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

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: "The Stains on My Baseball Pants" Essay College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub

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: "Tiny Windows into My Being" Essay College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub

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: "The Pilgrim and the CEO" Essay The Values Exercise The Roles and Identities Exercise The 21 Details Exercise The Essence Objects Exercise  College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

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: "Much Ado About Nothing" Essay College Essay Essentials  College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

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: "My Desk" Essay "Magic" Essay College Essay Essentials  College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub

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: Firestarter Exercise What is STEM? STEM Majors  College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

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: The Values Exercise The Roles and Identities Exercise Why This College Essay Guide + Examples How to Write the "Why this Major" College Essay How to Write the Columbia University Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide 2025/2026 O*NET Career Research Tool College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

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: Second Chance EducationUSA RESOURCES — BigJ Educational Consulting International Applicants – CSS Profile | College Board International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA) International Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC)   College Essay Guy Resources: College Application Hub for International Students How to Use Jennie Kent and Jeff Levy's  Financial Aid Information Excel Sheets 4 Major College Application Deadlines to Keep in Mind College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub   Podcasts:  CEG Podcast Episode 205: That One Time a University Revoked More Than 60 Full Scholarships (And What You Can Do About It) CEG Podcast Episode 211: Financial Aid Tips for International Students (and Their Counselors)—2019 Version CEG Podcast Episode 122: Which Schools Are the Most Generous With Financial Aid? (International Version)

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: The Way Meditation App Drunk Calc  College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

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 here and Part 2 here.  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: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 1): The Sand Essay with Alisha, HS Senior Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 2): Discovering Values Through Revision with Alisha, HS Senior  The Values Exercise College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

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: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 1): The Sand Essay with Alisha, HS Senior How to Cut Down Words in Your College Essay How to Write the Columbia University Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide 2025/2026 College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

In our new series, Inside the Personal Statement Process, we're taking you behind the scenes with Alisha, a current high school senior working through applications right now. If you've ever wondered what it's like working with Ethan in a session, this is the podcast for you!  You might remember a similar series last season with Cassidy, where we got to see her whole application process. Rather than focus on the whole application, I wanted to just dive specifically into working with Alisha through the personal statement process.   In Part 1, Alisha and I get into: How did Alisha approach brainstorming and outlining for her personal statement?  What brainstorming activities helped Alisha to pick her topic? Reading through Alisha's first draft of her personal statement  Creating a reverse outline of Alisha's first draft to set her up for writing the second draft And more! 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. We hope you enjoy our session!   Play-by-Play: 1:40 – Getting to know Alisha through her brainstorming materials 2:12 – Values 3:10 – "I love, I know" exercise  5:32 – Superpowers 6:32 – Career interests  12:00 – "Roles and Identities" exercise 15:09 – "Essence Objects" exercise 17:37 – Alisha discusses her personal statement topic  19:00 –  Alisha walks through her essay outline and examples 31:55 – Alisha reads the first draft of her personal statement  35:45 – Alisha shares her thoughts on her draft 38:50 – Ethan gives feedback  46:00 – Ethan walks through the process of creating a "reverse outline" for draft two Resources: The Values Exercise The Roles and Identities Exercise College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub

  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: The Dulwich Centre The Values Exercise CEG's College Admission Nutrients (aka The Great College Application Test) College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

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 The College Finder 3 Step Guide to Choosing a College That's Right for You Fiske Guide to Colleges SchoolBuff (Dr. Antonoff's website) Future to Find (Jay's website)   College Research Platforms College Navigator  CampusReel  CampusTours  College Scorecard Net Price Calculator Center   Reflection + College Planning Roles and Identities Exercise (with Counselor Notes) How to Decide Whether to Apply Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) Challenge Success (Stanford) Making Caring Common (Harvard)  CEG Podcast Episode 503 with Trisha Ross Anderson (Making Caring Common)  College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub

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 Best First Year. 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 Best First Year (enter the code "CEG" for a discount) CEG Podcast Episode 207: 17 Things to Do Before Going to College CEG Podcast Episode 109: How to Figure Out Which School is Right for You CEG Podcast Episode 121: Which Schools Are the Most Generous With Financial Aid? (US Version) Murphyjitsu: an Inner Simulator algorithm College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

Hi friends, and welcome back to the podcast. This one's going to be short—and honestly, it's an episode I didn't think I was going to record. Why? Well, if you've been following along with Cassidy's journey over the past year, you know we've covered a lot: from brainstorming her personal statement, to revising her supplements, to weighing her college acceptances. And when we wrapped Part 5, I figured we could leave it there. I thought it might be enough to know she had some great options. Silly me. You wrote in. You wanted to know: Where did she end up? So here we are: the final chapter (well, really the beginning) of Cassidy's college journey. In this quick update, Cassidy shares where she's heading this fall, why she chose it, and how she's getting ready for this next step. Huge thanks to Cassidy for letting us in on the process.  I hope you enjoy.   Play-by-Play 1:45 – How has Cassidy been spending the summer and preparing for college?  2:36 – Cassidy shares which school she will be attending this Fall 4:03 – What factors influenced Cassidy's final decision? 7:37 – What advice would Cassidy share with students and families going through this process? 8:43 – Closing thoughts    Resources: How to choose which college to attend: Key factors to consider College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

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 collaboration, 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 leadership, then Tom met with Dysean Alexander (Assistant Director for West Coast Admission at Lafayette College) to talk about consistent engagement and Nathan Faust (Loyola Marymount University) to talk about service to others. 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: College Partnerships with CEG Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Flow, the secret to happiness (TED) CEG Podcast Episode 506: Demonstrated Interest: What Is it, Why Is it Important, and How Do You Show it? with Dean of Enrollment Christine Bowman What is Demonstrated Interest? A Practical How-To Guide College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

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: Why Giving Is Good for Your Health (Resident Psychologist Susan Albers, Cleveland Clinic, 2022, ) Why I changed my mind about volunteering (Rachel Cohen, Vox, 2024, ) Workplace Wellness Programs Why Meaningful, Long-Term Volunteer Opportunities Are The Key To Engaging Your Top Talent (William Aruda, Forbes, 2022) How to Use the Common App Additional Information section and Challenges and Circumstances section: Guide + Examples College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub

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: College Essay Guy's BEABIES Exercise (Public) College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

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 Class Dismissed  3 Step Guide to Choosing a College That's Right for You College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub