How can I use College Essay Guy’s advice for the University of Michigan essays?
I’ve been reading a lot of College Essay Guy’s resources and I’m about to start on my University of Michigan essays. Has anyone here actually used his frameworks or brainstorming exercises when tackling the U of M prompts? I know their supplemental questions are a little different from other schools, so I’m not sure if his general advice applies to every prompt.
If you did follow his suggestions, did it make your writing process easier or do you wish you’d approached it differently? I really want to make my application stand out and avoid writing something that sounds generic or forced. Also, if you were accepted, do you think his methods worked well for Michigan specifically?
I’m thinking about building my “Why Michigan?” essay using the “montage” approach, but I’m nervous that it might not answer the prompt directly enough. Any feedback or tips, especially from people who were successful with College Essay Guy’s techniques at UMich, would be awesome.
If you did follow his suggestions, did it make your writing process easier or do you wish you’d approached it differently? I really want to make my application stand out and avoid writing something that sounds generic or forced. Also, if you were accepted, do you think his methods worked well for Michigan specifically?
I’m thinking about building my “Why Michigan?” essay using the “montage” approach, but I’m nervous that it might not answer the prompt directly enough. Any feedback or tips, especially from people who were successful with College Essay Guy’s techniques at UMich, would be awesome.
6 days ago
•
11 views
Camille L.
• 6 days ago
Advisor
College Essay Guy’s frameworks—like the "montage" and the "narrative" structures—can be a really helpful foundation for any college essay, including the University of Michigan supplements. Michigan’s prompts tend to be more focused and specific than some schools, especially the "Why Michigan?" essay, which asks you to articulate why you’re drawn to the university’s unique academic and community offerings.
When using the "montage" approach for the "Why Michigan?" prompt, it's crucial to anchor each vignette or moment to an aspect of Michigan that is very specific. For example, you might structure your essay around three moments in your high school life—maybe a research project, a robotics competition, and a volunteer initiative—that each neatly connect to a resource, course, or organization at Michigan. The risk with montage is losing sight of directly answering the prompt, so make sure each 'mini story' is linked back to UMich. For instance, you could talk about your experience leading a hackathon and how the Center for Entrepreneurship at Michigan can take that passion further.
The brainstorming exercises from College Essay Guy—like mapping out your core values or making a list of "essence objects"—can also help you find authentic content for the Community essay, which asks about the communities you belong to and your place within them. Try brainstorming small, specific moments with a community, and then use narrative elements to show your impact or growth.
Many students have found College Essay Guy’s exercises helpful for clarifying their ideas and making essays more personal. A friend of mine actually used the "Feelings and Needs" exercise to turn her draft into a much more dynamic piece that truly reflected her relationship with her community (she’s now at Michigan).
Whatever method you use, the key is to bring in lots of details unique to you and Michigan. Read your draft and ask yourself: Could this essay only apply to Michigan and no other school? If yes, you’re on the right track. And if you choose the montage, just make sure it doesn’t become a list of accomplishments; keep the focus on reflection and genuine connection.
If you want to use College Essay Guy’s methods, that’s great—just remember to tailor the structure to closely fit U of M’s specific questions. And don’t be afraid to revise multiple times; often the strongest essays start loosely structured and get sharper through editing. Good luck!
When using the "montage" approach for the "Why Michigan?" prompt, it's crucial to anchor each vignette or moment to an aspect of Michigan that is very specific. For example, you might structure your essay around three moments in your high school life—maybe a research project, a robotics competition, and a volunteer initiative—that each neatly connect to a resource, course, or organization at Michigan. The risk with montage is losing sight of directly answering the prompt, so make sure each 'mini story' is linked back to UMich. For instance, you could talk about your experience leading a hackathon and how the Center for Entrepreneurship at Michigan can take that passion further.
The brainstorming exercises from College Essay Guy—like mapping out your core values or making a list of "essence objects"—can also help you find authentic content for the Community essay, which asks about the communities you belong to and your place within them. Try brainstorming small, specific moments with a community, and then use narrative elements to show your impact or growth.
Many students have found College Essay Guy’s exercises helpful for clarifying their ideas and making essays more personal. A friend of mine actually used the "Feelings and Needs" exercise to turn her draft into a much more dynamic piece that truly reflected her relationship with her community (she’s now at Michigan).
Whatever method you use, the key is to bring in lots of details unique to you and Michigan. Read your draft and ask yourself: Could this essay only apply to Michigan and no other school? If yes, you’re on the right track. And if you choose the montage, just make sure it doesn’t become a list of accomplishments; keep the focus on reflection and genuine connection.
If you want to use College Essay Guy’s methods, that’s great—just remember to tailor the structure to closely fit U of M’s specific questions. And don’t be afraid to revise multiple times; often the strongest essays start loosely structured and get sharper through editing. Good luck!
Camille L.
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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5 years
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