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

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

#Society #Ethan Sawyer #Application #College #Collegeadmissions #Highereducation #Interviews #Podcasting Education #Collegeapplications #Collegeessays

57:50

Alex (@alex_kamenca) and Carley (@carleymitus) are both members of our Action Academy Community that purchased TWO small businesses last thursday! Want To Quit Your Job In The Next 6-18 Months Through Buying Commercial Real Estate & Small Businesses? 👔🏝️ Schedule A Free 15 Minute Coaching Call With Our Team Here To Get "Unstuck" Want to know which investment strategy is best for you? Take our Free Asset-Selection Quiz Check Out Our Bestselling Book : From Passive To Passionate : How To Quit Your Job - Grow Your Wealth - And Turn Your Passions Into Profits Want A Free $100k+ Side Hustle Guide ? Follow Me As I Travel & Build: IG @brianluebben ActionAcademy.com…

17 days ago 32:56

MP3•Episode home

Hi friends, and welcome back to the podcast!

Many of you have been following Cassidy, a current high school senior, as she navigates the college application process. We've walked through her brainstorming exercises, her personal statement writing, and her supplemental essays.

And now, at long last, Cassidy has received her college acceptances. Rather than reading the email she sent me, I replied, "Hey, I know you got your acceptances. What if we do a live reveal on the podcast?" So, I genuinely don’t know yet where she's been accepted. Huge shoutout to Cassidy for agreeing to do this live!

In this conversation, we dive into a range of things, including:

The extent to which Cassidy felt she had a successful application process vs. successful outcomes (and the difference)
Which schools she was accepted into
Important factors in making her final college decision, focusing on what my team calls the "6 Fs" of college fit: focus, fellowship, finances, future, family, and feeling
What she did well, and what she’d do differently

I also guide Cassidy through a fun, quick exercise—one you (or your student) can also try—that can be completed in one day, one hour, or even one minute.

Cassidy is a current high school student going through the college application process. She lives in the Bay Area, loves ballet, identifies as a “yapper,” and knows a lot about Biology.

Hope you enjoy it.

Play-by-Play

2:11 – Welcome and check-in
3:31 – To what extent does Cassidy feel like she had a successful application process?
4:48 – Cassidy shares her college decision results!
8:13 – To what extent does Cassidy feel she had successful outcomes?
9:02 – Ethan introduces the six F’s of college fit for Cassidy’s top choice schools
- 10:43 – Focus
- 12:12 – Fellowship
- 13:32 – Financial
- 14:52 – Future
- 16:53 – Family
- 17:41 – Feeling
20:36 – Cassidy reflects on what stands out at each school she is considering
23:40 – How to choose which college to attend in one day, one hour, or one minute
29:39 – Reflecting on this process, is there anything Cassidy wishes she had done differently?
31:10 – Wrap up and closing thoughts

Resources:

84 episodes

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

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

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

18 subscribers

published 17 days ago

MP3•Episode home

Hi friends, and welcome back to the podcast!

In this conversation, we dive into a range of things, including:

The extent to which Cassidy felt she had a successful application process vs. successful outcomes (and the difference)
Which schools she was accepted into
Important factors in making her final college decision, focusing on what my team calls the "6 Fs" of college fit: focus, fellowship, finances, future, family, and feeling
What she did well, and what she’d do differently

I also guide Cassidy through a fun, quick exercise—one you (or your student) can also try—that can be completed in one day, one hour, or even one minute.

Cassidy is a current high school student going through the college application process. She lives in the Bay Area, loves ballet, identifies as a “yapper,” and knows a lot about Biology.

Hope you enjoy it.

Play-by-Play

2:11 – Welcome and check-in
3:31 – To what extent does Cassidy feel like she had a successful application process?
4:48 – Cassidy shares her college decision results!
8:13 – To what extent does Cassidy feel she had successful outcomes?
9:02 – Ethan introduces the six F’s of college fit for Cassidy’s top choice schools
- 10:43 – Focus
- 12:12 – Fellowship
- 13:32 – Financial
- 14:52 – Future
- 16:53 – Family
- 17:41 – Feeling
20:36 – Cassidy reflects on what stands out at each school she is considering
23:40 – How to choose which college to attend in one day, one hour, or one minute
29:39 – Reflecting on this process, is there anything Cassidy wishes she had done differently?
31:10 – Wrap up and closing thoughts

Resources:

84 episodes

#Society #Ethan Sawyer #Application #College #Collegeadmissions #Highereducation #Interviews #Podcasting Education #Collegeapplications #Collegeessays

All episodes

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

1
605: Navigating College Applications with AI: How High School Teachers and Students Use Tools Like ChatGPT 49:56

3 days ago49:56

49:56

In today’s episode, Ethan is joined by Jennifer Rubin, Senior Researcher at foundry10 and Principal Investigator of the Digital Technologies and Education Lab. Jen is a first generation college graduate and, like Ethan, she didn't have a ton of support navigating the college application and admission process. When Chat GPT was released, she wondered: How were students actually using these tools for the college essay and application process? And how can we make sure AI becomes a tool for equity, not another advantage for students who already have access? In this conversation, Ethan and Jen get into: Some of the most interesting takeaways from her research Why higher-income students were more likely to use AI in their applications than lower-income students How educators can increase their students’ AI literacy How students can use AI without losing their voice Resources/tools she recommends for students and counselors navigating this new technology And lots more. Jennifer Rubin is a Senior Researcher at foundry10 who investigates how technology shapes youth development, learning, and social connections. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from UC Berkeley before completing a dual Ph.D. in Psychology and Gender and Women's Studies at the University of Michigan. Currently, she is the Principal Investigator of the Digital Technologies and Education Lab, where she leads research on how social media, generative AI, and digital learning environments impact youth development. Her work explores how young people navigate digital spaces, strategies for educators to meaningfully integrate emerging technologies, and the essential skills needed to foster critical engagement with social media and AI tools. Hope you enjoy! Play-by-Play 2:26 – Jen shares her research background and what she’s been working on 4:06 – What have been the most interesting takeaways from Jen’s research? 5:58 – Why were higher-income students more likely to use AI in their applications than lower-income students? 9:16 – What are some practical ways for educators to increase their students’ AI literacy? 13:02 – How can students use AI without losing their voice? 18:47 – What resources or tools does Jen recommend for students and counselors navigating this new technology? 22:52 – Does Jen see ethical gray areas with teacher use of AI? 29:02 – How are colleges approaching AI use in applications? 32:16 – Do AI detectors actually work? 37:16 – How does Jen use AI in her own work and writing? 43:11 – What does Jen see for the future of AI? 44:32 – What advice does Jen have for students? 46:10 – Advice for caregivers? 46:58 – Advice for educators and counselors? 48:50 – Closing thoughts Resources: Navigating College Applications with AI | foundry10 CalTech Admissions AI Policy Princeton Admissions AI Policy Common Sense Media AI Literacy Initiatives Digital Promise: AI in Education Resources Understanding Generative AI: Caregiver, Teacher, and Student Experiences College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub…

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

1
604: Inside the Application (Part 5): How to Decide Which College to Attend with Cassidy, HS Senior 32:56

17 days ago32:56

32:56

Hi friends, and welcome back to the podcast! Many of you have been following Cassidy, a current high school senior, as she navigates the college application process. We've walked through her brainstorming exercises, her personal statement writing, and her supplemental essays. And now, at long last, Cassidy has received her college acceptances. Rather than reading the email she sent me, I replied, "Hey, I know you got your acceptances. What if we do a live reveal on the podcast?" So, I genuinely don’t know yet where she's been accepted. Huge shoutout to Cassidy for agreeing to do this live! In this conversation, we dive into a range of things, including: The extent to which Cassidy felt she had a successful application process vs. successful outcomes (and the difference) Which schools she was accepted into Important factors in making her final college decision, focusing on what my team calls the "6 Fs" of college fit: focus, fellowship, finances, future, family, and feeling What she did well, and what she’d do differently I also guide Cassidy through a fun, quick exercise—one you (or your student) can also try—that can be completed in one day, one hour, or even one minute. Cassidy is a current high school student going through the college application process. She lives in the Bay Area, loves ballet, identifies as a “yapper,” and knows a lot about Biology. Hope you enjoy it. Play-by-Play 2:11 – Welcome and check-in 3:31 – To what extent does Cassidy feel like she had a successful application process? 4:48 – Cassidy shares her college decision results! 8:13 – To what extent does Cassidy feel she had successful outcomes? 9:02 – Ethan introduces the six F’s of college fit for Cassidy’s top choice schools 10:43 – Focus 12:12 – Fellowship 13:32 – Financial 14:52 – Future 16:53 – Family 17:41 – Feeling 20:36 – Cassidy reflects on what stands out at each school she is considering 23:40 – How to choose which college to attend in one day, one hour, or one minute 29:39 – Reflecting on this process, is there anything Cassidy wishes she had done differently? 31:10 – Wrap up and 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…

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

1
603: Leading Through Chaos: 7 Superpowers for Uncertain Times with Angel Pérez 1:24:39

4 weeks ago1:24:39

1:24:39

Welcome 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 important (and how do we do it)? What’s the number one thing Angel believes will lead leaders to success in the future? What is deep work and why do we love it so much? Lots more. The advice is practical, given the challenges facing higher education, we believe it’s timely… and we hope you find it useful. If you haven’t met Angel Pérez, he is CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling ( NACAC ). In this role, he represents more than 25,000 admission and counseling professionals worldwide committed to postsecondary access and success. Named by a Forbes article in 2019 as the most influential voice in college admissions, he strives to build an educational ecosystem that better represents today’s society. Prior to joining NACAC in July of 2020, Dr. Pérez served in secondary and higher education leadership positions across America, most recently, as Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success at Trinity College in Connecticut. He is an advocate for counselors everywhere, an important ally in the work of increasing access to higher education, and I’m so glad to call him my friend. Play-by-Play 2:03 – Welcome and check-in 3:56 – Angel shares what his book is about, why he wrote it, and who it’s for 5:50 – Why is it important to talk about leadership right now? 9:04 – Superpower #1: The Power of Solitude 15:23 – Superpower #2: The Art of Detachment 24:00 – Superpower #3: Inspiration through Inclusivity 36:45 – Superpower #4: Mastering Self-Management 42:31 – Superpower #5: The Power of Showing Up 50:24 – Superpower #6: The Power of Focus 54:55 – Superpower #7: Shift Your Mindset 1:04:26 – Getting comfortable saying “I don’t know” 1:12:57 – Which superpowers do Angel and Ethan want to work on over the next year? 1:20:07 – Closing thoughts and sharing goals Resources The Hottest Seat on Campus by Angel Pérez The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success by Diana Chapman, Jim Dethmer, and Kaley Klemp Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport Maker Time vs. Manager Time College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub…

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

1
602: Roles and Identities Part 2 (for Counselors and Educators): A Framework for Understanding How Your Roles Shape Your Work 24:59

6 weeks ago24:59

24:59

To kick off Season 6, Ethan shares some practical resources based on a new framework he's been exploring. If you’re a regular listener, you’ll already be familiar with something we call the Roles and Identities List, which is a huge menu of roles (things like “catalyst” and “change-maker” and “party-bringer”) — Ethan has used it as a get-to-know-you exercise with a number of previous guests. In case you missed it, 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? We who spend our days (and often nights) answering emails, phone calls, texting and generally caretaking in 100 different ways… Today’s episode is the second of two where Ethan will share some exercises that counselors can use to recognize patterns they may fall into at times and how they might practice more self-care and show up more fully for their students. Ethan explores: How can counselors make sure we fill our own cups (and not just our coffee cups)? How can we make sure we’re even more spacious and resourced… so that we’re able to give back from a full cup, and with a full heart? And more. We hope you enjoy! Play-by-Play 0:08 - What is the Roles & Identities Framework? 5:34 - Exercise #1 : The Roles & Identities List 11:39 - Exercise #2: The “shadow” version 21:30 - Exercise #3: The “foil” to your role 23:20 - Closing thoughts Resources: The Roles and Identities Exercise College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub…

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

1
601: Roles and Identities Part 1 (for Students and Parents): A Framework for Exploring Who You’ve Been, Who You Are, and Who You’re Becoming 28:48

8 weeks ago28:48

28:48

To kick off Season 6, Ethan shares some practical resources based on a new framework he's been exploring. If you’re a regular listener, you’ll already be familiar with something we call the Roles and Identities List, which is a huge menu of roles (things like “catalyst” and “change-maker” and “party-bringer”) — Ethan has used it as a get-to-know-you exercise with a number of previous guests. Today’s episode is the first of two where Ethan will dive into a few short, practical exercises for students and parents that can help them figure out things like how they’d like to focus their time as they go through this process. He gets into, among other things: The philosophy behind the Roles and Identities framework Some hands-on exercises that students can do — whether in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade — that can help them, for example, plan summer/EC activities, or even map out their college application. A simple but powerful exercise for parents thinking about who they want to be in this process—since let’s be honest it isn’t the students who are learning about themselves here. Stay tuned for Part 2 where Ethan will share some exercises that counselors can use to recognize patterns they may fall into at times and how they might practice more self-care and show up more fully for their students. We hope you enjoy! Play-by-Play 3:36 - What is the Roles & Identities Framework? 6:57 - Exercise #1 (for both students and parents) : The Roles & Identities List 8:59 - Exercise #2 (for students) : Using the Roles & Identities list to plan your summer or extracurricular activities 11:30 - Using The Values list to expand on your roles and identities 13:23 - Which parts of you will you show in your college application? 18:21 - Exercise #3 (for parents) : Who do you want to be in this process? 27:50 - Closing thoughts Resources The Roles and Identities Exercise The Values Exercise 100+ Summer and Extracurricular Ideas — Based on Your Roles and Identities 100+ Summer and Extracurricular Ideas — Based on Your Values College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub…

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

1
523: Busting College Admission Myths Using Data: Standardized Tests, Rankings, and the Cost of College with Akil Bello 51:44

19 weeks ago51:44

51:44

In today’s episode, Ethan is joined by Akil Bello to talk about standardized tests, rankings, and the cost of college. They dig into some common misconceptions about college including: Are most colleges returning to requiring standardized testing scores? Is it too hard to get into college? Are highly-ranked colleges better? Is it true that most colleges now cost more than $100,000 per year to attend? And more! Akil Bello is an educator, strategist, researcher, policy consultant, and advocate for equitable access to education. For more than 30 years, he’s worked every job you can imagine related to admission testing and college access from tutor, to test prep company founder to CEO and now works as the Senior Director of Advocacy at Fair Test. When he is not moonlighting reading college applications for a public university, he serves on several advisory boards, writes articles for Forbes, and helps his wife parent their college freshman and HS junior. We hope you enjoy! Play-by-Play: 1:56 - Akil shares a bit about his background and identities 3:57 - What is Fair Test and what does Akil do as Senior Director of Advocacy? 6:03 - Myth #1: Most colleges are returning to requiring standardized testing scores. 11:25 - Myth #2: Universities are returning to standardized tests because they help attract students of color? 13:40 - Myth #3: Standardized test scores are a reliable predictor of GPA in college. 16:18 - Myth #4: It is harder than ever to get into college. 19:25 - Myth #5: The higher the ranking, the better the school. 27:59 - What are some good questions that students can ask themselves when developing a college list? 29:52 - Myth #6: College is expensive. 33:59 - Myth #7: A particular essay, extracurricular, or passion project gets students into college. 37:34 - What are some good questions that students can ask themselves when considering whether or not to submit a test score? 43:26 - What are some good questions that students can ask themselves if they are considering writing about race in their college essay or application? 46:44 - Akil shares advice to parents and students who are navigating this process 51:28 - Wrap up and closing thoughts Resources: College Essay Guy’s Roles and Identities Exercise CEG Resources Post-SCOTUS Decision College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub…

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

1
522: Storytelling & Identity with Ethan Sawyer (Part 4 Bonus Episode!): On Balancing Identities, Writing as a Journey, and the Mystery of Enoughness 1:14:15

21 weeks ago1:14:15

1:14:15

In our most recent series on storytelling and identity, Ethan sat down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In this bonus episode, the tables are turned as Ethan is interviewed by CEG Essay Coach, Ali Pineo. In their conversation, Ethan and Ali get into: Ethan’s background and how his identity has evolved over the years The roles Ethan identifies with most: connector, harmonizer, and seeker How Ethan measures success in his personal and professional life His journey from aspiring screenwriter to teacher and writer Brainstorming Ethan’s own personal statement as if he were writing it today And more Ali Pineo is a writing coach and 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. She has spent thousands of hours coaching admissions essay writing and tutoring AP English and US History,. and the highlights of her career center around her mentorship of bright students with learning differences. In addition to teaching, she is an arts entrepreneur, former professional ballet dancer, and mama to a busy toddler. We hope you enjoy! Play-by-Play: 1:41 - Introductions 2:48 - Ethan shares the roles he identifies with most 10:36 - What does Ethan’s identity of “Connector” mean to him? 14:34 - How does Ethan distinguish between the “Connector” and “Harmonizer” roles? 20:16 - Do any roles conflict with other identities? 25:13 - How does Ethan balance his many roles? 28:37 - How does Ethan measure success in his personal and professional life? 33:20 - In what ways have Ethan’s career aspirations changed over the years? 37:00 - How does Ethan define his role as a “Culture-Tender?” 43:55 - What has Ethan been writing about lately? 47:18 - Ali shares her a bit about her background, roles, and identities 52:33 - How do Ethan’s outward identities overlap with his inner world? 56:48 - Brainstorming Ethan’s own personal statement as if he were writing it today 1:11:37 - Closing thoughts and wrap-up Resources: College Essay Guy’s Roles and Identities Exercise Listen: Five Simple Tools to Meet Your Everyday Parenting Challenges College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub…

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

1
521: Storytelling & Identity with Ryan Maldonado (Part 3 of 3): On Code-switching, Photographing Living Rooms, and Growing up Not-Rich in Miami 1:20:39

23 weeks ago1:20:39

1:20:39

In this three-part series, Ethan sits down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In Episode 3, Ethan is joined by screenwriter Ryan Maldonado, known for his work on AMC’s Parish, Hulu’s Death and Other Details, Amazon’s Hunters, Chicago PD, FBI, and Grey’s Anatomy. Ryan and Ethan talk about, among other things: Ryan’s origin story, how he identifies, and how he became a storyteller What Ryan’s writing process is like and what it’s like working on a TV show How Ryan shows up in characters that may seem very different from who he is What he feels Hollywood is doing well in terms of representing diverse voices, and where there’s still work to be done Advice to students going through the personal statement writing process And more. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Ryan Maldonado is a writer and producer who currently serves as Executive Producer and Co-Showrunner of AMC’s crime series Parish, starring Giancarlo Esposito. His previous credits include Hulu’s upcoming Death and Other Details (starring Mandy Patinkin) and Amazon’s Hunters (starring Al Pacino). Before moving to Los Angeles to complete his MFA at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Ryan worked as a reporter for The Detroit Free Press, St. Petersburg Times and Variety. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter. We hope you enjoy! Play-by-Play: 2:00 - Ryan’s origin story and what it was like growing up in Miami in the '80s 11:18 - When did Ryan start writing? 15:10 - How has Ryan’s interest in writing shifted over the years? 19:47 - Where does “Ryan” show up in his writing and storytelling? 26:12 - How might personal experiences influence writing, especially in TV dramas? 33:00 - What is Ryan’s writing process like? 38:50 - What is it like working on a TV show? 44:56 - What lessons from film school still apply to Ryan’s work today? 54:33 - How has representation in Hollywood improved? What still needs work? 59:23 - What are some roles Ryan identifies with and how have these manifested in his life? 1:08:56 - What advice would you give to students working on their personal statements for college? 1:18:49 - Wrap up and closing thoughts Resources: College Essay Guy’s Roles and Identities Exercise College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub…

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

1
520: Storytelling & Identity w/Whit Anderson (Part 2 of 3): Beating Writer's Block, Writing RomComs and Space Operas, and Female Representation in Hollywood 1:11:54

25 weeks ago1:11:54

1:11:54

In this three-part series, Ethan sits down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In Episode 2, Ethan is joined by screenwriter Whit Anderson, known for her work on Daredevil, The Twilight Zone, and Ozark. Whit and Ethan talk about, among other things: How a life-changing illness inspired one of her screenplays The cultural role that storytellers and screenwriters play Whit’s approach to writing, including the use of visuals and detailed outlines The challenges of working in a male-dominated industry And more Content warning: In our conversation we talk briefly about suicidal ideation — both in the context of a movie Whit is working on but also in the context of the illness she experienced. Whit Anderson has written both original and adapted content for HBO, Showtime, NBC, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Stars, Netflix, and Sky UK. She’s also worked on such shows as Daredevil, The Twilight Zone, and Ozark, as well as on screenplays for her original film Players, and the Netflix hit, Damsel. Most recently for Netflix she wrote a feature script for the epic space opera Empress and she’s currently in development with Paramount Studios, George Clooney’s company Smokehouse, Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap, and Jude Law’s Riff Raff, among others. And, like Ethan, Whit studied Theater at Northwestern University. We hope you enjoy. Play-by-Play: 1:47 - When did Whit realize she was a storyteller? 3:48 - How has her storytelling shifted over the years? 5:56 - How has Whit’s identity and experiences influenced her writing? 11:30 - Where does “Whit” show up in her stories? 17:47 - How does Whit decide what to write about next? 22:00 - What is Whit’s writing process like? 23:14 - How does music influence Whit’s writing? 28:15 - What does a typical week look like when working on a project? 31:30 - How does Whit work through writer’s block or moments of feeling uninspired? 35:12 - What is something Whit wants to share about screenwriting? 47:58 - What has Whit learned about being a writer since starting? 56:00 - What change would Whit like to see in Hollywood? 1:05:01 - If Whit could do college again, what might she do differently? 1:09:23 - What upcoming projects is Whit excited to work on? 1:11:14 - Wrap up and closing thoughts Resources: The Little Porch and a Dog College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub…

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

1
519: Storytelling & Identity with Dave Callaham (Part 1 of 3): What it’s Like Writing Marvel Movies, Asian-American Representation in Hollywood, and Advice on Finding Your Voice 1:53:12

27 weeks ago1:53:12

1:53:12

In this new three-part series, Ethan sits down with his screenwriter friends to do a deep dive into the creative process, the power of storytelling, and how identity plays a role in both. In Episode 1, Ethan is joined by screenwriter Dave Callaham, known best for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wonder Woman 1984 and many others. Dave and Ethan discuss, among other things: When Dave knew he was a storyteller The “armor” that Dave wears (how he presents physically vs. who he is) What the process of writing Shang-Chi was like, especially when much of the source material included outdated stereotypes and problematic portrayals. Dave’s advice to writers on finding their voice And more Fun fact: You can find the video version of this podcast on the College Essay Guy YouTube channel by clicking here . This is a longer episode format we’re experimenting with, so feel free to use the chapters on the video to skip around, and let us know what you think in the YouTube comments. Rather than give you the typical bio, Ethan and Dave kick things off with an improv game where Dave shares what he loves and knows a lot about — an activity that is great for brainstorming ideas for the personal statement! We hope you enjoy. Play-by-Play: 2:02 - Dave plays “I love, I know” – a brainstorming exercise 3:45 - What was Dave like in high school? 7:46 - When did Dave start writing? 11:08 - When did Dave realize he was a storyteller? 12:12 - What did Dave study in college? 13:11 - What was it like writing Shang-Chi? 16:57 - Where does “Dave” show up in Shang-Chi? 28:39 - What is Dave’s writing process like when working on a movie? 32:42 - How is writing for animation different from live-action? 35:14 - How does writing change through the movie process? 39:01 - How does Dave decide what to write about next? 51:59 - How important is structure when it comes to screenwriting? 58:30 - The “armor” that Dave wears (how he presents physically vs. who he is) 1:09:33 - What did Dave learn about fight scenes when writing Shang-Chi? 1:16:58 - Dave’s advice to writers on finding their voice 1:24:09 - What did Dave write about in his college essay? 1:29:07 - How much time does Dave dedicate to brainstorming in his writing process? 1:32:30 - If Dave could do college again, what might he do differently? 1:39:20 - Why is representation so important on screen? 1:44:06 - What is something Dave wants to share about screenwriting? 1:48:50 - What advice would you give to young people who are considering writing for a living? 1:50:32 - Rapid-fire questions Resources: YouTube video version of this episode I love, I know – a brainstorming exercise College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub…

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

1
518: Inside the Application (Part 4): How to Know if You’re “Almost Done” with Your College Application 1:15:14

29 weeks ago1:15:14

1:15:14

Today’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 herself into the application? And more Stay tuned, as we’ll continue to check in with Cassidy to find out how her process went and what she ended up hearing back from colleges. Cassidy is a current high school student going through the college application process. She lives in the Bay Area, loves ballet, knows a lot about Biology, and identifies as a “yapper.” We hope you enjoy. Play-by-play: 2:05 - How’s the writing process going for Cassidy? 2:50 - How much time has Cassidy been putting into her application lately? 4:50 - Does Cassidy consider herself a writer? 5:45 - What is an “Almost Done” review? 6:39 - What is a Values Scan? 8:55 - Reviewing Cassidy’s most recent draft of the personal statement 23:20 - Cassidy shares some of her activities list descriptions 34:35 - Highlights from Cassidy’s additional information section 38:25 - Cassidy’s draft of her “excitement for learning” essay 48:08 - Cassidy’s draft of her “roommate” essay 53:20 - Cassidy’s draft of her “community” essay 1:03:08 - Cassidy shares her short answer responses (50 words each) 1:12:55 - Ethan shares closing advice for Cassidy as she prepares to submit 1:14:20 - Final thoughts Resources Part 1 of this series, Inside the Application Part 2 of this series, Inside the Application Part 3 of this series, Inside the Application Cassidy’s Supplemental Essay Doc The Roles and Identities Exercise How to Write the Stanford Roommate Essay + Examples A How-To Guide for the Short Answer Questions for Highly-Selective Colleges How to Choose a College: A Step-By-Step Guide CEG's College Application Resource Hub A List of Activities You May Not Have Considered Including—But That Count! What do colleges look for in students?…

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

1
517: Inside the Application (Part 3): Supplemental Essay Deep Dive + Developing the College List w/ Special Guest Renee Ferrerio 1:14:26

32 weeks ago1:14:26

1:14:26

Today’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 the episode out with a special guest appearance from Renee Ferrerio to review Cassidy’s college list. Renee has been working in college admission for three decades. She has a Masters in school counseling, has worked as both a public and independent school counselor, and serves on numerous college advisory boards and committees, including the Common Application Outreach Advisory Board, and many others. Stay tuned for future episodes where Ethan and Cassidy continue the conversation. We’ll continue to check in with Cassidy to see how things are going, and you’ll find out how it turned out a few months from now. Cassidy is a current high school student going through the college application process. She lives in the Bay Area, loves ballet, knows a lot about Biology, and identifies as a “yapper”—more on that in our conversation. We hope you enjoy! Play-by-play 1:55 - How’s Cassidy doing on her supplemental essays so far? 4:00 - Ethan reads Cassidy’s “what would you bring to our campus” essay draft 8:48 - Ethan’s feedback on the essay 15:38 - Additional supplemental essay prompts + Ethan’s impressions 19:28 - Using the Roles and Identities Exercise to brainstorm ideas 24:48 - Ethan reads & reviews Cassidy’s draft of her “community” essay 35:41 - Ethan reads and reviews Cassidy’s draft of her “roommate” essay 44:42 - Reviewing Cassiday’s “short answer” prompts (and why they’re like an advent calendar) 53:45 - Introducing Renee Ferrerio (CEG college counselor with 25+ years experience) 59:28 - Discussing impacted majors, Colleges That Change Lives, and suggestions for Cassidy’s college list Resources Part 1 of this series, Inside the Application Part 2 of this series, Inside the Application Cassidy’s Supplemental Essay Doc The Roles and Identities Exercise How to Write the Stanford Roommate Essay + Examples A How-To Guide for the Short Answer Questions for Highly-Selective Colleges How to Choose a College: A Step-By-Step Guide…

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

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516: Inside the Application (Part 2): Developing the Personal Statement, Supplemental Essays, and College List with Cassidy, HS Senior 1:02:00

34 weeks ago1:02:00

1:02:00

Today’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 tuned for future episodes where Ethan and Cassidy continue the conversation! This series is a bit different in that, normally, we share episodes-in-a-series consecutively. For these, we’re releasing them pretty much as we record them, so you’ll notice them interspersed among other topics we’ll be covering. We’ll continue to check in with Cassidy to see how things are going, and you’ll find out how it turned out a few months from now. Cassidy is a current high school student going through the college application process. She lives in the Bay Area, loves ballet, knows a lot about Biology, and identifies as a “yapper”—more on that in our conversation. We hope you enjoy! Play-by-play 1:36 - What has Cassidy been working on since last episode? 3:28 - Cassidy reads draft two of her personal statement 7:51 - Cassidy shares her thoughts on her draft 9:18 - Ethan gives feedback and shares suggestions for the next draft 12:57 - Ethan reviews Cassidy’s "Everything I Want Colleges to Know About Me" list 21:38 - Ethan reviews Cassidy’s CommonApp Activities List and Additional Info sections 26:09 - What is Cassidy looking for in a college and how did she develop her list? 25:00 - Ethan reads the supplemental prompts from Cassidy’s college list tracker 35:56 - What is a “super topic" and how might it help Cassidy? 50:50 - What is the Roles and Identities exercise? 58:55 - What are Cassidy’s next steps in her drafting process? Resources Part 1 of this series, Inside the Application Cassidy’s brainstorming and second draft The "Everything I Want Colleges to Know About Me" List: A Brainstorm Exercise 8 First Choices: An Expert's Strategies for Getting into College by Joyce Slayton Mitchell How to Combine Your College Essay Prompts (To Save 20+ Writing Hours) College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources Learn How to Write Great Supplemental College Essays College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub College Essay Guy’s Roles and Identities Exercise Funko Pops…

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

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515: Inside the Application Part 1: Brainstorming, Outlining, and Drafting with Cassidy, HS Senior 43:33

36 weeks ago43:33

43:33

Today’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, we share episodes-in-a-series consecutively. For these, we’re releasing them pretty much as we record them, so you’ll notice them interspersed among other topics we’ll be covering. Stay tuned for future episodes where Ethan and Cassidy continue the conversation! They’ll revisit her personal statement, talk about supplemental essays, go over how Cassidy developed her college list, and even talk a little bit about the activities list and the additional information section. We’ll continue to check in with Cassidy to see how things are going, and you’ll find out how it turned out a few months from now. Cassidy is a current high school student going through the college application process. She lives in the Bay Area, loves ballet, knows a lot about Biology, and identifies as a “yapper”—more on that in our conversation. We hope you enjoy! Play-by-play: 2:57 - Getting to know Cassidy through her brainstorming materials 3:27 - Cassidy’s social identities 4:29 - Cassidy’s values 7:05 - Cassidy’s superpower 8:12 - Cassidy’s islands of personality 8:40 - What were some of the topics Cassidy considered for her essay? 13:51 - Cassidy walks through her essay outline and examples 16:01 - How did outlining make things easier for Cassidy? 18:48 - Cassidy reads the first draft of her personal statement 22:42 - Cassidy shares her thoughts on her draft 26:04 - Ethan gives feedback 39:18 - Ethan shares suggestions for the next draft 41:52 - Closing thoughts Resources Cassidy’s brainstorming and first draft College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub Funko Pops…

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

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514: Navigating Mental Health Disclosures in the College Application: The Student Perspective 50:22

38 weeks ago50:22