Is College Essay Guy worth using for application essays?
I've been hearing about College Essay Guy from a bunch of people at my school, and now I'm really curious about whether his resources or courses are actually helpful for writing college essays.
I'm already working with my English teacher a bit, but I'm worried my essays aren't going to stand out enough. Has anyone here tried using his website, watched his webinars, or even booked a one-on-one session? Did it actually help your essays get better, or was it just more confusing?
I want my essays to be authentic but also impressive, and I know that balance can be hard. If you have any recommendations for specific College Essay Guy materials that were especially useful (or ones that weren't), I’d really appreciate any tips.
I'm already working with my English teacher a bit, but I'm worried my essays aren't going to stand out enough. Has anyone here tried using his website, watched his webinars, or even booked a one-on-one session? Did it actually help your essays get better, or was it just more confusing?
I want my essays to be authentic but also impressive, and I know that balance can be hard. If you have any recommendations for specific College Essay Guy materials that were especially useful (or ones that weren't), I’d really appreciate any tips.
4 months ago
•
34 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
College Essay Guy is a pretty popular resource among students working on college applications, and for good reason. A lot of his free content is well-respected, especially the brainstorming exercises and breakdowns of different essay prompts. His 'Essence Objects' exercise and Values List help you dig deeper into stories about yourself that aren't cliché, pushing you to go beyond basic topics—which is exactly what admissions officers want.
If you’re looking for structure or feeling stuck about where to start, the step-by-step approach in his free Personal Statement Timeline is really helpful. It guides you through brainstorming, outlining, and revising.
The paid stuff like courses or bootcamps can be helpful too, but they’re more of a commitment and can feel repetitive if you already have a supportive English teacher helping you. Some students say the biggest benefit of the paid programs is the feedback from trained essay coaches, but if you have a good teacher or counselor, you might not need that extra layer.
One thing to watch out for: with so many resources on his site, it’s easy to fall into the trap of focusing too much on structure or formula, so make sure your unique voice and perspective aren’t lost. Use his frameworks as a guide, but keep your personality front and center. For example, if you use his 'Montage' structure, choose moments and details unique to you—don’t just plug in accomplishments or hardships.
Overall, the College Essay Guy resources are a strong supplement to the work you’re doing with your English teacher. Try out some of his free workshops or guides first to see if his approach resonates with you. For a lot of applicants, it’s the right amount of motivation and clarity to push their essays from basic to memorable, but it’s best when combined with direct feedback from someone who knows your writing style.
If you want your essay to stand out, focus most on moments that reveal your thinking, transformation, or unexpected connections. For example, instead of a general essay about volunteering, you might use the 'Objects' brainstorming exercise to uncover a tiny, telling detail—like helping a child tie their shoes at a shelter—and build a full essay around that small but meaningful interaction.
In sum: College Essay Guy is definitely worth checking out for idea generation and structure. Just be careful to avoid sounding formulaic and layer in your authentic voice. Combine his tools with one-on-one advice from your teacher and you’ll be in a good spot.
If you’re looking for structure or feeling stuck about where to start, the step-by-step approach in his free Personal Statement Timeline is really helpful. It guides you through brainstorming, outlining, and revising.
The paid stuff like courses or bootcamps can be helpful too, but they’re more of a commitment and can feel repetitive if you already have a supportive English teacher helping you. Some students say the biggest benefit of the paid programs is the feedback from trained essay coaches, but if you have a good teacher or counselor, you might not need that extra layer.
One thing to watch out for: with so many resources on his site, it’s easy to fall into the trap of focusing too much on structure or formula, so make sure your unique voice and perspective aren’t lost. Use his frameworks as a guide, but keep your personality front and center. For example, if you use his 'Montage' structure, choose moments and details unique to you—don’t just plug in accomplishments or hardships.
Overall, the College Essay Guy resources are a strong supplement to the work you’re doing with your English teacher. Try out some of his free workshops or guides first to see if his approach resonates with you. For a lot of applicants, it’s the right amount of motivation and clarity to push their essays from basic to memorable, but it’s best when combined with direct feedback from someone who knows your writing style.
If you want your essay to stand out, focus most on moments that reveal your thinking, transformation, or unexpected connections. For example, instead of a general essay about volunteering, you might use the 'Objects' brainstorming exercise to uncover a tiny, telling detail—like helping a child tie their shoes at a shelter—and build a full essay around that small but meaningful interaction.
In sum: College Essay Guy is definitely worth checking out for idea generation and structure. Just be careful to avoid sounding formulaic and layer in your authentic voice. Combine his tools with one-on-one advice from your teacher and you’ll be in a good spot.
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating
5.0 (5 reviews)