How helpful are College Essay Guy's resources for the UMich application essays?
I'm applying to the University of Michigan this fall and I've noticed a lot of people mentioning College Essay Guy in various forums and YouTube videos. I'm wondering if his guides and brainstorming exercises are actually useful for answering UMich's specific prompts.
I'm especially concerned about the 'Why Michigan?' essay, since everyone says that's super important for UMich. Should I follow College Essay Guy's strategies for that prompt, or is it better to approach it more uniquely? If anyone who's gotten into UMich can share if they used his advice or if you think it's too generic, that would be great.
Any tips on using his site efficiently would also be appreciated! I'm really trying to make my essays stand out this year.
I'm especially concerned about the 'Why Michigan?' essay, since everyone says that's super important for UMich. Should I follow College Essay Guy's strategies for that prompt, or is it better to approach it more uniquely? If anyone who's gotten into UMich can share if they used his advice or if you think it's too generic, that would be great.
Any tips on using his site efficiently would also be appreciated! I'm really trying to make my essays stand out this year.
6 months ago
•
75 views
Lydia Schooler
• 6 months ago
Advisor
College Essay Guy's resources are a solid jumping-off point for understanding the general principles of good essay writing, and his brainstorming activities can help you clarify your values and experiences. The site offers helpful outlines, like the "montage" and "narrative" structures, which make organizing your drafts easier—especially if you're feeling stuck at the beginning.
For UMich's 'Why Michigan?' essay, his overall strategies—like being specific and connecting your interests to school offerings—are good advice, but you need to be careful not to stop there. The biggest risk is that following College Essay Guy’s tips (or any popular guide) too closely can make your essay sound generic, since thousands of applicants have access to the same worksheets. To really stand out for Michigan, you need to go beyond listing programs from their website and show a personal connection.
For example, a UMich 'Why Us?' essay that stands out might include a story about a visit to campus, a Zoom conversation with a specific professor, or a unique club that fits something quirky about you. Simply writing, “I want to join the Ross Leaders Academy because X,” isn’t as persuasive as saying, “After talking with a mentor from the Ross Leaders Academy about their leadership project for Ann Arbor’s local schools, I realized UMich is the only place I can combine my drive for social entrepreneurship with direct mentorship.” Notice how much more personal that feels.
If you use College Essay Guy’s site, focus on the brainstorming and outlining tools to get your first ideas out. Then, for the final drafts, dig deeper into Michigan itself: read student blogs, sit in on virtual events, and reach out to current students. Use what you learn to make your essay Michigan-specific. The best applications show not only what you’ll gain from UMich, but also what you’ll contribute.
In short, use College Essay Guy to help you structure and brainstorm, but always go the extra mile in making your UMich essays personal and packed with school-specific details. Standing out is all about making it clear why Michigan is the absolute right fit for you—as a one-of-a-kind applicant.
For UMich's 'Why Michigan?' essay, his overall strategies—like being specific and connecting your interests to school offerings—are good advice, but you need to be careful not to stop there. The biggest risk is that following College Essay Guy’s tips (or any popular guide) too closely can make your essay sound generic, since thousands of applicants have access to the same worksheets. To really stand out for Michigan, you need to go beyond listing programs from their website and show a personal connection.
For example, a UMich 'Why Us?' essay that stands out might include a story about a visit to campus, a Zoom conversation with a specific professor, or a unique club that fits something quirky about you. Simply writing, “I want to join the Ross Leaders Academy because X,” isn’t as persuasive as saying, “After talking with a mentor from the Ross Leaders Academy about their leadership project for Ann Arbor’s local schools, I realized UMich is the only place I can combine my drive for social entrepreneurship with direct mentorship.” Notice how much more personal that feels.
If you use College Essay Guy’s site, focus on the brainstorming and outlining tools to get your first ideas out. Then, for the final drafts, dig deeper into Michigan itself: read student blogs, sit in on virtual events, and reach out to current students. Use what you learn to make your essay Michigan-specific. The best applications show not only what you’ll gain from UMich, but also what you’ll contribute.
In short, use College Essay Guy to help you structure and brainstorm, but always go the extra mile in making your UMich essays personal and packed with school-specific details. Standing out is all about making it clear why Michigan is the absolute right fit for you—as a one-of-a-kind applicant.
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