Has anyone used College Essay Guy's resources specifically for UC applications?
I’ve been reading through a bunch of advice on how to approach the UC PIQs, but I keep seeing people mention College Essay Guy’s guides and resources. I know some people say his advice is super helpful, but I’m not sure how tailored it is for University of California essays versus other schools.
If you’ve used his stuff, was it actually useful for the UC prompts, or did you feel like it was more general personal statement advice? Did it help you come up with strong PIQ responses or activities list descriptions? I want to make sure what I’m using is actually making my essays stand out for the right reasons. Any personal experiences would be appreciated!
If you’ve used his stuff, was it actually useful for the UC prompts, or did you feel like it was more general personal statement advice? Did it help you come up with strong PIQ responses or activities list descriptions? I want to make sure what I’m using is actually making my essays stand out for the right reasons. Any personal experiences would be appreciated!
4 months ago
•
62 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
College Essay Guy (Ethan Sawyer) actually has some resources that are directly aimed at the University of California Personal Insight Questions (PIQs), not just general personal statement advice. He offers breakdowns of each UC PIQ prompt, sample essays, brainstorming exercises specifically for UC applicants, and tips for structuring your responses within the 350-word limit.
What stands out about his UC materials is how he emphasizes the unique aspects of the PIQs—namely, that you don’t have to follow the traditional 'story arc' of a Common App essay and that the UCs appreciate concrete examples and direct reflection. For instance, one exercise he suggests is the "BEABIES" chart, which helps outline not only what you did, but also the impact, skills used, and lessons learned. This is specifically designed to help you make the most of each short PIQ response and avoid repeating information across them.
When I used College Essay Guy's resources last cycle, I felt the brainstorming tools and prompt breakdowns really helped me dig deeper into my experiences so I could be specific and authentic in my answers. For example, for the question about creativity, his sample essays and advice encouraged me to focus on a quirky side project rather than a conventional academic experience, which I think helped my application stand out. He also provides feedback on tone—reminding you to avoid exaggeration and to show your thought process or growth in tangible ways, which is something UC readers tend to value.
That said, you still need to be careful not to just follow a formula. Some of his advice can feel a little broad at first, but the UC-specific guides and the sample essays really help ground things. The activities list guide is also helpful, particularly for fitting impact and specifics into the smaller character limits.
If you're someone who likes having clear frameworks and lots of solid examples to draw inspiration from, you'll probably find College Essay Guy's UC resources genuinely helpful. Just make sure to personalize your responses and not rely solely on templates—use his guides to get you started, then inject your own voice and experiences so you align with what UCs are looking for.
What stands out about his UC materials is how he emphasizes the unique aspects of the PIQs—namely, that you don’t have to follow the traditional 'story arc' of a Common App essay and that the UCs appreciate concrete examples and direct reflection. For instance, one exercise he suggests is the "BEABIES" chart, which helps outline not only what you did, but also the impact, skills used, and lessons learned. This is specifically designed to help you make the most of each short PIQ response and avoid repeating information across them.
When I used College Essay Guy's resources last cycle, I felt the brainstorming tools and prompt breakdowns really helped me dig deeper into my experiences so I could be specific and authentic in my answers. For example, for the question about creativity, his sample essays and advice encouraged me to focus on a quirky side project rather than a conventional academic experience, which I think helped my application stand out. He also provides feedback on tone—reminding you to avoid exaggeration and to show your thought process or growth in tangible ways, which is something UC readers tend to value.
That said, you still need to be careful not to just follow a formula. Some of his advice can feel a little broad at first, but the UC-specific guides and the sample essays really help ground things. The activities list guide is also helpful, particularly for fitting impact and specifics into the smaller character limits.
If you're someone who likes having clear frameworks and lots of solid examples to draw inspiration from, you'll probably find College Essay Guy's UC resources genuinely helpful. Just make sure to personalize your responses and not rely solely on templates—use his guides to get you started, then inject your own voice and experiences so you align with what UCs are looking for.
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating
5.0 (5 reviews)