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

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

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

  1. HACE 5 DÍAS

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

    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

    1 h y 21 min

  2. 5 NOV

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

    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

    1 h y 12 min

  3. 22 OCT

    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

    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

    1 h y 53 min

  4. 8 OCT

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

    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?

    1 h y 15 min

  5. 18 SEPT

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

    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

    1 h y 14 min

  6. 3 SEPT

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

    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

    1 h y 2 min

  7. 20 AGO

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

    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

    44 min

  8. 6 AGO

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

    Welcome 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 believes high school counselors can play in supporting students with mental health challenges during the college application process Takeaways for college admissions officers evaluating applications that include mental health disclosures And more   Play-by-Play 2:14 - Emi shares her background and story  3:50 - What advice would Emi  give to students about whether or not to disclose? 9:20 - What did Emi write about in her book, Acceptance? 11:55 - What was the college application process like for Emi? 14:24 - How did Emi’s college essay change from the first to final draft? 19:49 - Where else in the application are there opportunities to disclose? 23:38 - What did the rest of Emi’s application look like? 30:00 - How has writing helped Emi process her experiences? 33:17 - How can high school counselors help their students navigate this process? 36:11 - What advice would Emi give to college admission readers? 42:29 - How has Emi’s life been different since writing Acceptance?  46:40 - What are Emi’s hopes for the future of mental health disclosures in college applications?   Resources Emi’s book, Acceptance Blog post linked to this episode: Should I Discuss Mental Health in My Personal Statement or College Application? (And If So, How)? Part 1 of this series – Episode 512: The Counselor Perspective Part 2 of this series – Episode 513: The Admission Officer Perspective How to Use the Common App Additional Information Section: Guide + Examples How to Brainstorm 7 Different Personal Statement Ideas Episode 406: Why You Don’t Have to Write about Trauma in Your College Essay to Stand Out—and What You Can Do Instead

    50 min
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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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