- FREE LIVE WEBINAR
Case Study of a Successful College Application Process (And What You Can Learn from it)
- Wednesday, April 29, 2026
- 5-6:00 PM PST/8-9:00 PM EST
Join us for a free live webinar where Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy), Ali McKeon (Senior Essay Specialist), and former admissions officer Tom Campbell deconstruct a real, successful college application from start to finish and share strategies, essay insights, and insider feedback that can help you craft your own standout application.
We’ll cover:
- Deconstructing a real, successful application from start to finish.
- Why certain choices (in list, essays, and ECs) led to success.
- Learning how to apply these successful patterns to your own journey.
- Dispelling myths about what a “perfect” applicant looks like.
- Can't make it live? The recording will be available within 1–2 business days.
Our Facilitators
Ethan Sawyer
Founder · College Essay Guy
Ethan Sawyer is the founder of College Essay Guy which means he has been eating/sleeping/breathing college essays for most of his waking hours since 2003. He is an internationally recognized college essay and admissions expert and the author of the Amazon bestsellers College Essay Essentials and College Admission Essentials. Each year he and his team reach more than one million students and counselors through the College Essay Guy blog, online pay-what-you-can courses, workshops, books, and one-on-one work. Receiving his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Performance Studies, an MFA in Acting from UC Irvine, and two counseling certificates, Ethan’s educational experiences, reading, and training have informed his deep interest in storytelling as a vehicle for personal development and growth, which in turn inspired Ethan to start College Essay Guy.
Tom Campbell
Former Admissions Officer · College Essay Guy
With 11+ years of admissions experience, Tom brings a rare insider perspective from both sides of the process, including roles as an admissions officer at the College of the Holy Cross and Assistant Dean at Pomona College.
He’s helped shape policies like test-optional admissions and supported students nationwide in gaining admission to highly selective schools.
Tom specializes in helping students turn “I have no idea what to write” into essays that feel authentic, compelling, and unmistakably them.
Known for his warm, student-centered approach, he makes a high-stakes process feel more human (with the occasional nod to Kacey Musgraves and breakfast burritos).
Ali McKeon
Program Advisor & Senior Essay Specialist · College Essay Guy
Ali McKeon earned her BA in English from Stanford and MFA from UC Irvine. While tutoring Bay Area students in AP English and AP US History, she discovered her knack for helping young writers uncover their unique voice. Drawn to the creative memoir elements of college essays, she began guiding students through the application process, crafting essays that truly matter–to admissions officers and the students who write them. Over the past eight years, Ali has spent thousands of hours building deep trust with her students, helping them reflect on who they are, who they want to become, and the impact they hope to make. She leads with a confident, compassionate vision, while simultaneously ensuring that students have the final say in the stories they choose to tell. Her thoughtful, empowering approach leads to essays that are authentic, cinematic, and rich with detail and has helped students gain acceptance to schools like Stanford, Cornell, Duke, Dartmouth, and more.
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