Here are two things you should know about our team: 

1. More than 80% of the students we work with gain acceptance into one of their top choice schools, and 98% of those who have applied to the Top 50 schools have been accepted. 

2. But we don't base our success solely on our students' college acceptances.

Why? Because there are so many other things that our students have done well (GPA, SAT/ACT, Extracurriculars, Life) before meeting us that have prepared them to write a great personal statement. Instead:

We measure our success in other ways...

• Each time a student tells us that working with us has made him a better writer
• Each time a student tells us we've helped her gain confidence
• Or when we receive a testimonial like this:

Ethan you are truly a unique soul, and the things you have taught me about life, the future, writing, communicating, and people are some of the most valuable lessons I have learned in my whole life. I couldn't have picked a better leader to guide me through my college application journey and my first semester of Senior year. If I could go back and change any aspect of my experience with you I would not change a single thing, and I mean that literally. I grew so much from this process with you, and I truly feel as though we have become friends. Today in class, our assignment was to write down our top 5 heroes, and you were on my list. Why? Because you have spent a majority of your life helping others discover what makes them special and different. You not only guide students through the application process, but help motivate us to become the leaders of tomorrow. You never judged me and are always optimistic. I admire your values Ethan, and I will always look up to you as a role model. Thank you for all of your help.

That's how we know we've made a real impact. And that's why we love our work.

But we also don’t mind bragging a little. And, because parents are sometimes curious, we’ve compiled a list of acceptances from the past two years (2016 & 2017)

• Amherst College
• Arizona State University (Barrett Honors College)
• Baylor University
• Beloit University
• Boston College
• Boston University
• Bradley University
• Brown University
• Bucknell University
• Bucknell University
• California Polytechnic State University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Colgate University
• Cornell University
• DePaul University
• Drake University
• Fordham University
• George Washington University
• Hamilton College
• Hamilton University
• Harvard University
• Indiana University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Lehigh University
• Lewis & Clark College
• Marquette University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Miami University (Oxford)
• Michigan State University
• Mt. Holyoke College
• Northeastern University
• Northwestern University
• New York University - Stern
• Pepperdine University
• Princeton University
• Pitzer College
• Purdue University
• Reed College
• Rhodes College
• Rice University

• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
• San Diego State University
• Santa Clara University
• The Scripps Research Institute
• Southern Methodist University
• Stanford University
• Texas A&M
• Texas Christian University
• Trinity College Dublin
• University of Arizona
• University of California Berkeley (MET Program)
• University of California Davis
• University of California Irvine
• University of California Los Angeles
• University of California Riverside
• University of California San Diego
• University of California Santa Barbara (Honors College)
• University of California Santa Cruz
• University of Colorado Boulder
• University of Houston
• University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
• University of Maryland College Park
• University of Miami
• University of Miami (Ohio)
• University of Michigan
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Richmond
• University of Rochester
• University of Texas - Austin
• University of Virginia
• University of Washington
• University of Wisconsin - Madison
• University of the Pacific
• Vanderbilt University
• Vassar College
• Villanova University
• Wake Forest University
• Wesleyan University
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

“I think it is absurd that at the tender age of 17, we are expected to have found a cure for the incurable, saved the world three times over, and make it home in time for dinner. These were some of the many trepidations I had coming into senior year and the dreaded college application process. How would I measure up to these prodigies? How could I possibly put anything in my mind onto paper with a fixed word count? Fortunately, this is where Ethan came in. With the aid of his constructive feedback, not only have I been able to put my stream of consciousness into meaningful essays, but also I have learnt a great deal about myself as a person and as a writer. I was pleasantly surprised by the attention to detail given to the ENTIRE process, from learning about my own values through clever activities to that final motivational push to meet the last deadline, Ethan has been extraordinarily helpful and sincere. My initial fears seemed highly trivial as I realized that most approach the application process with the wrong mindset. It is so much more than a number on a paper or extracurriculars (still important, nevertheless), it is a journey of self discovery, that I would never have taken without Ethan. As I continue to embark on this journey, I will always be thankful for all that I have learned during my time working with him. ”

Accepted: Lewis & Clark College, University of Colorado Boulder, Vanderbilt University, UC Davis, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara (Honors College), and UC Berkeley

Will Attend: Vanderbilt University (ED II)

“Working with Ethan was truly an amazing experience. I especially enjoyed our Skype conversations, in which Ethan challenged me to explore every facet of my life. In just a few hours, Ethan helped me craft an awesome essay that I believe perfectly encapsulates who I am as a person. Thanks again Ethan, you ROCK!”

Accepted: Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Cal Berkeley (MET Program)

Will Attend: Stanford

“Devon and Ethan are outstanding counselors and they were able to make the whole college admissions process practically stress free. They really kept me on track with my essays and helped me put together an amazing application.  I could not be more thrilled to have worked with them both. I was admitted nearly everywhere I applied including Cornell! 

I was admitted EA to University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Northeastern ($30,000 merit scholarship), Purdue, University of Indiana Bloomington ($20,000 Deans Scholarship), North Carolina State University, Miami University Oxford Ohio ($28,000 Merit Scholarship), University of the Pacific ($10,000 merit scholarship)."

Accepted: Cornell, Northeastern, Miami University of Oxford, Indiana University, Purdue, University of the Pacific, University of Illinois

Will Attend: Cornell (ED)

"This was my parent's first college applications rodeo and we were all overwhelmed and completely lost--especially since I was a homeschooled applicant. I buckled down and ordered a bunch of essay writing books and college applications guides. One of them was College Essay Guy's book. Immediately, I knew this guy had a system and knew exactly what he was talking about. So, I contacted him through his website and made it my mission to get his help on my applications. What was at first a nerve wracking experience quickly became an invigorating and enlightening one. Ethan eased my concerns about not being a competitive applicant, made his sessions affordable, was flexible and patient with my extracurricular schedule, quickly got me to abandon my perfectionist tendencies, and even checked in periodically to make sure I was sticking to my writing schedule! I completed almost 28 high-quality application essays in 3 months. I would not have been accepted into 14 great schools (including University of Notre Dame, Rice, Hamilton, and Wesleyan) without his guidance and insight. The amount of progress I made as a writer and growth as an individual through working with Ethan and his team is astounding. He has a perfect balance of structural guidance, constructive input, providing motivation, and letting the student’s voice come out in his/her writing. The biggest takeaway is that his team's optimism, growth mindset, and passion for helping students discover what is unique and amazing about them is infectious. I have no doubt you will come out of the college admissions process after working with Ethan and his team with much needed clarity on who you are as a person and with greater pride in your accomplishments. Thank you so much for your help, Ethan! I appreciate it." 

Accepted: Rice University, University of Notre Dame, University of Houston, University of Miami, Hamilton University, Wesleyan University, Michigan State University, Drake University, Beloit University, Boston University, Bradley University, Rhodes College, SMU

Will Attend: Rice University

“Working with the College Essay Guy was great! I never would have loved my Common App essay so much if it weren't for him. I ended up getting into my top school with the essays I wrote with him and I am so happy. I loved working with Amanda especially because she really connected with my ideas about girl's education and animal rights in my essays. It was great how they have team members who can work specifically with you.”

Accepted: Boston College, Villanova, University of Maryland College Park, University of Richmond, Bucknell University

Will Attend: Boston College

"Working with the College Essay Guy team taught me much more than just how to write essays. They helped my college process and transition to this next chapter of my life enormously. The College Essay Guy team was quick to respond to all my questions, had flexible schedules, and really knew what they were teaching me. The exercises and sessions where we brainstormed were incredibly helpful for my essay writing. I ended up only applying to one college ED but wrote out essays for 4 other schools. And I have to say that by the end I fell in love with each of my essays and became a better writer by the end. Not only that, but the team helped me write my activities list, looked at my resume, and every other minute detail of the college process."

Accepted: Boston University 

Will Attend: Boston University (ED)

“Devon and Ethan were an absolute joy to work with. Their patience, responsiveness, and support whittled down my stress and made the foreign territory of college admissions less daunting. Through interactive face-to-face Skype sessions, Devon and Ethan helped me convey my tangled thoughts into poignant statements. They offered constructive criticism and showed me how to make each sentence impactful and imbued with meaning. When writer’s block appeared, our conversations about art and authors and life furnished vivid inspiration. Through it all, I learned not only how to write better, but also how to find my own style, voice, and confidence in myself. Devon’s and Ethan’s passion to help kids and to see them succeed really showed with each meeting I had with them. Again, I couldn’t be more grateful for their help.”

Accepted: UCLA, UC Berkeley (early acceptance), UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, USC, Scripps

Will Attend: UCLA

"Working with the College Essay Guy Team was more than rewarding, I love how everything was organized and how specific it can be to narrow the 9 list of colleges. I felt engaged in the sessions. I find the brainstorming activities like the listing of essence objects and the description of oneself the most useful because it really gave me a base on the ideas to write on paper. Also the vocabulary and language used helped me a lot in expanding mine."

Accepted: University of Michigan, UC (LA, Berkeley, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Irvine), Hamilton College, Bucknell University, Purdue, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, University of Rochester

Will Attend: University of Michigan

"I made such a strong connection with the team and felt that I could talk to them about anything. Because writing essays are more than just putting words on paper, but rather exploring yourself and finding your true beliefs, I found that their prompts and guidance to find myself really helped me open my eyes. The college process in general is extremely stressful, but through my time with the team, I found it not only somewhat fun but also therapeutic. Thank you for all of your work College Essay Guy and Erika! I appreciate it tremendously (:"

Accepted: Baylor, Scripps, Boulder, USC, UCSB, UCI, UCSD, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Rice

Will Attend: Rice University

"As an international student and a non-native English speaker, I found the US application/admissions process very complicated, especially the essays. In my UC application, Ethan taught me how to balance the accuracy of my high school career and college expectations. He always focused on the clarity of my essays; the only time he wanted me to change the content of my essays was when there wasn't enough of it or if I had better ideas and anecdotes that I could share. I truly feel that without the essay workshops and one-on-one sessions, I wouldn't have expressed myself in a manner worthy of the acceptances I achieved. "

Accepted: Berkeley, UCLA, UCI, UCSD, UIUC, Purdue

Will Attend: Berkeley

"Having frequent Skype meetings with the CEG team really helped me to work on and stay focused on my essays amidst my busy school schedule. The CEG team provided me with so many great resources from creative brainstorming exercises to interview tips. The CEG team is professional and organized and I can confidently say that I was able to put forth everything I wanted to show about myself in my essays. You get close to your coaches, too!"

Accepted: Pepperdine, UCLA, UCB, UCSD, UCD, UCSB, UCI

Will Attend: Pepperdine

"Whether you were giving me last minute notes hours before a deadline or helping me brainstorm topics over Skype, every time I worked you, you always helped me jump the hurdles in my way.  Without your guidance, I’m not sure I would’ve got through admissions season in one piece.  Thank you for helping me to think more deeply about my writing and my life, for working with my hectic schedule, and for laughing at my jokes.  I loved talking with you, and your taste in puns is impeccable. My only regret is that I didn’t start working with you sooner!"

Accepted: UT Austin, A&M, UH, Rice University, UC Berkeley, UCSD, Vanderbilt University, Boston College, Case Western

Will Attend: Rice University

"Working with Ethan and Erika  and the entire CEG team helped me get into the school of my dreams. All the way through from when we started  brainstorming to the manner in which you make sure you know every single detail about me to setting dates of completion that I never stuck with to getting the actual essay writing done to the deep "So what ?" questions to the trimming down and final editing stages of the essay, showed me just how committed you are to helping your clients portray themselves in the best possible way to colleges.

The money paid for this opportunity to work with you guys is probably the best long term investment I will ever make as I will always be able to call on the priceless lessons learned while working with you . It truly was a unique experience staying up past midnight working together on essay writing while you guys were just waking up in the West Coast, and while those days were tiring, your effort, commitment and drive rubbed off on me and helped me get into my dream school, and for that I can't find the words to express my utmost gratitude."

Accepted: Georgetown University, Harvard University

Will Attend: Harvard University