How helpful are College Essay Guy's Brown University essay guides?

College Essay Guy's Brown supplemental essay guides can be a useful starting point, especially if you’re feeling stuck or want to see a few sample approaches. His breakdowns of each prompt often help clarify what admissions officers at Brown are looking for, and he gives a detailed look at strong sample essays. For example, his "Why Brown?" guide typically cautions against being too general or listing classes and instead emphasizes connecting your academic interests with specific Brown resources or programs.

That said, some users have found that if you follow the guides step by step without adding your own voice or details, your essays can end up sounding formulaic. The real value comes when you use his frameworks as a jumping-off point and then push yourself to include personal anecdotes or vivid details unique to your experience. For instance, you might find his open curriculum brainstorming questions helpful (such as reflecting on how you’ve taken initiative in your learning), but you still need to connect it specifically to your goals at Brown and in life.

For the open curriculum prompt, College Essay Guy usually suggests tying your academic curiosity to the freedom Brown’s curriculum offers. Since you’re interested in Public Health and History, you could write about how you want to examine public health crises through a historical lens and how the open curriculum allows you to blend courses from those two disciplines without restrictive core requirements. As an example, maybe you’d like to pair "Epidemics in History" with "Community Health Interventions" and explore a capstone project that incorporates both. The key is to show how Brown's approach matches your intellectual style and ambitions.

If your writing style is straightforward, don’t feel pressured to adopt a flashy voice. Authenticity stands out, as long as your points are concrete and personal. My advice: Use College Essay Guy's advice as inspiration, but don’t let it dictate your every sentence. Trust your instincts for what feels real and specific to you. This way, your essay will feel both purposeful and personal—not just another generic application.