChatGPT

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

In today’s episode, Ethan is joined by Jennifer Rubin, Senior Researcher at foundry10 and Principal Investigator of the Digital Technologies and Education Lab. Jen is a first generation college graduate and, like Ethan, she didn't have a ton of support navigating the college application and admission process. When Chat GPT was released, she wondered: How were students actually using these tools for the college essay and application process? And how can we make sure AI becomes a tool for equity, not another advantage for students who already have access?  In this conversation, Ethan and...

info_outline 604: Inside the Application (Part 5): How to Decide Which College to Attend with Cassidy, HS Senior show art 604: Inside the Application (Part 5): How to Decide Which College to Attend with Cassidy, HS Senior

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

Hi friends, and welcome back to the podcast! Many of you have been following Cassidy, a current high school senior, as she navigates the college application process. We've walked through her brainstorming exercises, her personal statement writing, and her supplemental essays. And now, at long last, Cassidy has received her college acceptances. Rather than reading the email she sent me, I replied, "Hey, I know you got your acceptances. What if we do a live reveal on the podcast?" So, I genuinely don’t know yet where she's been accepted. Huge shoutout to Cassidy for agreeing to do this live!...

info_outline 603: Leading Through Chaos: 7 Superpowers for Uncertain Times with Angel Pérez show art 603: Leading Through Chaos: 7 Superpowers for Uncertain Times with Angel Pérez

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

Welcome back to the podcast! Ethan is joined today by Angel Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (). Angel has just written a new book on leadership called . It’s written for leaders on college campuses, but the advice he gives is applicable to leaders everywhere, whether you are a college counselor leading in your office, a parent leading in your home, or even a student leading in your school or community. In their conversation, Angel and Ethan discuss: How does Angel define leadership? Why is detachment so important (and how do we do it)? What’s the...

info_outline 602: Roles and Identities Part 2 (for Counselors and Educators): A Framework for Understanding How Your Roles Shape Your Work show art 602: Roles and Identities Part 2 (for Counselors and Educators): A Framework for Understanding How Your Roles Shape Your Work

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

To kick off Season 6, Ethan shares some practical resources based on a new framework he's been exploring.  If you’re a regular listener, you’ll already be familiar with something we call the Roles and Identities List, which is a huge menu of roles (things like “catalyst” and “change-maker” and “party-bringer”) — Ethan has used it as a get-to-know-you exercise with a number of previous guests.  In case you missed it, of this mini-series where Ethan walked through some practical exercises for students and parents based on the Roles and Identities framework.  But...

info_outline 601: Roles and Identities Part 1 (for Students and Parents): A Framework for Exploring Who You’ve Been, Who You Are, and Who You’re Becoming show art 601: Roles and Identities Part 1 (for Students and Parents): A Framework for Exploring Who You’ve Been, Who You Are, and Who You’re Becoming

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

To kick off Season 6, Ethan shares some practical resources based on a new framework he's been exploring.  If you’re a regular listener, you’ll already be familiar with something we call the Roles and Identities List, which is a huge menu of roles (things like “catalyst” and “change-maker” and “party-bringer”) — Ethan has used it as a get-to-know-you exercise with a number of previous guests.  Today’s episode is the first of two where Ethan will dive into a few short, practical exercises for students and parents that can help them figure out things like how...

info_outline 523: Busting College Admission Myths Using Data: Standardized Tests, Rankings, and the Cost of College with Akil Bello show art 523: Busting College Admission Myths Using Data: Standardized Tests, Rankings, and the Cost of College with Akil Bello

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

In today’s episode, Ethan is joined by Akil Bello to talk about standardized tests, rankings, and the cost of college. They dig into some common misconceptions about college including:  Are most colleges returning to requiring standardized testing scores?  Is it too hard to get into college?  Are highly-ranked colleges better?  Is it true that most colleges now cost more than $100,000 per year to attend?  And more!   Akil Bello is an educator, strategist, researcher, policy consultant, and advocate for equitable access to education. For more than 30...

info_outline 522: Storytelling & Identity with Ethan Sawyer (Part 4 Bonus Episode!): On Balancing Identities, Writing as a Journey, and the Mystery of Enoughness show art 522: Storytelling & Identity with Ethan Sawyer (Part 4 Bonus Episode!): On Balancing Identities, Writing as a Journey, and the Mystery of Enoughness

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

In our most recent series on storytelling and identity, Ethan sat down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In this bonus episode, the tables are turned as Ethan is interviewed by CEG Essay Coach, Ali Pineo. In their conversation, Ethan and Ali get into: Ethan’s background and how his identity has evolved over the years The roles Ethan identifies with most: connector, harmonizer, and seeker How Ethan measures success in his personal and professional life His journey from aspiring...

info_outline 521: Storytelling & Identity with Ryan Maldonado (Part 3 of 3): On Code-switching, Photographing Living Rooms, and Growing up Not-Rich in Miami show art 521: Storytelling & Identity with Ryan Maldonado (Part 3 of 3): On Code-switching, Photographing Living Rooms, and Growing up Not-Rich in Miami

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

In this three-part series, Ethan sits down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In Episode 3, Ethan is joined by screenwriter Ryan Maldonado, known for his work on AMC’s Parish, Hulu’s Death and Other Details, Amazon’s Hunters, Chicago PD, FBI, and Grey’s Anatomy. Ryan and Ethan talk about, among other things:  Ryan’s origin story, how he identifies, and how he became a storyteller What Ryan’s writing process is like and what it’s like working on a TV show How Ryan shows...

info_outline 520: Storytelling & Identity w/Whit Anderson (Part 2 of 3): Beating Writer's Block, Writing RomComs and Space Operas, and Female Representation in Hollywood show art 520: Storytelling & Identity w/Whit Anderson (Part 2 of 3): Beating Writer's Block, Writing RomComs and Space Operas, and Female Representation in Hollywood

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

In this three-part series, Ethan sits down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In Episode 2, Ethan is joined by screenwriter Whit Anderson, known for her work on Daredevil, The Twilight Zone, and Ozark.  Whit and Ethan talk about, among other things:  How a life-changing illness inspired one of her screenplays The cultural role that storytellers and screenwriters play Whit’s approach to writing, including the use of visuals and detailed outlines The challenges of working in a...

info_outline 519: Storytelling & Identity with Dave Callaham (Part 1 of 3): What it’s Like Writing Marvel Movies, Asian-American Representation in Hollywood, and Advice on Finding Your Voice show art 519: Storytelling & Identity with Dave Callaham (Part 1 of 3): What it’s Like Writing Marvel Movies, Asian-American Representation in Hollywood, and Advice on Finding Your Voice

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

In this new three-part series, Ethan sits down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In Episode 1, Ethan is joined by screenwriter Dave Callaham, known best for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wonder Woman 1984 and many others. Dave and Ethan discuss, among other things:  When Dave knew he was a storyteller The “armor” that Dave wears (how he presents physically vs. who he is) What the process of writing Shang-Chi was like, especially...

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More Episodes

This week, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) is joined by Ayesha King (Director of College Counseling at the International School of Los Angeles) to talk about letters of recommendation. They get into:

  • What goes into a letter of recommendation? 
  • How are they evaluated by colleges?
  • Who should students consider asking, and how do they ask?
  • What can students and families do to ensure that their letters are the best they can be?
  • What are FERPA rights and why should you waive them?

Ayesha King (she/her) has over twelve years of experience in admissions at the secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels, developing her values of social justice, equity and access. She is currently the Director of College Counseling at the International School of Los Angeles (LILA), a French International school, where she is stretching her skills working with students considering post-secondary options all over the world. She holds her Bachelors degree from the University of Redlands and her Masters degree from California Lutheran University. Ayesha loves spending time with her two boys and two dogs, visiting Disneyland, and talking about pop culture.  

This is the next episode in our series on What Colleges Want. Stay tuned for our upcoming episode about writing letters of recommendation for teachers and counselors. Tom will be joined by Hanah Lim (CEG’s Director of Workshops and a former high school English teacher), where they provide their tips, tricks, and hacks to help you write more efficient and effective letters for your students.

 

Play-by-Play

  • 2:49 - How important are letters of recommendation to admissions officers? 
  • 5:55 - Why might it be called a “Letter of Advocacy” instead?
  • 7:19 - When would a letter of recommendation make a big impact on a student’s application?
  • 13:38 - Should students also share this important context if it’s already in their recommendation letter?
  • 15:35 - How can students determine how many letters to request?
  • 19:49 - What is being said in these letters?
  • 26:38 - Which teachers are typically the best to ask for a recommendation letter?
  • 29:51 - Why should students consider asking a teacher from a class they struggled in?
  • 30:47 - What can students do to help their teachers & counselors write the best letter possible?
  • 36:06 - What information should students share with their recommenders?
  • 39:20 - How should students ask for a letter once they have determined who to ask?
  • 44:41 - Do students ever see their letters of recommendation? 
  • 48:24 - Closing advice for parents & students

 

Resources