Shows
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsAdmission Nutrients (Part 3 of 6: Leadership): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And LifeIn 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 stu...2025-06-2454 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsAdmission Nutrients (Part 2 of 6: Collaboration): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life with Raissa DiamanteIn Episode 2 of our series on Admission Nutrients, Ethan is joined by Raissa Diamante, the Director of Admission at Harvey Mudd College, to do a deep dive into collaboration — why is it important to colleges and where does it show up in the application process? Ethan and Raissa get into, among other things: What does the admission review process look like at Harvey Mudd? Why is collaboration particularly important (spoiler: it’s one of the main things they look for)? Tips for the supplemental essay (side note: it’s a prompt they’ve kept some version of over the past 1...2025-06-101h 00
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsAdmission Nutrients (Part 1 of 6: Intro): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And LifeWelcome back to the College Essay Guy Podcast! Today, Ethan kicks off a brand-new series: Admission Nutrients — qualities that not only enhance a well-balanced college application but can also contribute to a more meaningful life. In Part 1, Ethan introduces these “nutrients,” breaking down what they are, where they show up in the application, and why they matter. In upcoming episodes, Tom and Ethan will be joined by admission officers from different colleges to take a deeper dive into each one. In this episode, Ethan shares: What are Admission Nutrients, and what do they reveal about w...2025-05-2722 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsNavigating College Applications with AI (Part 2): What Colleges Say + My Advice to Students and CounselorsWelcome to Part 2 of 2 of this mini-series on AI in college admission! In our last episode, I interviewed Jen Rubin from foundry10 on how students and counselors are using AI in the college admission process. In today’s episode I’ll get into what colleges have to say, and what I would advise as a result. I’ll get into: My biggest concern with AI… in general (spoiler: it’s much bigger than college applications) My concerns related to AI use in the college application process Common App guidelines + What colleges have to say around AI use What I believe st...2025-05-1316 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsNavigating College Applications with AI (Part 1): How High School Teachers and Students Use Tools Like ChatGPTIn Part 1 of 2 of this mini-series on AI in college admission, Ethan is joined by Jennifer Rubin, Senior Researcher at foundry10 and Principal Investigator of the Digital Technologies and Education Lab. Jen is a first generation college graduate and, like Ethan, she didn't have a ton of support navigating the college application and admission process. When Chat GPT was released, she wondered: How were students actually using these tools for the college essay and application process? And how can we make sure AI becomes a tool for equity, not another advantage for students who already have access? I...2025-04-2949 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsInside the Application (Part 5): How to Decide Which College to Attend with Cassidy, HS SeniorHi friends, and welcome back to the podcast! Many of you have been following Cassidy, a current high school senior, as she navigates the college application process. We've walked through her brainstorming exercises, her personal statement writing, and her supplemental essays. And now, at long last, Cassidy has received her college acceptances. Rather than reading the email she sent me, I replied, "Hey, I know you got your acceptances. What if we do a live reveal on the podcast?" So, I genuinely don’t know yet where she's been accepted. Huge shoutout to Cassidy for ag...2025-04-1532 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions603: Leading Through Chaos: 7 Superpowers for Uncertain Times with Angel PérezWelcome back to the podcast! Ethan is joined today by Angel Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Angel has just written a new book on leadership called The Hottest Seat on Campus. It’s written for leaders on college campuses, but the advice he gives is applicable to leaders everywhere, whether you are a college counselor leading in your office, a parent leading in your home, or even a student leading in your school or community. In their conversation, Angel and Ethan discuss: How does Angel define leadership? Why is detachment so imp...2025-04-011h 24
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions602: Roles and Identities Part 2 (for Counselors and Educators): A Framework for Understanding How Your Roles Shape Your WorkTo kick off Season 6, Ethan shares some practical resources based on a new framework he's been exploring. If you’re a regular listener, you’ll already be familiar with something we call the Roles and Identities List, which is a huge menu of roles (things like “catalyst” and “change-maker” and “party-bringer”) — Ethan has used it as a get-to-know-you exercise with a number of previous guests. In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this mini-series where Ethan walked through some practical exercises for students and parents based on the Roles and Identities framework. But what about counselors...2025-03-1824 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions601: Roles and Identities Part 1 (for Students and Parents): A Framework for Exploring Who You’ve Been, Who You Are, and Who You’re BecomingTo kick off Season 6, Ethan shares some practical resources based on a new framework he's been exploring. If you’re a regular listener, you’ll already be familiar with something we call the Roles and Identities List, which is a huge menu of roles (things like “catalyst” and “change-maker” and “party-bringer”) — Ethan has used it as a get-to-know-you exercise with a number of previous guests. Today’s episode is the first of two where Ethan will dive into a few short, practical exercises for students and parents that can help them figure out things like how they’d like to focus their ti...2025-03-0428 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions523: Busting College Admission Myths Using Data: Standardized Tests, Rankings, and the Cost of College with Akil BelloIn today’s episode, Ethan is joined by Akil Bello to talk about standardized tests, rankings, and the cost of college. They dig into some common misconceptions about college including: Are most colleges returning to requiring standardized testing scores? Is it too hard to get into college? Are highly-ranked colleges better? Is it true that most colleges now cost more than $100,000 per year to attend? And more! Akil Bello is an educator, strategist, researcher, policy consultant, and advocate for equitable access to education. For more than 30 years, he’s worked every job you can imagine related to...2024-12-1751 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsStorytelling & Identity with Ethan Sawyer (Part 4 Bonus Episode!): On Balancing Identities, Writing as a Journey, and the Mystery of EnoughnessIn our most recent series on storytelling and identity, Ethan sat down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In this bonus episode, the tables are turned as Ethan is interviewed by CEG Essay Coach, Ali Pineo. In their conversation, Ethan and Ali get into: Ethan’s background and how his identity has evolved over the years The roles Ethan identifies with most: connector, harmonizer, and seeker How Ethan measures success in his personal and professional life His journey from as...2024-12-031h 14
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsStorytelling & Identity with Ryan Maldonado (Part 3 of 3): On Code-switching, Photographing Living Rooms, and Growing up Not-Rich in MiamiIn this three-part series, Ethan sits down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In Episode 3, Ethan is joined by screenwriter Ryan Maldonado, known for his work on AMC’s Parish, Hulu’s Death and Other Details, Amazon’s Hunters, Chicago PD, FBI, and Grey’s Anatomy. Ryan and Ethan talk about, among other things: Ryan’s origin story, how he identifies, and how he became a storyteller What Ryan’s writing process is like and what it’s like working...2024-11-191h 20
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsStorytelling & Identity w/Whit Anderson (Part 2 of 3): Beating Writer's Block, Writing RomComs and Space Operas, and Female Representation in HollywoodIn this three-part series, Ethan sits down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In Episode 2, Ethan is joined by screenwriter Whit Anderson, known for her work on Daredevil, The Twilight Zone, and Ozark. Whit and Ethan talk about, among other things: How a life-changing illness inspired one of her screenplays The cultural role that storytellers and screenwriters play Whit’s approach to writing, including the use of visuals and detailed outlines The challenges of working in a male...2024-11-051h 11
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsStorytelling & Identity with Dave Callaham (Part 1 of 3): What it’s Like Writing Marvel Movies, Asian-American Representation in Hollywood, and Advice on Finding Your VoiceIn this new three-part series, Ethan sits down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In Episode 1, Ethan is joined by screenwriter Dave Callaham, known best for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wonder Woman 1984 and many others. Dave and Ethan discuss, among other things: When Dave knew he was a storyteller The “armor” that Dave wears (how he presents physically vs. who he is) What the process of writing Shang-Chi was l...2024-10-221h 53
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsInside the Application (Part 4): How to Know if You’re “Almost Done” with Your College ApplicationToday’s episode is part four of our series Inside the Application. Ethan is joined by Cassidy, a current high school senior who is working on her college applications for the Fall 2025 term. Cassidy’s application deadlines are coming up, so Ethan and Cassidy check out what she has so far through a process called the “Almost Done” review. They discuss about, among other things: Where do things stand & how’s Cassidy feeling about the application? What values come through in each piece of Cassidy’s writing? Where do Ethan (and Cassidy) see opportunities for revision to bring more of hersel...2024-10-081h 15
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsInside the Application (Part 3): Supplemental Essay Deep Dive + Developing the College List w/ Special Guest Renee FerrerioToday’s episode is part three of our series, Inside the Application. Ethan is joined by Cassidy, a current high school senior who is working on her college applications for the Fall 2025 term. This episode is a deep dive into the supplemental essays — specific essays that many selective colleges and universities require. In particular, Cassidy and Ethan get into: How to write the “What would you bring to our campus” essay How to write an essay that focuses on “intellectual vitality” How to write the “roommate” essay Tips on the short answer questions (50 words or less) And more Finally, we close...2024-09-181h 14
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsInside the Application (Part 2): Developing the Personal Statement, Supplemental Essays, and College List with Cassidy, HS SeniorToday’s episode is part two of our series, Inside the Application. Ethan is joined by Cassidy, a current high school senior who is working on her college applications for the Fall 2025 term. Ethan and Cassidy will be walking step-by-step through the college application process as it unfolds this school year. In episode 2, they get into: How is Cassidy’s personal statement coming along? What does Cassidy want colleges to know about her? How is Cassidy approaching her supplemental essays? What is Cassidy looking for in a college and how did she develop her list? And more Stay...2024-09-031h 02
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsInside the Application Part 1: Brainstorming, Outlining, and Drafting with Cassidy, HS SeniorToday’s episode kicks off a new series, Inside the Application. Ethan is joined by Cassidy, a current high school senior who is working on her college applications for the Fall 2025 term. Ethan and Cassidy will be walking step-by-step through the college application process as it unfolds this school year. In episode 1, they get into: How did Cassidy approach brainstorming and outlining for her personal statement? What brainstorming activities helped Cassidy pick her topic? Cassidy’s first draft of her personal statement Ethan’s suggestions for revision And more This series will also be different in that, normally...2024-08-2043 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsNavigating Mental Health Disclosures in the College Application: The Student PerspectiveWelcome to the final episode to our special three-part series on mental health disclosures in college applications. In Episode 3, Ethan’s guest is Emi Nietfeld, author of Acceptance (Penguin Press '22), a critically-acclaimed memoir of her high school journey through foster care, homelessness, and the troubled teen industry to attend college at Harvard. In this frank conversation, Emi opens up about, among other things: How the notion of disclosing (or not disclosing) may actually be somewhat problematic The difference between writing about challenges in general… and writing about them for the purposes of the college application The role she...2024-08-0650 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsNavigating Mental Health Disclosures in the College Application: The Admission Officer Perspective with Christina LopezWelcome to the next episode to our special three-part series on mental health disclosures in college applications. In Episode 2, Ethan is joined by Christina Lopez, Dean of Enrollment Management at Barnard College. They cover, among other things: Why is this topic important—both generally, but also personally, for Christina? What advice would Christina give to students about whether or not to disclose? What does Christina look for in a personal statement? How can college counselors and parents help their students navigate this process? And more Christina Lopez has served in college admissions for 18 years. She attended New York Un...2024-07-2551 min
Listen and Learn With the Power of Full AudiobookCollege Essay Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Successful College Admissions Essay Audiobook by Ethan SawyerListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 796897
Title: College Essay Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Successful College Admissions Essay
Author: Ethan Sawyer
Narrator: Brian Arens
Format: Unabridged
Length: 06:50:48
Language: English
Release date: 07-15-24
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Genres: Non-Fiction, Education
Summary:
Let the College Essay Guy take the stress out of writing your college admission essay. Packed with brainstorming activities, college personal statement samples, and more, this audiobook provides a clear, stress-free road map to writing your best admission essay.
Writing a college admission essay doesn't have to be stressful. College counselor...2024-07-156h 50
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsNavigating Mental Health Disclosures in the College Application: The Counselor PerspectiveWelcome to our special three-part series on mental health disclosures in college applications. To kick things off, Ethan interviews Chris Loo, Director of College Counseling at The Stony Brook School, where Chris has been working to help students navigate mental health disclosures in their applications for years. In this episode, they explore: Which student populations does Chris see struggle with mental health challenges? When to disclose mental health issues and when it might not be necessary How and where in their applications students can disclose, from their additional info section to the counselor recommendation letter to the personal s...2024-07-1159 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsIdentity, Self-Care, and the Future of College Admission w/ NACAC CEO Angel PérezIn today's episode, Ethan connects with Angel Pérez (CEO of the National Association of College Admission Counselors) to discuss identity, his personal journey with self-care, and where he sees the college admission profession heading. On the episode, you’ll hear Angel and Ethan discuss: Angel’s brainstorming work for his own imagined college essay (yes, really) What Angel’s core values have to do with his self-care journey Strategies and techniques Angel (and Ethan) use for self care How does Angel see the US college landscape (and/or admissions process) changing in the next 5 years? Fun fa...2024-06-2755 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhat Colleges Want (Part 9): A Crash Course in Standardized TestingToday’s episode concludes our 9-part “What Colleges Want” series, where we’ve been walking through the results of the report released by the National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) regarding the factors that colleges deem important. Ethan is joined by Jay Rosner (Executive Director of The Princeton Review Foundation) to talk about standardized testing. In this episode they get into: What are the origins of the SAT? What’s changed in the testing landscape in the last year or two? Does test optional really mean test optional? How much standardized tests matter for colleges? How do studen...2024-06-1148 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhat Colleges Want (Part 7A): Recommendation Letter Crash Course for Students and FamiliesThis week, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) is joined by Ayesha King (Director of College Counseling at the International School of Los Angeles) to talk about letters of recommendation. They get into: What goes into a letter of recommendation? How are they evaluated by colleges? Who should students consider asking, and how do they ask? What can students and families do to ensure that their letters are the best they can be? What are FERPA rights and why should you waive them? Ayesha King (she/her) has over twelve years of experience in admissions at the sec...2024-04-0952 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhat Colleges Want (Part 6): Demonstrated Interest: What Is it, Why Is it Important, and How Do You Show it? with Dean of Enrollment Christine BowmanOn today’s episode, Ethan is joined by Christine Bowman, Assistant VP for Admission at Southwestern University. In part 6 in our series on What Colleges Want, Ethan and Christine get into: What is demonstrated interest and how do colleges track it? How important is demonstrated interest to a student’s chance of getting in? How might students find out if a particular school considers demonstrated interest in their admission review? What are some practical ways you can demonstrate your interest to colleges? Christine Bowman is the Assistant VP for Admission at Southwestern, where she oversees the admission depar...2024-03-2658 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhat Colleges Want (Part 5): A Crash Course in the Supplemental Essays + Application with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy)On this week’s episode, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) sits down with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy) for Part 5 in our What Colleges Want series to talk about some of the other written parts of the application—the activities list, additional information section, and supplemental essays. Tom and Ethan get into: How can students write a great Activities List? How can you find out what colleges are looking for in the supplemental essays? And what even is the additional information section? What is a ‘Super Essay’ and how might it be useful? How does a student know when t...2024-03-1250 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhat Colleges Want (Part 4): A Crash Course in the Personal Statement with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy)On this week’s episode, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) sits down with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy) for Part 4 in our What Colleges Want series to talk about the personal statement. According to the latest State of College Admission report – after grades, course rigor, and positive character traits (see previous episodes), the college essay is what colleges care about most. Tom and Ethan get into: What is the purpose of the personal statement? How do you find a topic, especially if you’re not writing about challenges? Why do I recommend students NOT choose a common extra...2024-03-0551 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhat Colleges Want (Part 3): "Positive Character Attributes": What Are They, and How Do You Show Them in Your College Application?In today’s two-part episode, we’re delving into one of the potentially more confusing aspects of what colleges want — “positive character attributes” — which 65.8% of colleges give considerable or moderate importance. In part 1, I’m joined by Tom Bear (VP for Enrollment at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology) and Bob Massa (former chief admissions/enrollment officer at Johns Hopkins University, Dickinson College and Drew University) to discuss: What are these positive character attributes? Why are they important to colleges? How do colleges decide which qualities to seek and how to evaluate for them? How do students show these qualities...2024-02-131h 02
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhat Colleges Want (Part 2): A Deep Dive into GPA, Course Selection, and Making the Most of the Academic Opportunities Available to YouOn today’s episode, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) and Nitzya Cuevas-Macias (Director of College Programs at Downtown College Prep) cover: How do students decide which classes to take—and what questions should they ask when deciding? Key recommendations for selecting English, math, science, social studies, language, and elective courses The most frequently asked questions we get asked about courses and grades Nitzya Cuevas-Macias was a first-gen college student at UC Berkeley where she studied History and Legal Studies, and earned her Master’s in Mexican American Studies from San José State. She’s been working in educatio...2024-01-241h 01
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhat Colleges Want (Part 1): A Deep Dive into the Factors Colleges Deem Important & State of College Admissions ReportShow Notes On today's episode, Ethan sits down with David Hawkins, Chief Education and Policy Officer at National Association of College Admission Counselors (aka NACAC), and they get discuss, among other things: What are the most important factors colleges consider? What significant changes has he seen in the college admission landscape in the past few years? How has the emphasis on college essays (aka the personal statement) shifted? Why has the emphasis in standardized testing changed? What have the impacts been of the Supreme Court decision to ban race conscious admission? How can students, counselors, and pare...2024-01-0951 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsA Crash Course in Paying for College & Common Affordability MythsOn today’s episode, Ethan is joined by Amanda Miller, who got her start in financial aid through the College Advising Corps at Davidson College in 2014. A few thousand students, several resources, and dozens of financial aid presentations later, Amanda’s an independent financial aid specialist and college adviser who also serves as the financial aid go-to lady for the Matchlighters program and someone we consider to be a part of the extended College Essay Guy family. Ethan and Amanda discuss: How do people identify the best ways to pay for college? What are some things that p...2023-12-2856 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsIntellectual Curiosity + College Admissions: What It Is, Why It Matters to Colleges, and How to Show ItIn today’s episode, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) and Susan Tree (a college counseling and admissions legend with 40+ years of experience) chat about “intellectual curiosity”: a quality that many colleges actively look for in students, yet is a little more ambiguous and nuanced compared to mapping out a high school course plan. This is part 2 of a series about students’ academic background and interests and how they factor into the admissions process. Part 1 is about all things related to the academic part of a student’s college application— which, at many selective colleges, is seen as the “foot i...2023-12-2047 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsApplying to College as a First-Generation or Low-Income Student: The Matchlighters Scholars Program ExperienceHey all, today’s episode is a special one. We had one of our rockstar essay coaches, Shira Harris, sit down with two of her former Matchlighter students, Milena Veliz and Sayem Kamal, to discuss their experiences navigating the college application process as First Generation Low Income Students. At the time of the recording, Milena was an incoming sophomore at Macaulay Honors College at John Jay and Sayem was an incoming freshman at Columbia University. They both received full scholarships at their respective schools. In the episode, we’ll listen to Shira, Milena, and Sayem discuss (among other...2023-12-1243 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsFinding Your Why, What a Liberal Arts Education Really Is, and How to Figure out What You Actually WantOn Season 1 of the podcast, Ethan had a great conversation with Maria Furtado, then Executive Director of the Colleges That Change Lives organization (also known as “CTCL”). It’s a lovely chat and to date one of our most downloaded episodes. On today’s episode Ethan had the pleasure of sitting down with her successor, Ann Marano, and they get into: Where to start when it comes to the college search How to myth bust yourself (a practical exercise) What questions to ask when you’re searching for a college Some things Ann and Ann and Ethan wished t...2023-12-0556 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsRegional Spotlights: Attending College in The South w/ Renee FerrerioOn today’s episode, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) hosts the first installment of a new series called Regional Spotlights, which will bring on college counseling experts who have deep history or knowledge of the exciting college options from (and cultural nuances of) a particular geographic region. We’re kicking off this series with Colleges in The South. Our Southern specialist and special guest today is CEG’s very own Renee Ferrerio. Renee began her career more than 30 years ago, first as a public-school counselor and more recently as the Director of College Counseling at The O’...2023-11-211h 17
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsA Crash Course in College Athletic Recruiting w/ Katie AndersenMy guest is Katie Andersen, a former NCAA Division 1 Women’s Soccer player at Duke University, who now advises student-athletes through her organization, College Fit OC. She’s also the co-founder of The Student-Athlete Advisors, which focuses on educating and mentoring educational consultants who advise college-bound student-athletes. Our conversation turned into a veritable crash course in college athletic recruiting. We get into, among other things: How a student can know if they can realistically play their sport at the college level When students should start their athletic recruiting process Can a college coach actually help a stud...2023-11-0258 min
Everything & Nothing2.14 - Montana SawyerA brother from another mother. A thoughtful skier who isn't afraid to follow his dreams. Sawyer Wilcox: Welcome to the show!
Find Ethan:
Insta: https://instagram.com/ethan_lives_life?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@i.love.you.be.you?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc2023-10-291h 25
ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastEthan Sawyer on Figuring Out Who You Are and What You Care AboutSeason Premiere: Ethan Sawyer, founder of College Essay Guy, kicks off Season 8 of the ALP and we quickly learn it's not about the essay ... it's about figuring out who you are and what you care about. We talk about the applicability of Ethan's discovery exercises to everybody (not just college applicants), why Ethan might be the perfect candidate to interview Ken someday, and what roles Jesus and diapers play in the origin story of College Essay Guy.ReferencesCollege admission resources following the SCOTUS decision to end race-conscious admission decisions.Is it “Okay” to W...2023-10-131h 03
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions10 Critical Things Trans Youth (and Their Counselors and Caregivers) Should Know in High School and When Applying to College w/ Shannon and Sam BergeronOn this episode I had the honor of sitting down with Sam and Shannon Bergeron. Sam is a transgender man who transitioned in high school (in Texas) and who now works in college admissions at his alma mater, Hampshire College. Shannon is Founder of Core College Consulting, where she specializes in using a whole child college counseling™ approach. She’s been a school counselor for more than 20 years, a volunteer with Matchlighters Scholars program, and she’s also Sam’s mom, an ally, and an advocate for trans students. We discuss a number of critical things trans youth, th...2023-10-111h 00
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsBehind the Scenes of an Admission Office + Supplemental Essay Deep Dive w/ Rick DiazOn today’s episode I got to sit down with Rick Diaz, the Regional Director of Admission for Southern Methodist University (SMU) and someone I’ve known for more than 15 years. We have a pretty wide ranging discussion that covers: A behind-the-scenes look at how SMU reads applications and how they shape a class—and what that even means Then we dive into supplemental essays — in particular the impacts of the Supreme Court’s decision to ban race-conscious admission — and how that decision has led to a large number of selective schools changing or adding new supplemental essay prompts. We...2023-09-2958 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhy You Don’t Have to Write about Trauma in Your College Essay to Stand Out—and What You Can Do Instead w/ Tina YongIn this episode I sat down with TED speaker Tina Yong to talk about why students don’t have to write about trauma in a college essay to stand out—and what they can do instead. We discussed, among other things: Tina’s experience as an immigrant/racialized person feeling the pressure to turn her personal story into a personal statement with a linear, digestible plot—and how she realized how damaging this could be damaging to students of color How Tina believes this is more a systemic issue The recent Supreme Court ruling and how it can be...2023-09-151h 02
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions7 Cosas Que Las Familias Latinas Deben Saber Sobre Cómo Prepararse Para la Universidad / 7 Things Latinx Families Need to Know About Preparing for College w/ Lorenzo GamboaToday is a special episode in that it’s bilingual—the first part is in Spanish, the second part in English. My guest is Lorenzo Gamboa (Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach at Santa Clara University) and we’re discussing some of the things he believes Latinx families should know as they prepare for college. Hoy es un episodio especial porque es bilingüe: la primera parte es en español, la segunda parte en inglés. Dejame terminar la introduccion en ingles y ya regreso en espanol. On this episode, we discuss a variety of miscon...2023-09-0748 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsRace-Conscious Admission Was Struck Down—What Does This Mean and What Can Students and College Counselors Do? w/ Jay RosnerIn this episode we’re talking about the Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down race-conscious admission and what the implications might be for colleges, students applying to those colleges, and the counselors who advise them. And what better person to talk about it with than Jay Rosner, whose entire career has been devoted to the intersection of law and college admissions. This is the first in a series where we’ll be exploring the impacts of the SCOTUS decision from a variety of perspectives. Jay Rosner and I get into: What the affi...2023-09-0136 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsAP, IB, Honors, Oh My! How Admissions Officers View Your High School Courses, Rigor, and School Context w/Susan TreeIn today’s episode, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) and Susan Tree (a college counseling and admissions legend with 40+ years of experience) chat about all things related to the academic part of a student’s college application— which, at many selective colleges, is seen as the “foot in the door” of their selection process. This is part 1 of a series we’ll be doing around students’ academic background and interests and how they factor into the admissions process. Part 2 is all about “intellectual curiosity”: a quality that many colleges actively look for in students, yet is a little more ambigu...2023-08-0351 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsHow to Create a (Sustainable, Nourishing, Energizing, Intentional) Morning Ritual with Sage SimpsonIf you’re ever wondering, how did Ethan land on those words, “ease, purpose, and joy,” well to be honest — it came from a brainstorming conversation with today's podcast guest, Sage Howard. Sage is a meditation & yoga teacher and wellness coach whom I have known for more than 15 years, and who fully embodies ease, purpose, and joy. On this episode we talk about, among other things: Why mornings are so darn important A little of the science behind our nervous system (including our sympathetic and parasympathetic states get triggered) A few ways morning rituals can improve...2023-07-2146 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsNACAC CEO Angel Pérez—Self-care for counselors, leaders, and professionals in helping rolesOn this episode I chat with Angel Perez to discuss his personal journey with burnout, self-care, and therapy, and I even share some of my own personal journey — and we connect on what it might mean to find more ease, purpose, and joy in our own lives. This is part 1 of a series I’ll be doing on self-care this year. You’ll notice Angel mentions a morning routine — in part 2 you’ll meet wellness coach Sage Simpson, who will get into the practical specifics of how to create a morning routine for yourself. On the epi...2023-07-2156 min
The Harlan Cohen PodcastEthan Sawyer: College Essay GuyThe Harlan Cohen Podcast
Ethan Sawyer is a nationally recognized college essay expert, sought-after speaker, and author of the quintessential Amazon bestseller College Essay Essentials. Also check out his newest book College Admissions Essentials. Each year he helps thousands of students and counselors through his online courses, workshops, articles, products, and books, and works privately with a small number of students.
Raised in Spain, Ecuador, and Colombia, Ethan has studied at seventeen different schools, is a graduate from Northwestern University, and holds an MFA from UC Irvine as well as two counseling certificates. He has...2023-06-0153 min
Building a Furniture Brand with Ethan AbramsonDon't Talk About It, Be About It with Nick Sawyer of Sawyer Design
On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Nick Sawyer owner of the Portland, Oregon-based furniture company Sawyer Design.
This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan
Not all those who wander are lost. This could easily sum up the beginning of Nick’s working life. He had the drive, he just didn’t know what that drive was pushing him towards.
With the help of a mentor, a new city, good experiences as well as hard ones, and a new...2022-05-0448 min
Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn HoldernessHow to Not Freak Out About College Admissions with Ethan SawyerWhen intimidating headlines like “college admissions scandals” are swirling around, it seems like a perfectly natural reaction to feel overwhelmed and stressed out when applying to college is on the horizon. For us, having a high school aged daughter, the college application process has already been a topic of conversation in our home. We spoke to The College Essay Guy, Ethan Sawyer, and he told us that we can not only make the college admissions less stressful, but we might even have a little fun in the process. Ethan has tons of resources available to help when...2022-02-2251 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsPart 1: Behind the Scenes of an Admission Office w/ Tom CampbellMy guest this time is Tom Campbell — who at the time of this recording was Assistant Dean Of Admissions at Pomona College. Tom was formerly the Assistant Director Of Admissions at College of the Holy Cross, his alma mater, and also serves as a Group Leader, Essay Specialist and Faculty Member at the very awesome College Horizons. This is another episode in our series that goes behind the scenes of an admissions office to let you know what happens when you click submit on your application—where does it go? Who reads it? What are they thinking? How...2022-01-191h 03
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsPart 2: Behind the Scenes of an Admission Office w/ Tom CampbellTom Campbell is back for another episode in our series that goes behind the scenes of an admissions office to let you know what happens when you click submit on your application—where does it go? Who reads it? What are they thinking? How do they make decisions? At the time of this recording, Tom Campbell was Assistant Dean Of Admissions at Pomona College. Tom was formerly the Assistant Director Of Admissions at College of the Holy Cross, his alma mater, and also serves as a Group Leader, Essay Specialist and Faculty Member at the very awesome Co...2022-01-191h 06
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsBehind the Scenes of an Admission Counselor's Life w/ Kati SweaneyThis episode I'm with with Kati Sweaney, Senior Assistant Dean of Admission at Reed College. It's the first in a series of interviews with current and former college admissions officers where we go behind the scenes to let you know how things work. In this episode we get into: The life of an admission officer, including what their travel season is like Do’s and don’ts for that initial email to an admissions office What is demonstrated interest? Why it matters for colleges to predict who attends their school Some other ways students can dem...2022-01-1959 min
The Hoffman PodcastS3E13 Ethan Sawyer - Excited to Dig Deep
This is a beautiful episode with Ethan Sawyer, a nationally recognized college essay expert. Ethan is able to articulate things that are often hard to put into words. It makes sense he would be an expert at helping students to do just that.
People come to the Hoffman Process for many different reasons. Ethan didn’t have a thing he was particularly struggling with and didn’t feel particularly blocked. He came because he “was ready.” Ethan was really excited to dig deep into himself. He came wanting to learn about himself and as he shares...2021-08-1238 min
The Bold Student PodcastDiscovering Your True Identity & Values with Ethan SawyerHave you ever thought of following your passion in life? Pursuing a path that aligns with your core values may not look like the career journey you envisioned, but it will help you facilitate your personal growth, uncover your true identity, and find happiness in life. When you find the thing that brings you joy, you have to keep going and keep doing it. In this episode, I am talking to the incredible Ethan Sawyer, best-selling author, mentor, and creator of CollegeEssayGuy.com, an online resource hub that makes college admissions accessible for everyone. Today w...2021-05-1340 min
Cyndy's Friday Forums25: Concrete Ways to Increase College Access in 2021- Interview with Ethan Sawyer, The College Essay GuyCollege admissions has been challenging this year due to the pandemic. How have these challenges affected college access for students? In an interview with Cyndy McDonald, Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy discusses those challenges, and shares ideas for ways counselors can help increase college access in the next year.
Here are the links Ethan shares for more ideas of Concrete Methods to Increase College Access
1. Here's the link to apply for Matchlighters (one-to-one essay help).
2. Here's the link to apply for the Counselor Match Program.
3. Here are all the 40+...2021-02-231h 00
The Fearless StorytellerThe Power of Language with J. Daniel Sawyer
J. Daniel Sawyer is the author of over 70 novels and short stories and co-host of The Every Day Novelist podcast.
In today’s episode, we talk about:
Learning by doing.
The difference between Art and Craft.
How pre-Internet radio dramas influenced his writing.
The essence of creation.
Seeking out diversity of thought, belief, and experience.
The power of written language.
Cancel culture.
His publishing business strategy.
If there’s one thing that stands out about today’s guest, it’s his love of books. To learn more, be sure to listen to today’s episode of The Fearless...2021-01-251h 02
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions17 Things Students of Color (+ Their Counselors and Parents) Should Know When Applying to CollegeIn this episode we cover, among other things: Ways that students of Color can advocate for themselves while in high school How to research Historically Black Colleges and Universities Ways to learn more about fit at colleges that are not minority-serving Where to find more financial aid after you’ve been accepted How parents can get involved to advocate for their students in high school and college How counselors can more fully serve students of Color & First steps that counselors can take to become focused on racial equity and anti-racism Resources: Shifting Narratives Toward Healing: Disrupting Tr...2020-09-1249 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsResources for LGBTQ+ Students from Campus PrideCampus Pride is THE go-to resource for LGBTQ students and their families and my guest on this episode, civil rights champion Shane Windmeyer, is the one to thank for its very existence. On this episode we discuss: How Shane get involved in this work in the first place How is the college search process for LGBTQ+ students? What are some great questions to ask when visiting campuses? Common mistakes students make in the process How can LGBTQ students find scholarships? Should students come out in their essays? If so, how? Resources: The Campus Pride Index2019-10-0731 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsSelf-Directed Learning (Why You Can Quit HS & Be Okay)This is the second of two episodes on homeschooling and self-directed learning. My guest is writer, speaker, and fellow podcaster Blake Boles, whose work invites students and families to re-evaluate the traditional schooling model--are the typical high school and college experiences really the best ways to spend your time? On this episode we discuss: Can you (really) quit high school and not totally ruin your life? Why is this the best time ever for self-directed learning? How can we all be more self directed learners? Why you should: Google everything, Email strangers, and Find your nerd clan The be...2019-10-0254 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsAdvice for Homeschooling StudentsThis is the first of two episodes on homeschooling and self-directed learning, something that as the father of a four year-old I am way into. My guest is Becca Orlowski, a teacher and consultant with more than two decades of experience in the independent homeschooling world. On this episode we talk about: What are some common homeschooling myths? Is it true, for example, that homeschooling is “too much work” for any parent in their right minds? Are colleges biased towards homeschoolers… against… neither or both? What kinds of folks choose to homeschool and can parents homeschool and work? Different h...2019-09-2348 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsFinancial Aid Tips for International Students (and Their Counselors)This is the last episode in a three-part series on paying for college. My guest is Joan Liu, a college counselor who has a giant heart to go with her giant brain. In this episode she draws on her years of experience helping international students who need financial aid in order to attend college in the US. We cover a range of topics that will apply to both students and counselors, including: How is the application process different for students who need full financial aid? For counselors, how is working with a full-financial aid students different than other s...2019-09-1640 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsThe Being Not-Rich GuideThis is episode two in a three-part series on paying for college. My guest for this episode is Lauren Schandevel, a 4th year Public Policy student at the University of Michigan and creator of the “Being Not-Rich” Guide--more on that shortly. On this episode we discuss: Where did the inspiration for the “Being Not-Rich” Guide come from? In what ways are higher ed institutions unsympathetic to the needs of low-income students, and how can this widen the gap between them and their wealthier peers? What’s in the guide? What’s been the impact? How you can access Lauren’s gui...2019-09-0722 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsPaying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American DreamMy guest for this first episode is Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, Professor of Higher Education Policy & Sociology at Temple University, author of Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream. On this episode we discuss: Why has paying for college become such a problem? Which students are most impacted by needs insecurity and why don’t students tell their stories of struggle? How is the current financial aid system broken, and what are some solutions? How can students avoid getting into debt without getting a degree? Advice for students currently applying A really spe...2019-09-0227 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsResources for First-Generation Students (and Their Counselors)On this episode, which is part 3 of 3 in my series on access and equity in the college admissions process, I sit down with their Chief Strategy Officer of Strive for College, Matt Rubinoff, who for years has been advocating for first-generation and low-income students. We discuss, among other things: What’s so special about being first anyway? Why first-generation students should take a “What’s in it for me?” approach Resources for first-generation students and their counselors, including (one of my all-time favorites) the “I’m First! Guide to College,” which highlights resources and opportunities available to first-gen students at hu...2019-08-2623 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions17 Things to Do Before Going to CollegeHi friends! This is the first time on the podcast that I discuss the “what comes next” of the college admissions process--and who better to do it than Harlan Cohen, author of the NY Times bestseller, The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College--a book I’ve had on my bookshelf for many years. On this podcast Harlan offers so much great advice from: A simple exercise to help set you up for a great freshman year How to find your people on campus Whether or not you should break up with your high school...2019-05-2749 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions30 Ways to Center Equity And Justice Today w/ Marie Bigham For this episode, which is Part 2 of 3 on my series on access and equity, I interview Marie Bigham of ACCEPT. Marie and I jam on 30 practical ways that you can increase your participation in equity and justice in the world of college admissions and beyond. Whether you’re a parent, student, counselor, or admissions rep, you’ll find something for you. Marie Bigham is the founder of ACCEPT: Admissions Community Cultivating Equity and Peace Today, a social media-based action group for the admissions profession, which received the Excellence in Education Award from t...2019-02-1141 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsThat One Time a University Revoked More Than 60 Full Scholarships (And What You Can Do About It)This episode is part one of three on access and equity in the college counseling community. Today we meet Joan Liu, a counselor at a high school in Southeast Asia, who has been working on the front lines of access and equity issues during her career. When over 60 Nepali students suddenly lost their full-tuition scholarships in April of last year, Joan decided to do something about it. That story--and what happened next--is what we discuss on this podcast. This story was picked up by the Washington Post and the Chronicle of Higher Ed. They are seeking help f...2018-12-1022 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhat You Need to Know About Standardized Tests and Mistakes to AvoidIn this episode you’ll hear Adam’s take on: What’s a “good” score? How much do SAT scores matter? Do students even need standardized tests? When should students take the test? What’s the difference between the SAT and the ACT? Do students need the optional essay? The most important things to know about subject tests A few words about the PSAT Important notes for students with learning differences How students should define success in college admissions testing 2018-05-1149 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions10 Ways Parents Can Support Their Students Through The College Application ProcessOn this podcast we discuss: Why parents should stop telling their students that there are tons of school and to not worry about where they will go Why (and how) to limit the amount of time you spend talking about college When the best time to start talking about college is The three most stressful parts of college admissions for students--and how to mitigate that stress What Lisa is most and least proud of as a parent when it came to helping her own kids through the college application process 2018-05-0941 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions25 Practical Ways to Reduce Testing AnxietyOn this episode we discuss, among other things: How common testing anxiety is (you may be surprised) How anxiety functions in the body Strategies for changing how you think about anxiety #reframing Some ways you can understand and adjust self-talk What cognitive rehearsal is and how it can help A brief intro to the emotional freedom technique How regulating your breathing can help 2018-04-0647 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsTest Optional Admissions 101: What, Why, Where, Who?On this episode we discuss: Are standardized tests evil? What are some other standardized test myths that people tend to believe? To what extent does the SAT or ACT measure what students need to know in college? Important statistics from “Crossing the Finish Line,” a book that outlines the research around how well standardized test scores predict actual student performance in life and in college. What is the difference between “test optional” and “test flexible”? If students don’t submit standardized test scores, does this have an impact on scholarships and financial aid? Does applying to a college without a test...2018-04-0436 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsCollege Interview Tips and StrategiesThis episode is an interview… on interviews! Monica James--whom you may’ve heard previously on the podcast in the episode on Demonstrated Interest--absolutely crushes it in this interview, offering more practical advice than you’ll find in most weekend workshops on this topic. And it’s no wonder: for years she’s been teaching people (and in particular high school students) how to give great interviews. We cover, among other things: Why do colleges give interviews? Can a bad interview actually hurt your application chances? How do you prepare for the interview? What’s the one thing that colleges are...2017-12-281h 02
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsShould You Apply Early Decision or Regular Decision? (And the Chart That Can Help You Decide)Should you apply Early Decision or not? Is there a statistical advantage to applying early or not? When making this decision, it might help to know what the regular decision acceptance rate is for a school and what the Early Decision acceptance rate for a school is and then compare those numbers. That’s the first thing we cover on this episode. After that we discuss: Why did they choose the metrics they chose (i.e. why do these numbers matter)? What are some of the dangers of interpreting this data Who is early decision right for and who...2017-12-0448 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhich Schools Are the Most Generous With Financial Aid? (International Version) On this episode I talk with Jennie about: Why she created the chart in the first place She explains why your student doesn’t have to be incredible in order to get merit aid How much students’ ability to pay matters in admissions How to use the chart, including how Jennie walks students through a consultation Why students might decline to ask for merit-based aid Links: The excel sheet of universities sorted by financial aid generosity (international students) How to sort an excel sheet by column FAFSA Forecaster Jennie Kent’s website A PDF version...2017-12-0443 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhich Schools Are the Most Generous With Financial Aid? (US Version)On this episode Jeff and I discuss this rad resource on which schools are most generous with financial aid and after he shares with us his story, we discuss: Three huge myths that students and parents have about financially planning for college Why parents should ignore the school’s sticker price Which schools meet 100% of demonstrated need (and what that means) A tool for figuring out how much money schools offer What Jeff believes is the biggest problem with the financial aid process Why Jeff created this resource in the first place and, most importantly… How to use this...2017-12-0443 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsCollege List Hacking: Better Fit, Less Time, More FunOn this episode I interview Anne Wager, who used to work for many years in data and technology but made the transition to counseling and, as she puts it, “out of desperation”, developed a set of cards that she uses with students to help them identify, not just their preferences for what they’re looking for in a college, but what she called “deeper preferences”. We’ll explore what she means by deeper preferences, explain why they’re important, talk about common mistakes that students make when picking colleges, and how parents can best support their students. All this and m...2017-12-0447 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsHow to Improve Your Personal Statement in 20 MinutesThis episode represents part four of four in my epic mini-series with Tutor Ted and in this one I share what steps to take to turn your essay from “just okay” to “great.” Specifically, though, I share: What I believe the qualities of a great college essay are An example essay that demonstrates those four qualities A step-by-step process for bringing more of each of those qualities into your essay Lots of examples for all the qualities I discuss Even (get this) a step-by-step process for how to make your reader cry Finally, some advice to parents and teachers...2017-12-0434 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWho is the College Essay Guy?This is part three of my four-part series with Amie Dorsey (aka Tutor Ted). On the last two episodes I interviewed Amie, while on this episode (and on the next one), Amie turns the tables on and interviews me. On this episode Amie just wanted to give folks a chance to get to know me better, so we discussed: How I ended up as the College Essay Guy (Spoiler: that wasn’t the plan) What applying to college was like for me How I learned the importance of asking good questions Wh...2017-12-0427 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsHow to Improve Your ACT Score By 2 Points in 20 MinutesTypically my job is to take some of the most awesome and rad people in the college admissions world (I’m not sure if there is a difference, but I’m sure there is), analyze their genius, and break it down for you into practical and actionable steps whether you’re applying to college yourself or helping someone else apply. But this time, I’ve handed the reins over to my guest Amie Dorsey (AKA Tutor Ted), who has scored perfectly on the SAT, ACT, and PSAT, and let her do the podcast, where she’s going to offer up clear s...2017-09-1822 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWho is Tutor Ted? (and Resources for Brainstorming a Personal Statement)This is the first of two podcasts with Amie Dorsey, also known as Tutor Ted, who scored perfectly on the ACT, SAT, PSAT and runs a cool test prep company called (what else?) Tutor Ted. Now, in the second part of this podcast she’ll show you how to improve your ACT score by 2 points… in just 20 minutes. But before we get to that, I thought it might be great to get to know Amie on a more personal level--and what better way, I thought, than to take her through the exercises I use with my students when...2017-06-2844 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsQuick & Dirty College List Builder & The Myth of FitThis is part 2 of 2 of podcast episodes recorded last month in Eastern China. I met with Mark Moody, a friend of mine and a fantastic counselor with a ton of experience and some cool opinions you may not have heard before. During our chat we cover: His “Quick and Dirty List Builder,” a document he put together to help students and counselors find their best-fit schools in much less time We talk about Early Decision (also known as ED) and yield and why many schools like it when students apply early… but we also discuss why you might not wa...2017-06-2629 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsFree College Application Tools That Students (and Counselors!) Should Know AboutIf you know me, or if you’ve listened to the podcast before you know what a resource junkie I am… the same can be said, I think, for my guest on this episode, Shaun McElroy. Shaun is the publisher of two blogs: www.internationalcounselor.org which focuses on all things college admissions and which, I do believe, is one of the oldest continuously running blog on college admission (started in 2003) and www.strengthsmining.com focuses on applying research and principles of positive psychology into practice. And if you, dear listener, are a resource junkie like Shaun and...2017-06-121h 10
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsDebunking the Myth of the Starving ArtistIn this episode we'll discuss: Data that proves art degrees are important The freedom that working a side job gives to self-employed artists The truth about the myth of the starving artist How to know if art school is for you What your ability to take feedback says about you The difference between visual and performing arts schools, conservatories, and trade schools What cliches to avoid using in your art school application, and How parents can best support their child wanting to go to art school 2017-06-0657 min
Heard PodcastSparking Our Curiosity with Ethan Sawyer | Ep. 108Ethan Sawyer, better known as College Essay Guy, is a master of questions. When Benjamin sits down with him to chat, the two quickly dig in to the power of curiosity and how our inquisitive nature can ignite passions in all areas of life. Join in on the conversation, as Ethan opens up to what it means to listen unconditionally.2017-05-301h 05
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsHow to Listen (And Why)On this episode we discuss how Urban Confessional started, what Ben has learned about listening over the years, how these lessons have impacted his relationships and even what it was like doing free listening at last year’s Republican and Democratic National Conventions. At the end he offers a great resource called the “Practice Partner Guide,” with some great practical tips for how to listen. It’s wonderful stuff from a wonderful human, as you’ll soon see, and the applications include, then go much beyond the college application process.2017-05-2542 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsUsing the Secrets of Screenwriting to Write Your College EssayIn this podcast, I’ll dive into: The story behind how I started connecting screenwriting and the college essay in the first place. Two exercises that I love to use to generate some great content for the essay. Two structures that I think can work for just about any essay. Four types of college essays What I believe the end of an essay should do. And so much more! Enjoy. 2017-05-2146 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsHow to Create a Great College List (Part 2)Ted’s book has been a go-to reference for me (and many other counselors) in our work with students and I loved getting a chance to go behind the scenes and hearing how the sausage is made. We discuss, among other things: Why did the Fiske Guide happen in the first place? How does Ted avoid sounding generally positive about all schools? How the Fiske Guide ratings systems differs from that of US News and World Report Who actually writes all 882 pages of the Fiske Guide The best approach for students who have no idea what they want So...2017-05-121h 00
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsHow to Figure Out Which School is Right for YouOn this episode: How many schools students should apply to and when is best to start the process An amazing list of resources for helping students get to know themselves better Answers: What is the highest-impact hour that someone should spend developing their college list? (answer may surprise you) What do parents and students miss out on if they only used US News and World Report? What Steven listens for specifically when helping a student develop a list What terms Steven uses instead of “reach,” “match” and “back-up” for schools on a list We play a game where Steven helps...2017-05-061h 15
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsDemonstrated Interest: A Brief and Practical How-To GuideOn this episode, my guest Monica James and I discuss, among other things: What the heck is demonstrated interest in the first place and why is it important to colleges? What “yield” is and why there’s a multi-million dollar industry of people called “enrollment consultants” who use sophisticated predictive analytics to foresee which students will actually attend a particular school… and why that’s important How to find out which colleges track demonstrated interest If you discover that there’s a school you are very interested in… how do you go about demonstrating interest--some practical tips for that Is it possibl...2017-05-0148 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsWhat I've Learned from Reading Over 10,000 College EssaysI chat with Parke Muth, former Associate Dean of Admissions at UVA. We cover, among other things: What Parke has learned reading over 10,000 college essays We’ll go behind-the-scenes to look at how close decisions are sometimes made by committees at highly-selective universities (and why essays matter even more as a result) What Parke wrote his college essay about Parke’s 10% rule for when students should/shouldn’t write about their activities or achievements What an “authentic voice” is and why, contrary to popular wisdom, we maybe shouldn’t be encouraging students to write in it Some dos and don’ts f...2017-04-201h 24
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsColleges That Change Lives In this paradigm-shifting interview with Maria Furtado, the Executive Director of Colleges That Change Lives (aka CTCL), we discuss, among other things: What is a liberal arts education and why is it important? Three questions every student should ask when it comes to picking a college Three ways to reduce anxiety during the college application process: the Car Idea, how to avoid “college creep,” and how the Ice Cream Prize can make a tour better One great way to increase (not decrease) stress during the college selection process How to make the most of a college fair e...2017-04-181h 03
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsHow to Lead a Life-Changing Essay WorkshopThis week, I cover: 6 Ways That Most Workshops Fail in the First Five Minutes (aka 6 Terrible Ways to Start a Workshop) 9 Tips for Leading a Workshop of Any Size 5 Potentially Life-Changing Workshop Moments Bee tea dubs: These are essentially three of the modules from the Essay Workshop in a Box--there are 29 total, btw, and you can find out more about that in the show notes. At the end I also say a few words about my Counselor Training Program, which I’m super duper excited about. 2017-04-0146 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsHow to Plan a Fulfilling and Productive SummerCurious how to make the most of your upcoming summer? There's a lot you can do (and they don't all cost money.) This episode, we cover: Great questions to ask when it comes to planning a summer The 2014 National Pre-College Summer Survey, which Jill and her co-author put together based on asking 50 colleges: What summer opportunities matter most on a college application? She addresses whether or not expensive summer programs are “worth it”? What students and parents should do but often don’t do when it comes to planning their summer This really cool Teen Program Evaluator that you ca...2017-03-3141 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsHow to Appeal a Financial Aid Award LetterEver wonder what you should include in an appeal letter? This week, Jodi and I cover: Who should make the call to a financial aid office: the student or parent? What to literally say to a financial aid officer when you call them to appeal Why you maybe shouldn’t start off the conversation by mentioning a financial aid offer from another school Jodi’s five points to cover in an appeal letter What tone to take and how long the letter should be The one thing students and parents should do but don’t 2017-03-2951 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsHow to Advocate for Undocumented StudentsI chat with Dr. Aliza Gilbert about how to support undocumented students. We chat about: What terms to use (and not use) when working with undocumented students What the Dream Act is and why not all students love the term “Dreamers” What percent of kids born right now are born to undocumented parents Whether or not students should reveal their undocumented status in their personal statement How incorrect assumptions can sometimes make a student feel horrible How to know if a school (or a state, for that matter) is/isn’t supportive of undocumented students What teachers/mentors/counsel...2017-03-2957 min
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College AdmissionsLife As an Undocumented Student at HarvardNormally on the podcast I’ll be interviewing admissions professionals, but I wanted to begin with a student named Daishi for a few reasons: He is an inspiring human being with an incredible story, as you’ll hear on this podcast. He happens to be undocumented, and under the new administration a lot of questions have come up for students and parents and even teachers/counselors--big things like What’s changing in general? To more specifics like “Should students reveal themselves as undocumented in their personal statements?” I wanted to interview Daishi to get his perspectiv...2017-03-251h 11
Prepped and Polished PodcastP&P Episode 138: Ethan Sawyer "How to Write Compelling Personal Insight Questions"The Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational and inspirational show that offers tutoring and test prep tips as well as interviews with celebrities and leaders in education. It is hosted by Alexis Avila, founder of Prepped and Polished LLC, a tutoring and test prep firm for K-college.
On today's show, Alexis is joined by Ethan Sawyer “The Essay Guy.” Ethan is a nationally recognized college essay expert and sought-after speaker. He gives us tips on how to write more compelling answers to college application personal insight questions.
Ethan’s college essay tips:
Don’t write a boring, general essay.
Do write...2016-10-1433 min
Atomic Moms12 Minutes to a More Peaceful Family Life | Ethan SawyerEp #85: Ethan Sawyer returns with an illuminating exercise that can help make our parenting job a little easier and way more harmonious. After a huge response from our “Core Values, College Essays, and Burning Man Babies” episode last fall, the nationally recognized college essay expert shares with our listeners a simple and empowering method for parents to break down problems (big and small) and find solutions… all by themselves. (So much cheaper than therapy! And as always, Ellie is the guinea pig). The parenting friends also laugh about baby sign language, competitive potty training, and the importance of Dumbo’s feather...2016-06-2843 min
Atomic Moms12 Minutes to a More Peaceful Family Life | Ethan SawyerEp #85: Ethan Sawyer returns with an illuminating exercise that can help make our parenting job a little easier and way more harmonious. After a huge response from our “Core Values, College Essays, and Burning Man Babies” episode last fall, the nationally recognized college essay expert shares with our listeners a simple and empowering method for parents to break down problems (big and small) and find solutions… all by themselves. (So much cheaper than therapy! And as always, Ellie is the guinea pig). The parenting friends also laugh about baby sign language, competitive potty training, and the importance of Dumbo’s feather...2016-06-2843 min