How helpful are College Essay Guy’s Rice University essay guides?

College Essay Guy’s guides can be quite useful, especially for students who want a structured starting point when facing unique prompts like Rice’s. His Rice-specific advice often breaks down the questions into manageable parts, helping you figure out what admissions officers are really looking for, which can cut through the overwhelm. For the “Why Rice?” essay, he typically encourages being specific—not just naming programs or majors, but showing how particular professors, campus resources, or student clubs genuinely connect to your goals or interests. This is sound advice, because Rice admissions likes to see that your interest is sincere and thoughtful. However, one downside is that if you follow any online guide too closely, your essay risks sounding a little formulaic or similar to other applicants using the same resource.

For the box prompt—the one where you can upload an image or anything "outside the box"—College Essay Guy often gives lists of example ideas (artwork, collages, annotated photos, etc.) and suggests you connect your submission to your personality or values in the explanation. These suggestions can help get creative juices flowing but shouldn’t limit you. Some of the most successful submissions are deeply personal or quirky; for example, a student once uploaded a photo diary of desk items that map her journey as a science fair enthusiast. Another student drew a comic about their family dinners and tied it to their love of community and conversation. These approaches worked because they felt authentic, not forced.

If you’re searching for something more original, College Essay Guy’s frameworks are a solid place to begin, but take time to reflect on experiences, interests, or moments truly unique to you. Start by brainstorming details unique to your interest in Rice or your own personality for the box prompt. Then, use the guides to polish, not package, your story. You’ll likely stand out more by using the advice as a launching pad rather than a template.

Bottom line: his resources are helpful for brainstorming and understanding the expectations, but always add your own spin. And if you’re stuck, try voice-recording yourself explaining why Rice is your top choice, or what you’d put in that box if you could show any part of yourself—sometimes that helps the real ideas come out!