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

Practical, up-to-date interviews with experts in college admissions, financial aid, personal statements, test prep and more. Ethan Sawyer (aka College Essay Guy), interviews deans of admission, financial aid experts, and veterans of the admissions field to extract, then distill their advice into practical steps for students and those guiding them through the process. From creating an awesome college list to appealing a financial aid letter, Ethan skips the general advice and gets right to the action items, all in an effort to bring more ease, joy and purpose into the college admissions process.

715: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 12: The Translator) with Lavon Robinson 08/04/2026

715: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 12: The Translator) with Lavon Robinson Hi, friends, and welcome back to our series, “On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling.” I’m Tom Campbell, former Pomona and Holy Cross admissions officer, and one of the CEG podcast co-hosts, alongside my lovely colleagues Tillie and Ethan. In this series, we take a close look at personal essays written by real students, talking about why we love them, what makes them work, and how they came to be. In this episode, we break down an essay that we’re calling The Translator. This student, who worked with one of our amazing essay coaches Lavon Robinson a few years back, wanted to share how he acted as a translator not just for his brother on the autism spectrum, but for other neurodivergent students in his school and wider community. It’s a model for anyone who wants to write an essay about a relationship that’s been particularly meaningful to them, but is nervous about making the essay too much about the other person. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys seeing how things get made, whether it’s a great meal, a film scene, or a piece of writing, I have a feeling you might enjoy this one. Lavon (he/him) has always been a coach. From managing fundraising campaigns, teaching swimming, and school counseling, Lavon finds joy in coaching others to find their joy. He earned his BA in Business from Illinois Wesleyan University and his M.ED from DePaul University. He also has a College Counseling Certificate from UCSD. He currently works as a school counselor at an independent school in Chicago after spending eight years as a college counselor at a large suburban high school. He has hosted webinars with 500+ families on how to best work with their school counselor and visited various colleges around the country for professional development. His students have been accepted to colleges including Northwestern University, the University of Southern California, Williams College, and the University of Florida. At the core of his work is building connections with unconditional positive regard as he works with students to build trust and reach their potential. He understands the college admissions process is stressful and takes the most joy in supporting students to relieve anxiety while going through the process. We hope you enjoy. Play-by-Play 3:15 – Lavon shares his path from school counseling to becoming a CEG essay coach 6:52 – What kinds of students does Lavon tend to be matched with as a CEG essay coach? 9:29 – How does Lavon use CEG's brainstorming exercises to help students reflect, even outside of essay coaching? 10:49 – What has surprised Lavon most about being an essay coach, and how has his perspective grown? 13:01 – Do college essays need a title? 14:06 – Lavon introduces the student behind "The Translator," and how he arrived at CEG already deep into drafts about his brother 18:41 – How many drafts did it take to find the right balance between the brother and the student himself? 21:16 – Which brainstorming exercises helped unlock the "translator" theme? 27:01 – How does Lavon connect a student's roles and identities to CEG's admission nutrients? 31:30 – Lavon reads the essay, which we’re calling “The Translator” 36:27 – Which admission nutrients show up throughout the essay? 38:26 – What works well in this student’s opening paragraph? 45:13 – How did Lavon help the student build more vulnerability into each draft? 46:13 – How does bringing in his own emotional experience keep the essay focused on the student, even while writing about his brother? 47:52 – How can students write about their extracurriculars without over-explaining them? 53:00 – How did Lavon coach the student to write about his research in an accessible way? 54:11 – What does it mean to be "strategically general" in a college essay? 59:48 – How does closing turn the essay's focus back to the student himself? 1:04:53 – Why small, specific details are what take an essay from good to great 1:05:59 – Closing thoughts Resources “” Essay /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/42299400

714: A Live Essay and Application Review with Anna, HS Senior 07/21/2026

714: A Live Essay and Application Review with Anna, HS Senior Hi friends, and welcome back to the podcast. Today's episode is a special behind-the-scenes look at a live application review I did with Anna, a high school senior I met last year. We recorded this about ten days before her early deadlines, and she was kind enough to let me walk through her entire application in real time: her personal statement, her activities list, and all of her supplemental essays for Yale. Fun fact: Anna emailed me a couple months later to let me know she actually got into Yale (congrats again, Anna!). In this episode, we get into: What it was like for Anna to pivot away from a topic that wasn't serving her (ten drafts about her favorite socks, which started to sound like a list) Her pivot to a new topic: Trivial Pursuit, a board game that's close to my heart A live read-through of her final personal statement, which touches on family, curiosity, and community How applying test-optional led her to sprinkle a few more high-level academic moments into her writing Her supplemental essays for Yale, including her "why us" essay and an academic prompt essay Anna is a recent high school graduate who loves cooking, sustainable agriculture, and spending time in nature. When she's not cross-country skiing with her school team, she's mentoring friends in the library or volunteering at her local synagogue. Whether you're a student navigating this process right now, or a parent or counselor supporting students from the sidelines, I hope you find this useful. Hope you enjoy our conversation. Play-by-Play: 1:58 – Ten days from her early deadlines, how is Anna feeling? 2:33 – When did Anna start working on her essays, and how much time has she put in? 3:35 – What has Anna learned about herself through this process? 4:26 – Anna walks through her journey to finding a personal statement topic 8:10 – Anna reads her personal statement 12:35 – What values are coming through in Anna's personal statement? 14:26 – What questions does Anna have about her essay? 19:23 – Ethan reviews Anna's activities list and additional information section 21:33 – Anna reads her "Why Yale" essay 23:14 – What academic opportunities and programs excite Anna about Yale? 29:06 – Anna reads her “Why Major” essay 31:25 – How can Anna weave more specific, "geeky" language into her soil health essay? 38:48 – The short takes: four 200-character response 38:48 – What inspires you? 42:28 – A course, book, or piece of art you'd create 47:14 – A significant influence outside your family 48:56 – Something not included elsewhere in your application 56:44 – Anna reads her community essay 1:02:35 – How Anna might sharpen the essay with a couple more specific details? 1:04:41 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/42105825

713: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Storytelling (Ep 10: The Stomach Whisperer) with Tillie Gottlieb 07/07/2026

713: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Storytelling (Ep 10: The Stomach Whisperer) with Tillie Gottlieb Hi, friends, and welcome back to our series, “On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling.” In this series, we take a close look at personal essays written by real students, talking about why we love them, what makes them work, and how they came to be. In this episode, we break down an essay called "The Stomach Whisperer" about a student who used to lie on her grandmother's stomach and wonder if the echoing gurgle I’d just heard was caused by the molasses or by the cinnamon. I'm joined today by Tillie Gottlieb, a former admission officer turned Director of College Counseling who I’m so happy to say now works with me full-time at College Essay Guy. In this episode (thanks to Tillie’s background), we get to analyze a personal statement through three different lenses: admission officer, college counselor, and lover of creative non-fiction. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys seeing how things get made, whether it’s a great meal, a film scene, or a piece of writing, I have a feeling you might enjoy this one. Tillie Gottlieb is an educator and creative producer with fifteen years of experience in the world of higher education admissions and counseling. After earning her Bachelor’s from Whitman College and her Master’s in Education from Middlebury, Tillie navigated the complexities of college admissions from both sides of the desk—serving as a Director of College Counseling, a reader for USC, and overseas as an independent educational consultant. She is also a filmmaker and performer who has spent a career at the intersection of systems-level thinking, centering equity, and storytelling. At CEG, she translates her background into leading webinars and workshops, sharing free content on our social media channels, and serves as a senior college counselor, helping students turn their values and lived experiences into something people can actually feel. Enjoy. Play-by-Play: 2:09 – When Tillie looks at a college essay, what are some of the lenses that she looks through? 5:07 – Tillie shares context on the essay and what she loves about it 5:43 – Tillie reads the essay we’re calling, The Stomach Whisperer 9:40 – What stands out from the lens of an admission officer? 11:50 – What works well in the opening paragraph? 16:49 – How does the writer use descriptive language to show various personal qualities? 18:11 – How can students use “geeky language” to express their intellectual curiosity? 23:18 – What techniques does the writer use to subtly weave in a challenge as they gain confidence in their choice of major? 27:29 – How can students stand out using a more common topic such as an internship? 33:07 – What works well in the closing paragraph? 36:20 – What are some of the values that are coming through in this essay? 38:37 – What is something that Tillie would like students to keep in mind as they're going through this process? 38:55 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/41922290

712: Empowering First-Generation Student Success: The Warren High School BUS program with David Cha 06/23/2026

712: Empowering First-Generation Student Success: The Warren High School BUS program with David Cha Welcome back to the podcast! Today’s episode is hosted by Tom Campbell, a former admission officer and now a college counselor and content creator here at College Essay Guy. This show often reminds us that beneath the essays, the deadlines, and the color-coded college lists, this whole thing is really about people — and today's guest is exhibit A. Quick disclaimer: this is a feel-good episode. Very “This American Life.” If you've ever needed your faith in public education restored, cancel your other plans. In a content landscape where some of the loudest admissions "experts" run on rage-bait and loose credentials, my guest is the opposite. And his name is David Cha. In this episode I finally sit down with David. We get into: David’s five-minute life story: how a kid from Koreatown, one youth pastor's quiet act of grace, and a hard left turn away from a communications career set David on the path to public education What it took to build the AVID program from scratch in 2001, overcoming early skepticism to help first-generation students thrive The evolution of the Bears University Seminar (BUS) and how a team of committed educators scaled a small library workshop into a massive success story Which CEG resources have quietly become game-changers inside BUS — yes, including the 250 copies of College Essay Essentials he bought as gifts for this year's graduates. And his hard-won advice for any public school educator trying to build a college-going culture against very long odds Oh, and at one point David volunteers his own high school SAT score toour dear listeners our dear listeners. I'll let him tell you that one. David Cha is a veteran educator with 27 years of classroom experience and holds two Masters degrees from Biola and Grand Canyon A recent recipient of the Mayor of Downey’s Outstanding Citizen Award, David has built a legacy of impactful college-prep programming at Warren High School. In 2001, he launched the school's AVID program with just 30 students—an initiative that now serves nearly 600 students locally and has expanded districtwide down to the elementary level. David is also the founder of the Bears University Seminar (BUS), a summer essay and application bootcamp established in 2019. What began as a small workshop has grown into a massive success story, recently guiding a cohort of 237 seniors to an incredible 1,373 college acceptances across the UC and CSU systems and beyond. Whether you're an educator, counselor, parent, or student, I think you'll come away reminded that while admissions can feel impossibly complex, changing a student's life often starts with something beautifully simple: one person taking the time to invest in another. Let's get into it. We hope you enjoy. Play-by-Play: 3:52 – What is David’s background? 4:59 – What inspired David to change his career plans and become a public school teacher? 7:50 – How did David build and fund a brand-new student support program from scratch? 13:30 – How has the program expanded across the school district over the years? 14:41 – Why did the team design their student framework to focus on long-term life fulfillment rather than just getting into college? 16:52 – How can a dedicated mentor completely change the academic trajectory of a struggling student? 20:46 – What words of encouragement does David offer to educators who are feeling overwhelmed or losing faith in their work? 25:25 – How did David turn online writing exercises into a structured summer essay curriculum for his students? 32:20 – What are the college acceptance statistics for the bootcamp students? 34:51 – How does David help his students continue their college application journeys independently after the summer workshop ends? 35:33 – Tom shares his own background story of how he first started working with College Essay Guy 37:26 – How can strong student advocacy help an applicant's unique story stand out during the review process? 38:23 – How can collaborations with local CBOs and college representatives help first-generation students access high-quality resources? 43:16 – What are the biggest cultural and mindset shifts required to help students navigate the college application process more effectively? 44:25 – How can schools guide first-generation families on college and class choices as early as possible? 49:19 – How can counselors help students highlight collaboration and teamwork on their applications? 50:42 – What are the practical logistics and daily structure of David’s student bootcamp? 58:03 – How can schools leverage real admissions officers and guest experts to inspire and guide applicants? 1:01:39 – What has David learned over the years from putting together his program? 1:05:56 – Closing thoughts and advice for counselors Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/41742610

711: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 10: The Silent Assassin) with Amber Patterson 06/09/2026

711: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 10: The Silent Assassin) with Amber Patterson Hi, friends, and welcome back to our series, "On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling," where we take a close look at personal essays written by real students, talk about why we love them, what makes them work, and how they came to be. In this episode, I'm joined by Amber Patterson, Regional Director of Admission at Texas Christian University. This conversation does two things at once. We read a real student essay closely, line by line, and we get inside an admission reader's head to understand what's actually landing as she reads through it. We get into: What Amber hopes to learn about a student when she sits down with their personal statement Why TCU has chosen not to use any AI to read applications, and the human moments she says a machine can't pick up How the reading process actually works at TCU A full breakdown of an essay called "The Silent Assassin," starting with Amber’s take on why a clever hook may matter less than students think How to nest a small, everyday challenge inside a larger essay (the hybrid structure), and how a common challenge can be than enough How to subtly weave an extracurricular activity into your essay, and how to actually use the additional information section Amber's honest take on AI for students: where it helps, and where to avoid it Amber Patterson is a first generation, non-traditional college student who earned her Bachelor's degree in Ethnic Studies from Cal State East Bay and a Master of Human Relations degree in Inclusive Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. After a decade as a college counselor in California public high schools, she moved into higher ed and now serves as Regional Director of Admission at Texas Christian University. She has served on WACAC's Executive Board and currently chairs Professional Development for the Regional Admission Counselors of California. What she loves most about this work is helping students find their path to higher education and fostering an environment where every student's unique experiences are valued. I loved this conversation, and Amber's care for students comes through in every answer. I hope you enjoy it too. Play-by-Play: 2:21 – What is often happening in admission offices in June? 3:43 – What does Amber look for in a personal statement? 5:05 – What is the application reading process like at TCU and what is the role of the personal statement? 8:59 – What conversations are happening in the TCU admissions office around using AI for application review? 12:56 – What is the human "feeling" a great essay creates, and why is it so hard to teach a machine to find it? 15:34 – Do college essays need titles? 17:10 – Amber reads the essay, which we’re calling "The Silent Assassin" 21:40 – Why does a clever hook matter less than students think? 24:42 – How does the author show leadership qualities through the essay? 26:58 – Why is “show, don’t tell” an effective storytelling technique for college essays? 31:39 – How can students nest a challenge into the essay without it being the whole story? 36:40 – When should students weave an activity into the personal statement? 39:51 – Where is it best for students to mention their intended major? 41:00 – What can students include in the additional information section? 43:54 – What does the admission reader learn about the student through their proudest moment in high school? 50:01 – How much information might an admission reader catch in a quick read? 51:58 – What advice does Amber have for students around AI use? 54:15 – What does Amber hope that students will keep in mind throughout this process? 55:19 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/41577250

710: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 9: Where I Grew Up) with Hillary Dickman 05/26/2026

710: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 9: Where I Grew Up) with Hillary Dickman Hi, friends, and welcome back to our series, “On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling.” where we take a close look at personal essays written by real students, talking about why we love them, what makes them work, and how they came to be. In this episode, I’m joined by Hillary Dickman, Senior Assistant Director of Admission at Colorado College. In past episodes, we've really broken down these essays and gotten into the nooks and crannies of what makes them work. But in this episode, I really wanted to get a sense of how Hillary sees essays from an admission reader's perspective. We get into: What Hillary hopes to learn about a student when she sits down to read their essay What a great essay can do that the rest of the application can't How much essays matter and whether or not that's changed over the last few years. Why Colorado College does not have any AI reading essays or applications and doesn’t have plans to. She gives us an inside look at what it's like having your essay read in committee by as many as 13 people, and There's a moment in the episode where she imagines that I'm the co-reader reading the application with her and gives me the notes that she would give on the student if I was in the admission office with her. I loved our conversation. I hope you enjoy it too. Hillary Dickman is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Speech Communication from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She began her career in higher education teaching at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Since 2021, she’s been part of the admission team at Colorado College, and has also navigated the college admission process as a parent — her older daughter is a recent graduate of Wellesley College, and her younger one is a student at Colorado College. Play-by-Play: 2:12 – What is often happening in admission offices during April and May? 3:14 – When Hillary reads a college essay, what is she hoping to learn about a student? 4:55 – What can a great essay do that the other parts of the application cannot? 6:05 – Hillary sets context for the essay and the student who wrote it. 7:35 – Hillary reads the essay, which we’re calling, “Where I Grew Up.” 11:59 – How does the author explore community building through this essay? 15:09 – What is the benefit to orienting the reader towards the topic early in the essay? 17:43 – Hillary describes the process of reading applications in teams and presenting files to a partner. 20:35 – Hillary breaks down how an admissions committee works. 24:15 – Hillary shares what makes it easy to advocate for a student and why real self-reflection stands out. 26:23 – Ethan and Hillary break down why a recurring theme and unique details can make your essay stand out when admissions officers are reading quickly. 31:12 – Why does Colorado College choose not to use AI systems to read student applications? 35:23 – How do small, specific memories keep an admissions officer engaged in your story? 40:06 – Does Hillary see the importance or role of the college essay changing in the future? 46:43 – What does Hillary love about her job? 49:12 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/41416215

709: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 8: Molding Clay) with Calvin Pickett 05/12/2026

709: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 8: Molding Clay) with Calvin Pickett Hi, friends, and welcome back to our series, “On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling.” In this series, we take a close look at personal essays written by real students, talking about why we love them, what makes them work, and how they came to be. In this episode, we break down an essay that is one of my new favorites. It’s conceptually rich because even though it’s on molding clay, it could be considered any of these montage types: I love/I know, Essence Objects, Skills/Superpower, Identity, Home, or Uncommon extracurricular activity. That’s not a goal I’m suggesting you pursue, by the way, just interesting to note. To discuss it, I'm joined by Calvin Pickett, the Director of Essay Coaching here at CEG. Calvin has been a college essay coach for more than eight years, and a lover of words and stories since he can remember. Calvin studied English Literature at Vassar before earning his master's in Secondary English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He believes in the potential for this college essay writing process to be transformational for students, and loves helping them see and shape their own stories in ways that empower self-knowledge and self confidence and lead to exciting college opportunities. If you're a craft nerd at heart (the kind of person who watches behind-the-scenes footage twice), I hope you’ll feel right at home. We hope you enjoy! Play-by-Play: 2:16 – Calvin sets context for the essay and the student who wrote it 3:40 – Calvin reads the essay, “Molding Clay” 9:23 – How did the author come up with her topic? 11:21 – Calvin and Ethan discuss the first paragraph and how it grounds the reader 14:31 – How does the author use insight in her second paragraph to convey details that might not be elsewhere in her application? 18:49 – How do the author’s core values guide her metaphors and examples throughout the essay? 20:53 – What is a montage essay and how did the author decide on which parts to include in the final draft? 23:47 – What is the balance between “showing” or “telling” in a college essay? 29:26 – How does the author’s unique voice help her stand out? 32:52 – How can students weave in parts of a challenge or narrative into their montage essay? 38:31 – How important is a strong closing paragraph? 42:43 – What are some key concepts from this essay that students can apply to their own writing? 48:31 – Why might students choose to avoid AI in the college essay writing process? 51:40 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/41215595

708: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 7: Robes) with Andrew Callery 05/05/2026

708: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 7: Robes) with Andrew Callery Hi, friends, and welcome back to our series, “On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling.” In this series, we take a close look at personal essays written by real students, talking about why we love them, what makes them work, and how they came to be. In this episode, we share an essay that begins: “Robes are the textile version of comfort food; they’re my chicken noodle soup.” And it is indeed about the different robes the student wears and how each one reveals a different aspect of who the author is. I'm joined today by Andrew Callery, a college counselor at Detroit Country Day School who aside from his work helping his students tell their stories has, for the past 9 years, in his free time volunteered in our , where we pair high-achieving, low-income students with amazing counselors for 10 hours of free one-on-one support. If you are a high-achieving low-income student applying to college this year or are a counselor interested in volunteering, we’d love to have you. In today’s episode, Andrew and I get into: Where this idea came from in the first place How the student chose which different sides of herself to focus on How students can briefly weave a learning difference into a single paragraph Two tips for sticking the landing when it comes to the ending of your personal statement If you’re the kind of person who enjoys seeing how things get made, whether it’s a great meal, a film scene, or a piece of writing, I have a feeling you might enjoy this one. Andrew Callery (he/him) is a graduate of Villanova University (B.A.) and the University of San Francisco (M.A.), where he studied Psychology with an emphasis in counseling. He’s worked in both public and private high schools as a counselor and loves helping students craft essays that are genuine reflections of their lived experience. He uses active listening techniques to help students uncover unique ideas for essays that capture various aspects of their identity, values, challenges overcome and lessons learned, all the while blending in a healthy dose of humor and empathy. Andrew has worked for a number of years as an admissions reader with a highly selective institution, and has read thousands of essays as a result. He's currently working as a full-time college counselor at an independent school near Detroit, where he lives with his wife and two children. Enjoy. Play-by-Play: 2:47 – Andrew introduces the “robes” essay and the brainstorming exercise that inspired it. 4:41 – What are the benefits of brainstorming and “going broad” with early ideas? 5:57 – Andrew reads the essay, “Robes” 11:26 – What stands out for Andrew in reading the essay today? 12:25 – How did Andrew help the student identify the core values and life experiences to include in her essay? 17:22 – How does a simple, relatable metaphor immediately ground the reader in the student's world? 19:40 – How did the student weave in her experience with dyslexia without making it the central focus of her essay? 23:17 – What questions can students ask themselves to turn a simple anecdote into a meaningful "so what" moment? 26:02 – How can students weave in extracurricular achievements without sounding like they are bragging? 31:35 – How can a student effectively balance personal interests with academic goals in an essay? 35:27 – How did the student’s love for thrifting from the 21 Details exercise become a metaphor for her interest in sustainable engineering? 39:28 – How can focusing on the future help a student find the right way to end their essay? 42:32 – What does Andew enjoy most about working with students on essays? 44:16 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/41131365

707: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 5): Making the Decision with Alisha, Class of 2026 04/22/2026

707: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 5): Making the Decision with Alisha, Class of 2026 Hey friends, and welcome back to the College Essay Guy podcast. Today’s episode is a special follow-up with Alisha, who you might remember from our series last season where we walked through her personal statement process step-by-step. Now that she has officially received her results, Alisha is back to share the final chapter of her journey and reflect on the experience of reaching the finish line. In this session, Alisha and I explore: The emotional ups and downs of receiving college acceptances and rejections Alisha’s advice for students currently navigating the application process What she might have done differently looking back, and The “big reveal”: Where she got in, where she didn't, and where she’s headed next Whether you’re a senior waiting on your own results, a junior just starting the path, or a parent or counselor looking for a real-world perspective on how the process ends, I hope you’ll find Alisha’s reflections both grounding and insightful. Alisha is a current high school senior who loves science, movies, and discovering new places. When she’s not studying the brain, she’s mentoring younger students through her program Running Start or planning her next adventure. Hope you enjoy our session. Play-by-Play 1:48 – How is Alisha feeling now that the application process is over? 2:58 – What did Alisha learn about herself through the process? 4:50 – How did getting an early acceptance change Alisha’s outlook on the process? 6:37 – How did Alisha approach choosing a major for her applications? 7:18 – Alisha walks through her acceptances, deferrals, and waitlist offers 11:40 – How did Alisha evaluate her options to find the right fit? 12:43 – What advice does Alisha have for students currently writing their personal statements and building a college list? 17:10 – What would Alisha do differently if she could go through the process again? 19:51 – Closing thoughts Resources: Alisha’s Podcast Episodes: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/40973150

706: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 6: Raspberry Sky) with Wendy Zheutlin 04/14/2026

706: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 6: Raspberry Sky) with Wendy Zheutlin Hi, friends, and welcome back to our series, “On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling” where we take a close look at personal essays written by real students, talking about why we love them, what makes them work, and how they came to be. In this episode, I had the honor of sitting down with Wendy Zheutlin, who is not only one of my essay coaches but has been a volunteer for the past four years with our Program. This is the program where we pair high-achieving, low-income students with amazing counselors for 10 hours of free one-on-one support. And if that sounds interesting to you, whether you are a student or a counselor, we'll link in the show notes where you can find out more. This episode is a rare opportunity. Whereas normally we break down essays written by students, this was actually a personal statement written by Wendy herself as part of a course that I led for counselors. So this is her own personal statement, not written for applying to college, and it's one of my favorite essays. We talk about what it was like for Wendy, who doesn’t identify as a writer, to write this story, a few techniques she uses to communicate a lot in just a few words, and that ineffable moment when you figure out what a story is about. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys seeing how things get made, whether it’s a great meal, a film scene, or a piece of writing, I have a feeling you might enjoy this one. Wendy Zheutlin works independently and with CEG as a college essay coach. After earning her BA in psychology from UCSC and her MA in film from Stanford, Wendy went on to work on social issue documentaries in film and TV. While raising her family, Wendy worked in both an elementary school and public library. Open and honest, Wendy builds trust and provides a safe environment in which students can begin a joyful journey of self-reflection and discovery as they write college essays that capture their spirit, their values, their experiences that engage readers. Enjoy. Play-by-Play: 2:04 – What is Wendy’s background, and what motivated her to experience the essay process from the “inside out”? 4:27 – Wendy reads her personal statement, “Raspberry Sky.” 11:45 – What was the writing process like for Wendy? 15:14 – How can short, factual sentences create a more impactful story? 18:11 – How did reading children’s picture books influence Wendy’s approach? 19:17 – How does the plum blossom motif serve as a metaphor for new beginnings? 21:58 – How can contrast show the different sides of a hard experience? 26:13 – What did Wendy discover about her story through multiple revisions? 28:31 – Why is subtle humor a useful tool when sharing a difficult experience? 30:21 – How can a writer identify the “orienting moment” or core message of a story? 36:18 – How can parentheticals be used to pack a lot of detail into a short section? 39:48 – What advice does Wendy offer for writing about difficult experiences? 43:27 – How can the process of “meaning making” help both the author and reader discover something new? 44:54 – What does the essay’s conclusion reveal about growth? 48:48 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/40868925

705: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 5: The Stains on My Baseball Pants) with Kaila Barber 03/31/2026

705: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 5: The Stains on My Baseball Pants) with Kaila Barber Show Notes: Hi, friends, and welcome back to our series, On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling. In this series, we take a close look at personal essays written by real students, talking about why we love them, what makes them work, and how they came to be. In this episode, we break down an essay on… wait for it… baseball. Wait, what? But Ethan, I thought writing about a common topic was a fast track to blending in. And yes—in many cases, it can be. But this essay offers a great example of how a familiar topic can become something more layered, specific, and personal. To dig into how that happens, I’m joined by Kaila Barber: essay coach at CEG, Associate Director of 1-on-1 Coaching, and professional track star. Together, we explore how to stand out with a common topic, how to weave in challenge without letting it take over the story, and one specific technique for crafting a strong, memorable ending. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys seeing how things get made, whether it’s a great meal, a film scene, or a piece of writing, I have a feeling you’ll enjoy this one. Kaila Barber has been helping students prepare for college in various capacities since 2018. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a master’s degree in Global Health, a bachelor’s degree in PreProfessional Science, and a minor in Education, Schooling, and Society, Kaila decided to serve her local school district as an educational assistant. For two years, she worked closely with students who had learning differences, tailoring lesson plans and materials to better suit the needs of her students. Kaila enjoys walking side-by-side with students, guiding them through their memories and insights, while they discover new ways to make meaning from their lives that can be highlighted in creative and compelling essays. We hope you enjoy. Play-by-Play: 2:07 – Who is the student behind the essay, and what made his approach to a sports topic stand out? 4:44 – Kaila reads the essay we’re calling, “The Stains on My Baseball Pants” 8:40 – What stands out about the essay’s use of showing vs. telling? 10:27 – How did the essay evolve from a baseball topic into a montage centered on stains? 12:56 – How does the essay incorporate themes of identity and belonging without making them the central focus? 15:38 – How were the different “stains” chosen to represent key parts of the student’s story? 19:52 – What does the kimbap stain reveal about family, culture, and leadership? 22:00 – What does the dirt stain reveal about growth, belonging, and identity? 26:57 – What new role or identity is revealed through the eye black blotch paragraph? 31:51 – What does the “parents’ pilot” metaphor reveal about the student’s role in his family? 36:20 – How does the ending bring the theme of “stains” back while highlighting community and belonging? 40:15 – What does Kaila hope students take away from the essay writing process? 41:31 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/40620690

704: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 4: Tiny Windows into My Being) with Ali McKeon 03/17/2026

704: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 4: Tiny Windows into My Being) with Ali McKeon Hi, friends, and welcome back to our series, “On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling.” In this series, we take a close look at personal essays written by real students, talking about why we love them, what makes them work, and how they came to be. In this episode, we explore an essence objects essay, which is to say an essay that was written about objects in the author's room, each one of which reveals a different aspect of their life. I'm joined by Ali McKeon, an essay coach and program advisor here at College Essay Guy. Ali worked with the student who wrote this essay, so she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the process of working with this student, how the topic came to be, plus the questions she asked along the way. For those of you who love seeing how things get made, whether it’s a great meal, a film scene, or a piece of writing, this episode offers a little window into that process. Ali McKeon is a writing coach and veteran college admissions essay specialist with a BA in English from Stanford University and MFA from UC Irvine. She is passionate about building her students’ confidence in the writing process and developing them into strong self-advocates for their individual learning needs. One of the highlights of her career has been mentoring bright students with learning differences. In addition to teaching, she is an arts entrepreneur, former professional ballet dancer, and mom to a busy toddler. We hope you enjoy. Play-by-Play: 1:50 – Who is the student behind the essay, and what stood out about working with her? 4:29 – Ali reads the essay, which we’re calling “Tiny Windows into My Being” 9:00 – What ideas inspired the student’s writing? 10:35 – What makes an “objects in my room” essay stand out? 12:36 – What is an “essence objects” essay, and how does it connect to the montage essay structure? 13:23 – How did the student decide which objects to include in the opening paragraph? 18:02 – How can students weave accomplishments into an essay without sounding like they’re bragging? 20:22 – Why does pairing achievements with curiosity strengthen this paragraph? 22:18 – In what ways does the essay show the student is more than just a STEM student? 26:24 – How does the author reflect on her cultural identities? 30:42 – What led the student to include the migraine story in the essay? 36:50 – What makes this essay’s ending so effective? 41:26 – What does Ali enjoy most about working with students on essays? 45:21 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/40446890

703: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 3: The Pilgrim and The CEO) with Jane Longley 03/03/2026

703: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 3: The Pilgrim and The CEO) with Jane Longley Welcome back to the College Essay Guy podcast and our series On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling. I’m one of your cohosts, Tom Campbell, former Pomona and Holy Cross admissions officer, turned essay coach and college counselor. In this series, we look at real personal statements from real students: what choices were made, what was revised, and why it works. For this episode, we sit down with Jane Longley, one of our amazing essay coaches here at CEG, to unpack an essay that one of her student wrote titled “The Pilgrim and The CEO.” It tells the story of two challenging yet rewarding experiences central to one student’s identity and growth: hiking the Camino and starting her own skincare line. They seem like wildly different journeys in that bite-sized, one sentence description, but as you’ll see from the essay, they’re anything but disparate. This essay, which seamlessly tells two stories in tandem, is a masterclass on balance. Which is really what college essays are all about. On one side, they should genuinely reflect the student — their voice, their lived experiences, the moments that have shaped how they see the world. On the other, they need to do some real work: helping an admissions reader understand the student’s character, values, and potential, and making it easier to advocate for them in committee. We’ll walk through key excerpts, unpack the strategic decisions behind them, and share practical insights for counselors, teachers, and anyone guiding students through the writing process. Jane Longley has been an essay coach for eight years. She graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Modern Languages and spent ten years teaching in the UK before moving to Nicaragua, where she has lived for more than two decades. Along the way, Jane trained in Person-centred Therapeutic Counselling and Boarding Education — experiences that inform how she works with students today. As an essay coach, she focuses on helping students clarify their ideas, identify meaningful through-lines in their experiences, and find language that feels precise and authentic. And we, for one, are so glad she’s come to share her expertise and her calming British accent with you all. We hope you enjoy the episode. Play-by-Play: 2:18 – What is Jane’s background in essay coaching? 4:54 – Jane shares context for the essay and what it was like working with the student who wrote it 8:47 – In what ways can brainstorming exercises uncover unexpected topic ideas? 9:49 – How does the values exercise serve as the foundation for an essay? 15:06 – What other brainstorming tools helped shape the student’s direction? 18:05 – How did the student’s early topic ideas transform into a final product? 21:42 – What influenced the essay’s final structure? 29:40 – Jane reads the essay, “The Pilgrim and The CEO” 34:16 – Tom shares his initial thoughts on the essay 35:46 – Jane shares how the author developed the two narratives in the introduction 39:07 – How did the student decide what essential context about the Camino needed to stay? 41:39 – How did authenticity shape the student’s decision to include moments of unpreparedness? 44:34 – How did the student identify the specific, vivid details that brought each journey to life? 51:53 – How did collaboration become a central theme across both journeys? 55:20 – How did the student’s honest reaction at the end of the Camino strengthen the essay? 59:30 – How does the tone shift from collaboration to appreciation in the final paragraphs? 1:00:53 – How can students revisit the same experience across essays without repeating themselves? 1:03:52 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/40288600

702: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 2: Much Ado About Nothing) with Dr. Greg Ungar 02/17/2026

702: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 2: Much Ado About Nothing) with Dr. Greg Ungar Welcome back to our series, “On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling.” In this series, we take a close look at personal essays written by real students, talking about why we love them, what makes them work, and how they came to be. On Becoming speaks not just to the craft of writing, but to what I believe the personal statement is at its best: a record of becoming, the often messy, hopefully meaningful process of finding yourself… through the process of storytelling. In this episode, we slow things down and focus on a single essay, which the author calls “Much Ado About Nothing.” Together, we take this essay apart, looking at the storytelling choices on the page, the deeper ideas underneath them, and how the essay captures a moment in the student’s becoming. Dr. Greg Ungar is a professor at the University of Denver. Greg grew up in California and spent six years working on the assembly line at General Motors before finding his way to college, where reading (and thinking) changed the direction of his life. Greg went on to study philosophy and theatre arts at UC Berkeley, and later earned advanced degrees across a wide range of disciplines, including sociology, criminal justice, acting, and theatre and drama. He’s someone who has spent a lifetime thinking deeply about identity, work, class, performance, and what it means to make meaning out of lived experience. We hope you enjoy. Play-by-Play: 3:23 – Why do Ethan and Greg love reading stories and poetry together? 5:34 – Do college essays need a title? 6:47 – Greg reads the essay, “Much Ado About Nothing” 12:03 – What does Ethan love about this essay? 13:25 – What did Greg notice while reading? 19:23 – How does the author use structure to keep the reader engaged? 25:02 – How can humor be used in college essays? 30:58 – How does the author show different roles and identities throughout? 40:24 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/40126495

701: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 1: My Desk & Magic) with Amanda McRaven 02/03/2026

701: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 1: My Desk & Magic) with Amanda McRaven Welcome to a brand new series here on the podcast I’m calling “On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling.” In this series, we’ll dig deep into college essays from past students, talking about why we love them and how they came to be. For me, this title “On Becoming” speaks not just to the craft of writing (how a story came to be), but to what I believe the personal statement is at its best: a record of becoming… the beautiful, sometimes messy process of witnessing someone learn to better understand themselves, articulate their values, and claim their voice in the world. Whether you’re a student, parent, educator, or just someone who loves great stories, we hope there’s something here for you. In our first episode, I sit down with Amanda McRaven, a dear friend and one of my first hires at College Essay Guy. In this episode, we dig into: Two of our favorite essays from former students A little behind the scenes of how they came to be, and The techniques that helped these stories reveal truths about the students who wrote them. Amanda McRaven is an artist, teacher, theater director, and storyteller living in the Pacific Northwest. She’s a veteran educator and writer with over 15 years of experience coaching students through the college essay process. But what really sets Amanda apart is her approach. She helps students mine their lives for meaning—to find the gold in seemingly ordinary moments, and to connect the dots between experiences in ways that feel alive, honest, and deeply human. We hope you enjoy! Play-by-Play: 3:20 – Something these two essays have in common 4:32 – How does Amanda help students find creative ways to tell their stories? 5:50 – What did early drafts of the “My Desk” essay look like? 6:45 – Amanda and Ethan analyze the intro paragraph of the “My Desk” essay 13:24 – Analysis of paragraph 2 – Laptop 19:30 – Analysis of paragraph 3 – Stack of books 26:11 – Analysis of paragraph 4 – Bead Bracelet 31:59 – Analysis of the final paragraph – Conclusion 34:49 – Ethan introduces the “Magic” essay 41:30 – What did the student’s writing process look like for the “Magic” essay? 47:55 – How does the author incorporate values and extracurricular activities together with the topic? 51:22 – How can students find more uncommon connections or topics to write about in their essays? 56:20 – What can students take away from the “Magic” essay? 58:34 – What does Amanda enjoy most about working with students on essays? 1:00:13 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/39962575

623: Standing Out in STEM: Practical Advice for Future Scientists, Engineers and Techies 12/23/2025

623: Standing Out in STEM: Practical Advice for Future Scientists, Engineers and Techies Welcome back to the College Essay Guy Podcast. Today’s episode is hosted by Tom Campbell, Community Manager & Senior Essay Specialist at College Essay Guy and a former admission officer at Pomona College and Holy Cross. We’ve polled the thousands of students who participate in our live webinars and courses and ask what they’re favorite subject is, and consistently, STEM reigns supreme. By a lot. In this episode, Tom sits down with Jay Zhang, college counselor at College Essay Guy, to dig into the biggest questions students and families have about preparing for and applying to STEM programs. Together, they explore: What students should know about STEM coursework, rigor, and testing—and where there’s more flexibility than most people realize How to think about majors, specialization, and which colleges to consider beyond the usual short list Common STEM student archetypes, including late starters, students unsure which direction to take, those in high-pressure STEM “bubbles,” and students worried that elite summer programs are the only path forward And more. Jay Zhang holds a B.S. in Microbiology from UCLA and an M.A. in School Counseling from NYU, and he’s spent over a decade helping STEM students navigate selective admissions—especially within the UC system. He’s also a former UCLA scholarship reader and interviewer, so he’s seen exactly what works. Jay brings a strength-based, big-picture approach to STEM planning—and when he’s not counseling students, you’ll probably find him hiking at Crystal Cove or driving all the way from Orange County to LA for his haircut (hey, clearly, this is a man who knows his priorities). We hope you enjoy the episode. Play-by-Play: 2:14 – What are some early memories of Jay and Tom learning STEM in school? 5:44 – Jay shares his background and where he grew up 7:55 – What are some high school courses that students interested in STEM could plan to take? 11:33 – What should STEM students know about standardized testing? 14:33 – How can students better understand different STEM pathways and majors? 17:55 – What are some lesser-known colleges or programs that students could explore? 24:03 – What are some strategies for broadening a student's college list? 30:01 – How can students balance prestige with selectivity and other factors that are important to them in finding the right fit? 32:46 – How can students explore diverse interests in STEM? 38:52 – What can high school juniors and seniors do to show interest in STEM if they’re just getting started? 46:11 – What helps students in competitive STEM “bubbles” move beyond comparison culture? 50:26 – How can students build on personal experiences that spark their interest in STEM? 53:30 – How important are prestigious summer programs for students interested in STEM? 59:25 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/39494715

622: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 4): Supplemental Essay Deep Dive with Alisha, HS Senior 12/09/2025

622: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 4): Supplemental Essay Deep Dive with Alisha, HS Senior Hey friends, and welcome back to the College Essay Guy podcast. Today’s episode is a behind-the-scenes look at Alisha’s supplemental essays. If you’ve been following our Inside the Personal Statement Process series, this episode zooms out a bit—you’ll hear us work live through several of her supplements and talk through how to bring clarity, intention, and personality into each one. In this session, Alisha and I explore: What makes a great “list” response for Columbia—and how to avoid filler How to refine a topic that feels “too common” into something that might stand out a little more A simple way to use the roles & identities exercise to focus a short essay Strategies for approaching the “navigating differences” essay, and How to tackle a “Why us” and a “why major” essay Whether you’re a student working on your own essays right now, a parent supporting from the sidelines, or a counselor guiding students through this process, I hope you’ll find something useful here. Alisha is a current high school senior going through the application process who loves science, movies, and discovering new places. When she’s not studying the brain, she’s mentoring younger students through her program Running Start or planning her next adventure. Hope you enjoy our session. Play-by-Play: 1:24 – How is Alisha’s writing coming along? 2:56 – Alisha reads her Columbia list responses. 5:45 – Ethan gives feedback on the list draft. 7:31 – Ethan introduces the Columbia lived-experience prompt. 8:25 – Alisha reads her draft. 9:30 – How did Alisha choose her topic? 16:31 – Ethan suggests an exercise for refining her draft. 25:41 – Alisha reads her draft of the “navigating differences” prompt. 31:37 – Ethan helps Alisha clarify each side’s perspective in her disagreement example. 38:41 – Ethan introduces the adversity prompt and Alisha reads her response. 45:27 – Ethan encourages Alisha to center the essay on the value she names (autonomy) and make the story more specific. 48:29 – Alisha reads her response to the “Why Columbia” prompt. 50:27 – Ethan and Alisha identify what genuinely sets Columbia apart for her. 56:17 – Alisha reads her response to the “Why major” prompt. 58:12 – Ethan helps Alisha frame her essay around the central theme she has chosen: the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience. 1:04:36 – Ethan and Alisha explore how students can research their major when they're unsure what career they want. 1:15:15 – Ethan and Alisha reflect on the drafting process and what comes next. Resources: Career Research Tool /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/39336560

621: Financial Aid Tips for International Students (and Their Counselors)—2025 Edition 11/25/2025

621: Financial Aid Tips for International Students (and Their Counselors)—2025 Edition Welcome back to the College Essay Guy Podcast. This is a very special session with a dear friend of mine and an honored guest in my world, Joan Liu. Joan is the founder of Second Chance, an organization that helps high achieving students from around the world secure full scholarships to universities after their original offers fall through. This conversation is adapted from a live webinar that we hosted where Joan shares some of the most practical, candid advice I've heard for international students who are looking for full financial aid and for the counselors who support them. In our conversation, we talk about: What a competitive, full-need international applicant really looks like Some common mistakes that students make when applying to colleges and universities in the United States Why creating a global list and not just a US-centric list can open up new opportunities Joan's advice for counselors who are guiding students through this sometimes really complex process. And more. Joan Liu has been a college counselor for the past 25 years, across top secondary schools in the US, UK, Turkey, and Singapore. She is a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia University. Joan is known in the admissions field for her financial aid expertise, and her ability to place students at universities with a full ride. In 2018, Joan mobilized a team of colleagues to support 60 Nepali students who had lost their scholarships from a university in Texas, USA. Joan did not stand by and watch this higher ed crisis. She assembled a team, and these teams stepped forward and re-seated all of the students at universities in the US, Canada, Middle East, and East Asia, with 10+ million in financial aid and scholarships - after the admissions cycle was OVER for that year. That experience led to Joan founding the non profit, Second Chance at Higher Ed, which supports talented students needing financial support, in accessing higher education at the last minute, after the US cycle is over. Folks, that’s full rides after April 1 - no other organization has ever done this - and Second Chance is first in its category. Just a few months ago, SC went into its 7th cycle, helping 53 students from 23 countries earn a full ride in less than eight weeks. These students included refugees from Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. Whether you're a student dreaming of studying abroad or a counselor helping students try to reach that dream, we're hoping that you'll find something useful in this episode. Play-by-Play: 2:36 – What is Second Chance and how did it get started? 3:34 – What is the typical profile that colleges look for in an international student who is competitive for full financial aid in the United States? 8:00 – How do admissions officers evaluate international applicants compared to U.S. students? 11:59 – What are the most common mistakes that full-need international students make when applying to colleges and universities in the US? 21:53 – What does it mean when a college says they are need-blind for international students? 23:02 – How important is early action for international students? 23:53 – How should international students think about SAT/ACT? What if testing is difficult to access? 31:34 – How important is English proficiency? 32:51 – How should full-need international students think about developing their college list? 41:22 – How does the financial aid process differ for full-need international students? 46:03 – How can students learn more about Second Chance? 51:35 – If a student is rejected from Early Decision, can they still be considered for Regular Decision? 53:09 – If a student does not have a school counselor, how do they submit a school report or other documentation required for applications? 55:11 – How is the application process different this year than in the past? 56:35 – How can students compensate for an average or low GPA? 58:13 – How can counselors best advocate for their full-need international students? 1:02:17 – Closing advice Financial Aid Resources: (ISAFA) (IACAC) College Essay Guy Resources: Podcasts: That One Time a University Revoked More Than 60 Full Scholarships (And What You Can Do About It) : Financial Aid Tips for International Students (and Their Counselors)—2019 Version Which Schools Are the Most Generous With Financial Aid? (International Version) /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/39118020

620: Navigating Student Health in College: A Doctor’s Guide to Sleep, Stress, and Student Life 11/11/2025

620: Navigating Student Health in College: A Doctor’s Guide to Sleep, Stress, and Student Life The transition from high school to college is something that thousands of students struggle with each year, and it’s not something people really talk about. There’s a lot of pressure for students to “have it together” in some broad sense. That's why today I'm excited to talk to Dr. Jill Grimes, Dr. Jill Grimes, author of The ULTIMATE College Student Health Handbook: Your Guide for Everything from Hangovers to Homesickness, for a frank conversation about things that are often stigmatized. Content warning: We get into some pretty serious topics such as mental health, drinking, and sex. The views and information shared in this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health, treatment or medication. In our conversation we cover a wide range of topics, including: What are some simple, science-backed tips for getting better sleep in a dorm room? How does caffeine or other medications affect sleep quality? Dr. Jill’s Rule of 3 for navigating homesickness How can students tell the difference between typical stress and something that really needs attention? How do medications like antidepressants interact with other substances, and why is that something students need to take seriously? What are some simple ways students can take care of their bodies during this big life transition? And more Dr. Jill Grimes is a nationally recognized medical media expert, award-winning author, and proud mom of two awesome college graduates. Dr. Grimes’ passion project is The ULTIMATE College Student Health Handbook: Your Guide for Everything from Hangovers to Homesickness, Oprah’s choice for Best Book in her 2025 Best Gifts for Grads List. With over 20 years of experience in private practice and academic medicine plus 7 years working directly with college students in a busy university health center, Dr. Jill brings a unique blend of real-world medical expertise, evidence-based medicine, and relatable advice for parents and students alike. Dr. Grimes loves creating and thinking outside the box, in or out of the medical world. She and her daughters relished their decade of scouting and many years of mother-daughter service through the National Charity League. We hope you enjoy. Play-by-Play: 3:09 – Dr. Jill shares her background and identities 4:32 – What are some of the questions that Dr. Jill often hears in her work? 5:58 – What advice would Dr. Jill give to first-year students? 7:32 – Why does getting involved early make such a difference? 9:46 – How can students get better sleep? 14:39 – How do caffeine and ADHD meds impact sleep quality? 16:37 – What should students know about melatonin and over-the-counter sleep aids? 20:29 – What’s Dr. Jill’s “Rule of Three” for easing homesickness? 28:04 – How can students reduce anxiety and test stress? 33:27 – How do students know when normal stress becomes a mental health concern? 38:21 – What should students know about nutrition and the effects of alcohol on the body? 44:20 – What advice would Dr. Jill give to students who decide to drink alcohol? 47:59 – How can families approach conversations about sex and consent? 49:48 – What should students know before visiting a doctor on their own? 52:50 – What does Dr. Jill hope that families will keep in mind through this transition? Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/38960405

619: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 3): How Reflection Leads to Insight with Alisha, HS Senior 11/06/2025

619: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 3): How Reflection Leads to Insight with Alisha, HS Senior Hey friends, and welcome back to the College Essay Guy podcast. Today’s episode is the third and final episode in our series called Inside the Personal Statement Process. If you’re just tuning in, this series takes you behind the scenes as I work one-on-one with Alisha, a current high school senior applying for the Fall 2026 term. Find Part 1 and Part 2 . This episode was recorded just a few days before Alisha submitted her early applications. The focus of this episode is on one of the most challenging—and perhaps, the least discussed—aspect of writing the personal statement: insight. In the session, Alisha and I explore: What is insight? How do you find good insights? What are the kinds of questions that can lead to insights? And more Whether you’re a student working on your own essays right now, a parent supporting from the sidelines, or a counselor guiding students through this process, I hope you’ll find something useful here. Alisha is a current high school senior going through the application process who loves science, movies, and discovering new places. When she’s not studying the brain, she’s mentoring younger students through her program Running Start or planning her next adventure. Hope you enjoy our session. Play-by-Play: 1:16 – It’s just days before her Early Decision deadline. How’s Alisha feeling? 2:21 – What is “insight,” and why does it matter in an essay? 3:30 – Alisha begins reading her latest draft, Wherever the Road Takes Us 4:08 – Ethan gives his thoughts on Alisha’s intro 5:37 – Paragraph one: Curiosity 11:04 – Paragraph two: Creativity 11:52 – How does art make Alisha a better scientist? 14:20 – Paragraph three: Empathy 21:20 – Alisha uses the Values Exercise to identify potential new insights 28:19 – Paragraph four: Community 32:47 – Paragraph five: Conclusion and the “empty jar.” 35:53 – Ethan recaps final notes and next steps 39:50 – Alisha and Ethan reflects on the writing process and Alisha’s growth 41:34 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/38909730

618: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 2): Discovering Values Through Revision with Alisha, HS Senior 10/28/2025

618: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 2): Discovering Values Through Revision with Alisha, HS Senior Hey friends, and welcome back to the College Essay Guy podcast. Today’s episode is part two of our series called Inside the Personal Statement Process. If you’re just tuning in, this series takes you behind the scenes as I work one-on-one with Alisha, a current high school senior applying for the Fall 2026 term. In the first episode, we got to know Alisha through her brainstorming and outline. In this episode, we pick up right where we left off — Alisha’s second draft. We get into: How did the new outline work for Alisha? How to approach trimming—not just words, but how Alisha can focus on a particular idea or value in the session to help her find her focus and what to trim How to align the insights that you have in your paragraphs with the examples And more Whether you’re a student working on your own essays right now, a parent supporting from the sidelines, or a counselor guiding students through this process, I hope you’ll find something useful here. Alisha is a current high school senior going through the application process who loves science, movies, and discovering new places. When she’s not studying the brain, she’s mentoring younger students through her program Running Start or planning her next adventure. Hope you enjoy our session. Play-by-Play: 1:24 – How is Alisha’s writing coming along? 4:10 – Alisha shares her goals for feedback 5:50 – Alisha reads through her second draft 11:13 – Alisha shares her thoughts on the draft 15:10 – Ethan makes suggestions for trimming by focusing on values that Alisha wants to communicate to the reader 16:40 – Paragraph one: Curiosity 23:10 – Paragraph two: Empathy and nurturing 32:50 – Paragraph three: Creativity. 39:50 – Paragraph four: Pakistan. 46:40 – Ethan and Alisha map next steps for Draft 3 49:22 – Alisha shares new revision ideas and closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/38778400

617: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 1): The Sand Essay with Alisha, HS Senior 10/14/2025

616: Authoring Your Life: Why the Personal Statement Is About (Much) More Than Getting into College 09/30/2025

616: Authoring Your Life: Why the Personal Statement Is About (Much) More Than Getting into College In today’s episode, I’m joined by my long-time colleague, and our Chief People Officer here at CEG, Sandy Longworth. Sandy has worked as a therapist, a researcher, college counselor — among other things — and has spent years studying the role that narrative storytelling plays in how teens develop their identities. Important note: While Sandy trained as a therapist, and we do talk a lot about therapy in our conversation, I want to make clear that I do not hold that college counseling and essay coaching — or what we do at College Essay Guy — to be therapy. It isn’t. As college counselors and essay coaches — and I’m speaking about us as a profession here — we help students discover the skills, qualities, values, and interests they’ll bring to a college campus… and then express those parts of themselves in writing. Having said that, when I was first introduced to Narrative Therapy in 2012, I was struck by how some of its techniques — like reframing, for instance, which involves finding alternate perspectives on a set of events, something sometimes called “re-storying” — overlap with some of the things that happen in essay coaching sessions… and that’s the territory Sandy and I explore in this conversation. In this episode, Sandy and I get into: How adolescence is a key time for identity development, how this process unfolds and why it’s so significant for personal statements What is narrative identity theory and how do our stories shape who we think we are and can be? How can narrative therapy techniques help students develop and showcase these qualities? What are some narrative therapy exercises students can use to reflect on their experiences and write authentically? And more Sandy Longworth is a proud first-generation college graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison who earned her M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University, completed her doctoral coursework in Child and Family Studies from UW-Madison, and completed her School Counseling certificate at Northern Illinois University. There’s a little more to her bio, but I’ll let her share that with you directly — hope you enjoy. Play-by-Play: 3:05 – Sandy shares her background and some of her roles and identities 9:46 – Why is adolescence such a key time for identity development, and how does that connect to the personal statement? 12:20 – What role does narrative storytelling play in how students think about and develop their identities? 24:26 – How can narrative therapy techniques help students develop and showcase these qualities in their college application? 39:32 – What are some practical ways counselors and students can bring narrative therapy techniques into the personal statement process? 41:34 – Sandy leads Ethan through a narrative exercise 53:41 – Ethan and Sandy share impact and reflections 1:01:16 – How could narrative therapy ideas inform a montage-style essay? 1:10:10 – What does Sandy love about this work? 1:13:32 – What resources are available to learn more about narrative therapy? 1:16:15 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/38359905

615: Rethinking “Best” Colleges: Tools, Tips, and Mindset Shifts for a Better College List with Jay McCann and Dr. Steven Antonoff, Co-Authors of The College Finder 09/16/2025

615: Rethinking “Best” Colleges: Tools, Tips, and Mindset Shifts for a Better College List with Jay McCann and Dr. Steven Antonoff, Co-Authors of The College Finder Hi friends, and welcome back to the podcast. In today’s episode, I’m joined by two special guests: Dr. Steven Antonoff and Jay McCann, co-authors of the newly updated 5th edition of The College Finder: Your comprehensive guide to finding colleges that fit YOUR unique path. In this conversation, we dig into some of the biggest questions students and families face in the college search today, including: What—if anything—are rankings good for in 2025? Beyond starting salaries, which outcome metrics actually indicate value? What’s a responsible way for students to use AI in the search phase—and what should they avoid? How do you plan a high-yield campus visit (or a virtual substitute) that actually informs fit? What’s the most productive role for parents at each stage of the process? Jay McCann is co-author of The College Finder, now in its fifth edition since Steve’s original publication in 1993. He earned his graduate degree at San Diego State University, where he was part of the Native American Scholars and Collaborators grant, focusing on education and community engagement. Jay began his counseling career in Denver Public Schools, where he served as department chair, before moving to Valor Christian High School and now The Westminster Schools in Atlanta. He is also the founder of Future to Find College Consulting, and he lives in Atlanta with his wife, Erin, and their three young children. Dr. Steven Antonoff has more than 30 years of experience in higher education. He is the author of College Match and The College Finder, both highly regarded resources for students and counselors. Steve holds a PhD in Human Communication Studies, an MA in Education from the University of Denver, and a BS in Psychology from Colorado State University. He is the former Dean of Admission & Financial Aid, Executive Director of Admissions & Student Affairs, and Dean of Students at the University of Denver. A founding chair of the American Institute for Certified Educational Planners, he helped launch the first certification program, training initiatives, and textbook for IECs. His work supports low-income and first-generation students through IB programs, Denver’s Latino Association, and College Summit. He is the recipient of IECA’s Professional Achievement Award, now named in his honor. We hope you enjoy! Play-by-Play: 4:37 – What do students need to understand about themselves before they start their college search? 5:45 – What are some common gaps between what students say they want and the schools they choose? 7:37 – How much time should students spend reflecting on what they want in a college? 11:23 – What, if anything, are rankings good for in 2025? 15:42 – Beyond starting salaries, which outcome metrics actually indicate value? 19:15 – How can students evaluate the strength of a specific program at a college? 22:49 – How can students get a real sense of campus culture? 27:12 – How should students (and counselors) categorize colleges when building a list? 32:44 – How many colleges should students apply to? 33:53 – What’s a responsible way for students to use AI in the search phase—and what should they avoid? 38:14 – How should students and families think about Early Action and Early Decision? 42:34 – What’s the most productive role for parents in this process? 45:46 – What’s one action step seniors should take before applying? 48:12 – What are a few must-have resources for the college search and application process? Resources: Books, Guides, and Tools (Dr. Antonoff’s website) (Jay’s website) College Research Platforms Reflection + College Planning (Making Caring Common) /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/38211975

614: 13 Mistakes High School Students Make When Creating Their College List 09/03/2025

614: 13 Mistakes High School Students Make When Creating Their College List Welcome back to the podcast. It’s September, which means many students are building the list of colleges they’re applying to. Today I’m joined by New York Times Bestselling Author, Harlan Cohen, who walks us through his 13 most common mistakes students make when they’re creating their college list. We cover, among other things: The importance of shifting from what “they” want… to what you want The problem with rankings The importance of doing “future math” Why treating college as a one-year experiment can lower the stakes And more Harlan Cohen is the New York Times bestselling author of The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College and six other titles (over 1 million copies in print). His social media accounts have over 1.5 million followers and he hosts a popular podcast. He is the founder of Best First Year, a college success coaching program for students and parents. Harlan lives in Chicago, Illinois with his wife and three children. Harlan also has a wonderful college readiness and success program called . His coaching guides parents and students from college search all the way through the first year on campus. You can use code CEG for a nice little discount. We hope you enjoy. Play-by-Play: 3:12 – Understanding the importance of college choices 5:54 – Mistake #1: Focus on being wanted 12:12 – Mistake #2: Start with rankings 16:45 – Mistake #3: Let scarcity and fear guide you. 19:56 – Mistake #4: Make this about the rest of your life. 23: 11 – Mistake #5: Don’t have a plan (SEPFA). 27:21 – Mistake #6: Expect instant access to clubs and activities. 34:01 – Mistake #7: Don’t look for merit aid and financial aid. 38:21 – Mistake #8: Don’t do future math. 41:26 – Mistake #9: Don’t talk to current students on campus. 44:02 – Mistake #10: Want to impress friends and family. 46:06 – Mistake #11: Don’t visit at the best time. 47:01 – Mistake #12: Follow friends and significant others to campus. 47:54 – Mistake #13: Assume everyone graduates (nope). 54:38 – What does Harlan hope students and families will keep in mind as they go through this process? Resources: Harlan Cohen’s (enter the code “CEG” for a discount) CEG Podcast Episode CEG Podcast Episode CEG Podcast Episode an Inner Simulator algorithm /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/38061280

613: Inside the Application (Part 6): Making the Decision with Cassidy, Class of 2025 08/19/2025

612: Admission Nutrients (Part 6 of 6: Intellectual Curiosity): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life with Hillary Dickman 08/05/2025

612: Admission Nutrients (Part 6 of 6: Intellectual Curiosity): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life with Hillary Dickman Welcome back to the podcast! This is our sixth and final chapter of our series on admission nutrients — qualities that can make for a healthier, more meaningful college admission process… and life. In case you missed it, we started with , with Raissa Diamante (Director of admission from Harvey-Mudd College), then I sat down with Deanna Dixon, (Dean of Admission at Smith College) to talk about , then Tom met with Dysean Alexander (Assistant Director for West Coast Admission at Lafayette College) to talk about and Nathan Faust (Loyola Marymount University) to talk about . Today we conclude the series by talking about intellectual curiosity with Hillary Dickman from Colorado College. In our conversation, Hillary and I cover a lot of ground, including: What is intellectual curiosity in the context of the college admission process? Where does intellectual curiosity show up in a student’s application? Why is it important in the admissions process at Colorado College and how does their approach to identifying intellectual curiosity differs from other liberal arts colleges? What is Colorado College’s latest supplemental essay prompt? Advice for both students and parents as they navigate this process And more! Hillary Dickman is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Speech Communication from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She began her career in higher education teaching public speaking, interpersonal communication, and intercultural communication at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Since 2021, she’s been part of the admission team at Colorado College, where she’s worked on scholarship programs, the counselor advisory board, and now focuses on print and email marketing. She’s also navigated the college admission process as a parent — her older child is a recent graduate of Wellesley College, and her younger one is a student at Colorado College. I hope you enjoy this conversation. I certainly did. Play-by-Play: 3:09 – What do college admission counselors do during the summer? 4:55 – What are some of the roles that Hillary plays at Colorado College? 8:56 – What makes Colorado College a unique school? 10:39 – What is intellectual curiosity in the context of the college admission process? 17:43 – Where does intellectual curiosity show up in a student’s application? 22:29 – What are some examples of intellectual curiosity from over the years? 32:29 – What do students or parents misunderstand about intellectual curiosity? 40:01 – Why is intellectual curiosity important at Colorado College? 48:22 – What is Colorado College’s latest supplemental essay prompt? 57:10 – What if the thing I’m curious about has nothing to do with my major? 1:00:18 – What advice does Hillary give to students for writing their personal statement? 1:04:03 – How long does Hillary spend reading an essay and the application as a whole? 1:09:54 – How does Hillary recommend students get started with the writing process? 1:13:58 – What are Hillary’s thoughts on using ChatGPT in the application process? 1:18:16 – What is demonstrated interest and why is it important to Colorado College? 1:24:00 – What does Hillary hope that students and parents will keep in mind throughout this process? Resources: Demonstrated Interest: What Is it, Why Is it Important, and How Do You Show it? with Dean of Enrollment Christine Bowman /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/37459630

611: Admission Nutrients (Part 5 of 6: Service to Others / Community Impact): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life with Nathan Faust 07/22/2025

611: Admission Nutrients (Part 5 of 6: Service to Others / Community Impact): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life with Nathan Faust In Episode 5 of our series on Admission Nutrients, Tom Campbell is joined by Nathan Faust, Admission Counselor at Loyola Marymount University, to talk about Service to Others / Community Impact. In their conversation, they get into: Why service to others and community impact is a valuable nutrient to fold into your high school experience—and life Tips on communicating your service and community-impact initiatives to admissions officers Examples of how this nutrient may overlap with the others Advice for counselors on how to explain the value of this nutrient to students and families And more! Nathan Faust is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University where he earned both his B.A. (2019) and M.A. (2023) in English. After brief stints in finance and sports management, he joined the admission team in 2021 as a regional recruiter in the Pacific Northwest, where he works with students from Oregon and Washington. Nathan is passionate about educational opportunity, enjoys connecting with students, and values demystifying the admission process. In his free time, Nathan enjoys creative writing, the highs and lows of cheering for the Portland Trail Blazers, camping in mosquito-less places, and spending time with friends also in mosquito-less places. We hope you enjoy. Play-by-Play: 4:40 – Why is service to others important at Loyola Marymount University (LMU)? 6:36 – How does LMU view service hours differently and why? 16:55 – How does service to others impact wellbeing? 23:56 – How can students best communicate their service work on their application? 29:40 – How can students weave in service to others in the personal statement? 33:45 – Where else does service to others show up in the application? 41:03 – FAQs about service to others 41:43 – What if I want to talk about my mission trip? 43:30 – What if I quit my service endeavor? 43:47 – What if my service program was discontinued? 44:42 – How do I know what really counts as service? 45:34 – What if I didn’t really take anything away from this service opportunity? 47:10 – Closing thoughts and advice for students Resources: (Resident Psychologist Susan Albers, Cleveland Clinic, 2022, ) g (Rachel Cohen, Vox, 2024, ) (William Aruda, Forbes, 2022) /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/37459540

610: Admission Nutrients (Part 4 of 6: Consistent Engagement): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life with Dysean Alexander 07/08/2025

610: Admission Nutrients (Part 4 of 6: Consistent Engagement): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life with Dysean Alexander In Episode 4 of our series on Admission Nutrients, Tom Campbell is joined by Dysean Alexander, Assistant Director for West Coast Admission at Lafayette College, to discuss Consistent Engagement. In their conversation, they get into: Why consistent engagement is a valuable nutrient to fold into your high school experience How it’s talked about in an admissions office, and how admission readers like Dysean (and his team at Lafayette) measure it Tips on “translating” your own examples of consistent engagement to an admission officer audience Advice for counselors on how to explain the value of this nutrient to students and families And more! Counselor by day and stand-up comedian by night, Dysean Alexander is a first-generation college graduate of Ursinus College (PA) where he earned a BA in Media & Communications while being an all-conference football player. After his first year as a college admission counselor (Albright College), he served as the Assistant Director For Middle School Enrollment at Moravian Academy (PA), allowing him to gain additional knowledge on high-level high school curriculum and communities. After 6 years working at Lafayette College, he has been able to work with Army ROTC recruitment and POSSE selection, and has covered territories all over the globe, domestically spanning from Long Island, NY to Southern California, where he now serves as Assistant Director Of West Coast Admissions. Play-by-Play: 2:39 – Welcome and introductions 7:12 – Where does consistent engagement show up in an application? 10:09 – How do institutional priorities impact admission? 19:19 – What does consistent engagement say about the student to an admission reader? 25:50 – How can students brainstorm and prioritize which activities to show on the application? 36:30 – What is the balance of quality over quantity when it comes to activities? 45:05 – FAQs about consistent engagement 45:28 – What if I decide to change activities midway through high school? 52:23 – What if I had to stop my activity? 53:49 – What if I transferred schools and didn’t have time to engage consistently? 57:49 – What are some tips for counselors and educators in this process? 1:07:06 – Closing thoughts Resources: /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/37299070

609: Admission Nutrients (Part 3 of 6: Leadership): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life 06/24/2025

609: Admission Nutrients (Part 3 of 6: Leadership): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life In Episode 3 of our series on Admission Nutrients, Ethan is joined by Deanna Dixon, the Dean of Admission at Smith College, to dive into leadership and initiative. In their conversation, they get into: What are a few of the qualities Smith College looks for? How does their supplemental essay point to their institutional priorities and what they’re looking for in an applicant? Why are leadership and initiative important from Smith’s perspective? What does she think about ChatGPT? When it comes to equity and leveling the playing field, how does she believe the profession is doing? Advice for students and families going through this process And more! Deanna Dixon has worked in college admission since 2006 and currently serves as Dean of Admission at Smith College. As a graduate of a women’s college, she has maintained a deep commitment to women's education and college attainment for marginalized students in general. A parent of a college senior, Deanna appreciates the dedication of college counselors and the shared partnership of matching students to the best school for them. Deanna has a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a master’s degree in business administration from The Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis. We hope you enjoy our conversation. Play-by-Play: 2:09 – Welcome and introductions 2:37 – What are some roles that Deanna plays as Dean of Admission at Smith? 4:59 – What does life look like behind the scenes at Smith? 8:10 – What is yield and why is it important to colleges? 10:01 – What are some of the “positive character attributes” that Smith is looking for? 14:05 – Where do these attributes show up in an application? 17:07 – How does Smith’s supplemental essay point to their institutional priorities? 22:54 – Why are leadership and initiative important from Smith’s perspective? 24:30 – What are some interesting or unconventional examples of students taking initiative or leadership at the high school level? 27:46 – Where does leadership show up on campus at Smith? 31:06 – How have personal statement topics shifted over the years? 36:39 – What’s one of Deanna’s favorite essays she has read? 38:50 – What does Deanna think about ChatGPT? 44:13 – When it comes to equity and leveling the playing field, how does Deanna believe the profession is doing? 49:09 – Advice for students and families going through this process 51:45 – Closing thoughts Resources: Tony Jack’s /episode/index/show/collegeessayguy/id/37061335

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

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