Has anyone used College Essay Guy's advice for Cornell essays, and did it help?

It's totally normal to feel overwhelmed with all the differing advice out there, especially with a school as nuanced as Cornell. Plenty of applicants have used College Essay Guy's strategies, and they offer strong guidance for making essays more personal and structured. In particular, his exercises for brainstorming core values and mapping your interests to specific programs can really help clarify what you want to say, especially for the College of Human Ecology.

The most beneficial tip from College Essay Guy, in my experience, was his focus on being specific—not just about your interests, but about how Cornell, and Human Ecology in particular, is the place where your goals align. For Cornell's "why us?" style prompt, it really helps to move beyond general statements. For example, instead of just saying, "I'm fascinated by public health," dig in to a particular class, research center, or unique Human Ecology resource that directly fits your passion. One student I worked with wrote about a specific professor’s lab focused on urban nutrition, and tied it to their own community food justice work. That kind of detail shows real interest and research.

Another thing College Essay Guy often recommends is using 'mountain-top moments'—those small, meaningful stories—to anchor your essay. This works especially well for Human Ecology, where they want to see your connection to people, policy, and science. For instance, you might share a moment from volunteering at a nutrition clinic, and then reflect on how it sparked your larger goals, leading directly to what you hope to study at Cornell.

In the end, his templates and ideas are helpful, but your essay should be tailored to show not just who you are, but who you want to become within the context of Cornell's program. Try blending his exercises (like the "I am... I believe..." lists) with your own research about Human Ecology and see what unique connections you can make. That’s the combo that tends to make essays memorable for Cornell. Good luck—you’re already ahead by seeking out advice and wanting to make your application authentic!