How helpful are the College Essay Guy resources for the Common App essay?

College Essay Guy's resources can be quite helpful for students who are feeling overwhelmed or unsure about where to begin with their Common App essay. Many people find his structured brainstorming exercises—like the "Essence Objects" and "Values" lists—particularly valuable for unearthing personal stories and core motivations. These exercises actively help you move beyond generic main ideas and toward more specific, authentic content.

His "Montage and Narrative" structures are also useful: for example, if you're debating between telling one story or weaving together several moments, these frameworks show the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches through real student samples. Seeing how other applicants broke down and rebuilt their drafts gave me a better sense of what makes an essay engaging.

That said, some people do find the advice a little generalized if they've already spent a lot of time researching strong essays or if they're looking for completely unconventional approaches. The biggest value is the step-by-step guidance—it’s like having a writing coach break the process into digestible steps. Whether it makes a "big difference" depends on whether you prefer structure or if you work better inventing your own. For example, a friend of mine who felt stuck with bland first drafts said the "Feelings and Needs" exercise made her realize what story she actually wanted to tell and where the emotional core of her essay was missing. It led her to revise her draft into something much more personal.

If you're just starting, I’d suggest trying a few of his foundational worksheets or watching one or two of his free video walk-throughs. They don’t require a huge time commitment up front, and they can jump-start the brainstorming process. Once you've tried his approach, you'll be able to tell if it helps you unlock your voice or if you want to take things in your own direction. That way, you won’t feel like you’re just following a template—you’re using tools that make brainstorming and structuring clearer.

In summary: College Essay Guy can be a great resource, especially at the early stage, but it works best if you use his exercises to spark ideas rather than just stick closely to suggested formulas.