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

Ethan Sawyer

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

  1. 19 AUG

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

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

    10 min

  2. 5 AUG

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

    Welcome back to the podcast! This is our sixth and final chapter of our series on admission nutrients — qualities that can make for a healthier, more meaningful college admission process… and life. In case you missed it, we started with collaboration, with Raissa Diamante (Director of admission from Harvey-Mudd College), then I sat down with Deanna Dixon, (Dean of Admission at Smith College) to talk about leadership, then Tom met with Dysean Alexander (Assistant Director for West Coast Admission at Lafayette College) to talk about consistent engagement and Nathan Faust (Loyola Marymount University) to talk about service to others. Today we conclude the series by talking about intellectual curiosity with Hillary Dickman from Colorado College. In our conversation, Hillary and I cover a lot of ground, including:  What is intellectual curiosity in the context of the college admission process? Where does intellectual curiosity show up in a student’s application? Why is it important in the admissions process at Colorado College and how does their approach to identifying intellectual curiosity differs from other liberal arts colleges? What is Colorado College’s latest supplemental essay prompt? Advice for both students and parents as they navigate this process And more!  Hillary Dickman is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Speech Communication from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She began her career in higher education teaching public speaking, interpersonal communication, and intercultural communication at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Since 2021, she’s been part of the admission team at Colorado College, where she’s worked on scholarship programs, the counselor advisory board, and now focuses on print and email marketing. She’s also navigated the college admission process as a parent — her older child is a recent graduate of Wellesley College, and her younger one is a student at Colorado College. I hope you enjoy this conversation. I certainly did.     Play-by-Play: 3:09 – What do college admission counselors do during the summer?  4:55 – What are some of the roles that Hillary plays at Colorado College?  8:56 – What makes Colorado College a unique school? 10:39 – What is intellectual curiosity in the context of the college admission process? 17:43 – Where does intellectual curiosity show up in a student’s application? 22:29 – What are some examples of intellectual curiosity from over the years?  32:29 – What do students or parents misunderstand about intellectual curiosity? 40:01 – Why is intellectual curiosity important at Colorado College?  48:22 – What is Colorado College’s latest supplemental essay prompt? 57:10 – What if the thing I’m curious about has nothing to do with my major? 1:00:18 – What advice does Hillary give to students for writing their personal statement? 1:04:03 – How long does Hillary spend reading an essay and the application as a whole? 1:09:54 – How does Hillary recommend students get started with the writing process? 1:13:58 – What are Hillary’s thoughts on using ChatGPT in the application process? 1:18:16 – What is demonstrated interest and why is it important to Colorado College?  1:24:00 – What does Hillary hope that students and parents will keep in mind throughout this process?    Resources: College Partnerships with CEG Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Flow, the secret to happiness (TED) CEG Podcast Episode 506: Demonstrated Interest: What Is it, Why Is it Important, and How Do You Show it? with Dean of Enrollment Christine Bowman What is Demonstrated Interest? A Practical How-To Guide College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub

    1h 27m

  3. 22 JUL

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

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

    50 min

  4. 8 JUL

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

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

    1h 8m

  5. 24 JUN

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

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

    55 min

  6. 10 JUN

    Admission Nutrients (Part 2 of 6: Collaboration): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life with Raissa Diamante

    In 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 15 years) via a brief analysis of a real essay from a past student What does Raissa think about students using Chat-GPT / generative AI for their essays? What do students miss or get wrong about the college admission process? Can students write about race in their college application essays? And more!   Raissa Diamante is the Executive Director of Admission at Harvey Mudd College (HMC) in Claremont, CA. She grew up in a mixed immigration status home and is a proud product of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Raissa believes in the power of data in storytelling as a means to operationalizing change. She takes pride in developing and implementing strategies that help make institutions more representative of our society. Prior to HMC, Raissa was the Director of Multicultural Recruitment at Swarthmore College and worked at the Office for Multicultural Affairs at Barnard College. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley and her Master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. In her spare time, she enjoys playing with her child, working on puzzles, and being an introvert.   We hope you enjoy!   Play-by-Play 2:50 – What are some of Raissa’s roles and identities?  9:02 – What goes on behind-the-scenes in Raissa’s office at Harvey Mudd?  16:50 – Why is collaboration important, from Harvey Mudd’s perspective? 21:24 – Where do collaborative qualities show up in the application?  23:18 – What are some qualities of collaboration that students might not think of? 31:28 – Analyzing a past supplemental essay prompt for Harvey Mudd   41:07 – What does Raissa think about students using Chat-GPT / generative AI for their essays? 48:35 – What do students miss or get wrong about the college admission process? 50:56 – What are some ways that Harvey Mudd is approaching access and equity?  54:32 – Can students write about race in their college application essays? 58:31 – Wrap up and closing thoughts     Resources: CEG Podcast Episode 605 - Navigating College Applications with AI (Part 1): How High School Teachers and Students Use Tools Like ChatGPT Navigating College Applications with AI  | foundry10 College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub

    1h 1m

  7. 27 MAY

    Admission Nutrients (Part 1 of 6: Intro): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life

    Welcome 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 what colleges value? Where do these nutrients show up in the college application? How can students realistically develop these qualities in a way that feels authentic rather than forced? And more   A quick but important note: At College Essay Guy, we don’t believe that every hour of high school should be spent optimizing for “what colleges want.” Get this: These nutrients are not only qualities employers seek but can also help students create more meaning and purpose in their lives — and yes, sure, help improve college acceptance chances along the way.  We hope you enjoy!   Play-by-Play: 2:18 – Intellectual Curiosity  7:12 – Service to Others 9:38 – Leadership or Initiative 14:09 – Collaboration 16:30 – Consistent Engagement 19:58 – How can students explore and develop these qualities?    Resources: CEG Podcast Episode 503: What Colleges Want (Part 3): "Positive Character Attributes": What Are They, and How Do You Show Them in Your College Application? CEG Podcast Episode 413: Intellectual Curiosity + College Admissions: What It Is, Why It Matters to Colleges, and How to Show It  How to Use the Common App Additional Information Section: Guide + Examples CEG Podcast Episode 213: Self-Directed Learning (Why You Can Quit HS & Be Okay) How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation | College Essay Guy Roles and Identities Exercise College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub

    23 min

  8. 13 MAY

    Navigating College Applications with AI (Part 2): What Colleges Say + My Advice to Students and Counselors

    Welcome 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 students might miss out on if they use AI to write their essays for them My advice to students and counselors We hope you enjoy!   Play-by-Play: 2:12 – What is Ethan’s biggest concern with AI?  3:29 – CommonApp Guidelines 4:09 – What do colleges have to say about AI use in the application process?   7:05 – What does Ethan believe students might miss out on if they use AI to write their essays for them? 12:00 – Can Chat GPT and AI be useful in certain contexts? 13:34 – AI use and environmental impacts  14:26 – Closing thoughts    Resources: CEG Podcast Episode 605 - Navigating College Applications with AI (Part 1): How High School Teachers and Students Use Tools Like ChatGPT Blog Version of this episode – Navigating College Applications with AI: What Colleges Say + CEG's Advice to Students and Counselors CEG’s Thoughts on AI and College Application Essays Duncan Sabian – Article on AI Safety AI 2027 CommonApp Affirmation Statement College Statements on AI Usage Princeton University CalTech Brown University University of California (UC) System Gonzaga University Southern Methodist University (Graduate) University of Melbourne (Outside the US) As Use of A.I. Soars, So Does the Energy and Water It Requires Jeff Neill’s Tech-Neill-ogy  College Essay Guy’s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub

    16 min
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About

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

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