Upcoming Live courses & programs
Each of our live courses comes with on demand content and a schedule of live sessions with Ethan or an industry expert. Click on the pages below to learn more.
Check back here in the future for our 2025 course schedule.
My On DEMAND two-part college essay & application course series FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES:
1. How to Write an Outstanding Personal Statement
This on demand course for writing the 650-word main essay of the Common Application that nearly every college and university requires.
We provide step-by-step instructions from brainstorming your essay topic to polishing your final draft.
Part 1 of the How to Apply to College video course series for students.
2. How to Create a Compelling College Application + Supplemental Essays
This on demand course covers the rest of the college application. Dozens of resources for developing a college list, finishing all the school-specific supplemental essays, polishing the activities list and more.
Part 2 of the How to Apply to College video course series for students.
(Watch Anytime)
Applying to Highly Selective Colleges and Universities
A mini-video course with the College Essay Guy Team.
This course empowers and informs students with their sights set on selective schools, offering an “inside look” at how these admissions decisions are made and how to best advocate for themselves in the application process.
How to Stand Out With Common Personal Statement Topics
In this mini-course, we cover important factors to consider when picking a topic, why not all common topics are created equal, and how to know when it’s probably best to start from scratch with a new essay topic
Uncommon Applicant: Build a Self-Directed Project
An Online Course & Community for Building a Self-Directed Project.
We’ll answer questions like, what are your core values and how do they manifest in your life? How do you lead? Are you more comfortable out front (envisioning big ideas) or in a supporting role (helping others get things done)?
How To Write the UC Personal Insight Questions
8 Personal Insight Questions. 9 Schools. Let’s Do This.
5+ Hours of Video Lessons
Covers All 9 University of California Schools
48-Page Workbook with Exercises and Sample Essays
How to Make College Affordable
This comprehensive, pay-what-you-can course — intended for 9th to 12th graders and their families — will guide you through pretty much all the things you need to know when it comes to paying for college. Learn how to navigate through the terrain of financially affording college for you and your family.
How to Build a Great College List
Join Ethan and Dr. Antonoff to discuss finding colleges that meet your academic goals, social goals, financial goals, and even more!
The Mission: Identifying colleges where you will both get in and fit in!
The Method: Four hours of expert list-building advice with a nationally-recognized expert.
The Advanced Personal Statement Course
Uplevel your college essay with 4 brand new techniques that go beyond our flagship personal statement course.
This course is the result of requests from students to share (even) more tools for digging deep and standing out on their college essays.
Other Resources for STudents
COLLEGE ESSAY ESSENTIALS
A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Successful College Admissions Essay
ETHAN SAWYER IS THE COLLEGE ESSAY GUY | ★★★★★
“That kind of says it all. While he may have named himself that, he has earned the title. His passion for writing essays that is conveyed in this book, will help any student get through the somewhat stressful and daunting process with fun and ease."
– gonzo14, Amazon Customer
The complete guide to the college interview
Everything you need to know about preparing for a successful college interview.
This 18-Page E-book includes:
an electronic interview workbook to follow along
principles and exercises for guiding the interview towards your best self without sounding forced
the "so what" game to help you take your interview one step deeper
Plus So Much More.
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE “WHY US” ESSAY
Everything you need to write an awesome "Why Us" essay for any school.
This 20-Page E-book includes:
Five Dos and Don'ts for your Why Us Essay
How NOT to write your “Why us” essay
What you SHOULD write in your “Why us” essay
All the resources you need to learn about a particular school
Six Great “Why us” Examples (And Why Each One Is Great)
Here’s what Students Are Saying About My Courses
I didn't know how to write an essay at all, but by taking this course now I really know how to write one. It encouraged me to think about the challenges I've faced in my life and their impact on me. The first exercise made me to go and look at my Scrapbook and photos and this really made me happy. This course helped me in writing an essay while bringing my memories back, which made me realize that I'm capable of reaching my goals and I'm strong.
-Ana, Student 2017
"The past week, was more of a journey than a tutorial for my personal statement. Before the course, I was looking outwards for inspiration. My week with Ethan taught me to find inspiration within myself, but best of all, he provided me the tools to put it on paper."
-Jonathan, Student (2017)
"I feel like I've learned how to crystallize my most important core values in a ridiculously small word limit, which is a unique skill I wouldn't have learned otherwise. In the process of taking this course and learning from Ethan, I really feel like I've learned so much about myself. I think you'll come away from this course with a new outlook on both the college process and yourself."
- Sarah (2018)
"Before this course, I had one extracurricular activity that overlapped in all four of my personal insight question. Afterwards I was amazed how the beabies, feelings and needs exercise, and example essays helped me discover aspects of myself that I never thought I'd feel comfortable talking about. Now all four of my essays focus on different aspects of me which I'm proud of."
-Shazaib S, Student
