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

What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do: Practical Exercises for Navigating Ambiguity with NACAC CEO Angel Pérez (Part 2)

719: Tools for Navigating Ambiguity in Times of Uncertainty: A Conversation with NACAC CEO Angel Perez

717: A USC Admission Officer on Early Decision, Rural Student Access, and What She Wishes Students Would Ask with Marie Bury Loew

716: Making the Price of College Make Sense with Adam Miller

715: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 12: The Translator) with Lavon Robinson

714: A Live Essay and Application Review with Anna, HS Senior

713: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Storytelling (Ep 10: The Stomach Whisperer) with Tillie Gottlieb

712: Empowering First-Generation Student Success: The Warren High School BUS program with David Cha

711: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 10: The Silent Assassin) with Amber Patterson

College admission processes prioritize human connection, with personal statements serving as a vital tool for understanding an applicant's character, values, and potential fit for a campus community. At Texas Christian University, admission officers conduct holistic, human-led reviews, explicitly rejecting AI-generated...

710: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 9: Where I Grew Up) with Hillary Dickman

709: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 8: Molding Clay) with Calvin Pickett

The "Molding Clay" college essay serves as a masterclass in the montage structure, where a central metaphor—the ceramics process—unifies diverse personal values, roles, and extracurricular activities. By weaving together specific imagery like "wedging out air bubbles" with personal reflections on family and identity, t...

708: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Storytelling (Ep 7: Robes) with Andrew Callery

707: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 5): Making the Decision with Alisha, Class of 2026

706: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Storytelling (Ep 6: Raspberry Sky) with Wendy Zheutlin

Personal storytelling serves as a vehicle for navigating trauma, parenting, and the necessity of letting go. Wendy Zheutlin, an essay coach and volunteer, shares her personal essay, "Raspberry Sky," which juxtaposes the fragility of life during her cancer treatment with the evolving, reciprocal relationship she shares ...

705: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Storytelling (Ep 5: The Stains on My Baseball Pants) with Kaila Barber

704: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 4: Tiny Windows into My Being) with Ali McKeon

703: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 3: The Pilgrim and The CEO) with Jane Longley

702: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 2: Much Ado About Nothing) with Greg Ungar

701: On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling (Ep 1: My Desk & Magic) with Amanda McRaven

623: Standing Out in STEM: Practical Advice for Future Scientists, Engineers and Techies