How can I use College Essay Guy's advice to improve my Northwestern supplemental essays?

You’re definitely on the right track by wanting your Northwestern supplement to be specific and personal, and College Essay Guy’s advice can be super useful here. Their brainstorming tools—like the "Essence Objects" exercise or "Values, Lessons, Vulnerabilities" lists—can help you dig past generalities and into more authentic details about why Northwestern stands out to you beyond the basic facts.

Northwestern’s prompt usually asks why you want to attend, and they’re looking for you to go deeper than simply mentioning the Medill program or renowned faculty. The College Essay Guy often suggests that you answer three core questions: “What excites you about this school? Why you? And, how will you contribute?” Start by writing a quick list of very specific things at Northwestern that genuinely excite you, especially if you discovered them through your Medill summer program experience—maybe you were inspired by a particular professor, an innovative student publication, or even a lively class discussion.

To avoid sounding like a resume, try weaving in anecdotal moments that show your genuine enthusiasm. For example, instead of saying, “I attended Medill’s summer program and learned about journalism,” you could write, “One late night at Medill, I joined a group of students huddled around a cluttered whiteboard, debating the ethics of political reporting. That intensity, and the openness to unfiltered dialogue, convinced me that this is where I want to spend the next four years.”

Structure-wise, College Essay Guy’s "Montage" structure works well for supplements—interspersing brief, vivid moments (maybe a memory from your summer program, something you read in The Daily Northwestern, and a current class or professor you’re eager to learn from) to show your connection from different angles. Stay away from a list or generic statements like "Medill has great professors"—tie everything back to what YOU uniquely noticed and how you’ll fit in. Use College Essay Guy’s method of personal, micro-level detail; for example, reference a favorite story you produced during the program, and how it made you realize that Medill’s blend of theory and practice is what you want.

Most importantly, every Northwestern-specific detail should connect back to you. Instead of saying, “Northwestern values interdisciplinary study,” show how you intend to combine journalism with political science, maybe by reporting on student government or local civic issues—something you’re uniquely focused on.

By using College Essay Guy’s techniques—prioritizing unique, personal moments and anchoring everything in the specifics of what Northwestern offers—you’ll end up with a supplement that’s both compelling and authentic.