Fall College Essay & Application Program for StudentsWrite an application that sounds like you.
Ethan Sawyer’s 4-week live program takes you from “I have no idea where to start” to a personal statement and supplemental essays you’re proud to submit.
- ✓4 weeks live with Ethan, September 15 to October 7
- ✓Both signature courses: personal statement + full application
- ✓50+ on-demand videos, sample essays, and live Q&A
Register Today See How it Works
60-day money-back guarantee. Live cohort runs September 15 – October 7.
You’re Not Alone in This
This process can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to.
Most students are navigating one of the most high-stakes writing projects of their lives without meaningful guidance. The internet is full of contradictory advice. Students feel pressure to write about topics that don’t feel inspiring or authentic. The result? Stress, second-guessing, and essays that don’t sound like you.
So we designed this course.
The goal: give every student access to the tools, frameworks, and expert guidance they need to approach this process with ease, joy, and purpose.
The self-starter
"I know I can do this. I just need a real process, not another YouTube rabbit hole."
The anxious parent
"I'm terrified of missing something important."
The value-seeker
"I want to know this is worth the investment and that it actually works."
The high achiever
"I want every possible edge. My grades and scores are strong, so what's the strategy I'm missing?"
You’re handing your student’s story to the person who wrote the book on it.
Ethan Sawyer has spent 18+ years helping students write essays that sound like them. He wrote College Essay Essentials, and this program uses the same method.
what makes the difference
Live sessions and weekly structure are what get students to a finished draft
Most students who try to write the essay alone stall out. The live sessions, weekly structure, and feedback are what carry students to a finished draft.
Everything you need to finish the whole application
Live sessions with Ethan
Q&A sessions in every live session
Additional bonus sessions for LIVE essay feedback
50+ recorded videos. Watch anytime, anywhere
Dozens of successful college essays & applications
Access to my Choose Your Own Adventure essay revising tool
Two signature courses, Tuesdays & Wednesdays
The full path, September through October
Take them live or watch on demand. Live sessions are in the evening, 4–5:30pm PT.
The end result
What your student finishes with
By the last session in early October, your student has real, submittable work in hand.
In hand by the end of the program
- ✓A polished personal statementThe 650-word Common App essay, done
- ✓Supplemental essays for their schools“Why us,” community, extracurricular, and more
- ✓A stronger activities & awards listReworked from good to standout
- ✓A balanced college listSchools where they can get in and fit in
- ✓The “super essay” methodOne essay that answers many prompts
- ✓A process they ownSkills they carry into every future essay
A look inside all 4 weeks
Open any week to see the lessons.
Week 1Brainstorming & choosing a topic
- The purpose of the personal statement, and the 4 qualities of an outstanding one
- 7 mini brainstorming exercises and how they lead to a topic
- What to do if you can't decide on a topic
- Montage vs. narrative structure, and the 7 types of montage essay
Week 2Outlining & writing
- Why most people write bad first drafts, and how to avoid it
- How to outline using the 7 montage paths or the narrative path
- How to write your first draft and get feedback if you want it
- Personal feedback from Ethan on some of your topic ideas
Week 3Editing
- How to raise the stakes and draw your reader in
- 11 ideas for improving the middle of a challenges-based essay
- How to uplevel each paragraph and make the essay flow
- Personal feedback from Ethan on essays in progress
Week 4Refining & up-leveling
- 10 ways to end a personal statement
- The Great College Essay Test: how to know it's doing its job
- Tips for polishing when you're ready
- Live feedback from Ethan on as many essays as he can reach
Week 1The college application & the big picture
- How to create an inspired application and supplementals in half the time
- The overlapping prompt game and the “super essay”
- How to build an outstanding activities & awards list
- How to write the Additional Information section
Week 2The “Why us” essay
- 6 common mistakes students make on the “Why us” essay
- A step-by-step guide to writing it well
- How to find every resource you need on a school
- Three approaches, including the “one value” strategy
Week 3Common supplemental essays
- The difference between a regular and a “super” extracurricular essay
- 8 mistakes on extracurricular essays and how to avoid them
- How to write the “Why major,” community, and diversity essays
- How to stand out when your topic and achievements are common
Week 4Bonus content & final review
- 11 dos and don'ts for short-answer questions
- How to make sure the whole application is doing its job
- Building a great college list and turning your list into a resume
- Bonus: the UChicago essays and the transfer essay
What families say after the program
“The College Essay Guy reduced our family’s stress, increased my daughter’s confidence and kept her on schedule while helping her create fantastic essays that reflected her personality and future goals—priceless!”
“I came into this course thinking I was a hopeless case because I didn’t have any harrowing tales of struggle. … I learned that I could talk about what I loved as an essay topic if I could infuse it with my values.”
“Cannot imagine going through this process without you. The process flow is terrific with the value brainstorming at the beginning and the thoughtful essay shaping to bring out the story behind the applicant. Highly recommend.”
Flexible payment options · Fall 2026
Get both courses for $450
Every option includes live sessions with Ethan, the recordings, and a year of the access to the materials.
Live sessions run from September 15 – October 7.
Personal Statement
- Live sessions + Q&A with Ethan
- 30+ recorded videos, watch anytime
- 1 year of the Choose Your Own Adventure tool
- 20+ sample essays
Full Program
- Everything in both courses
- 50+ recorded videos, watch anytime
- Bonus live essay-feedback sessions
- 1 year of the Choose Your Own Adventure tool
- Dozens of sample essays & practical tools
College App + Supplementals
- Live sessions + Q&A with Ethan
- Activities list, “Why us,” supplementals
- The Super Essay Method: one essay, many prompts
- 30+ recorded videos, watch anytime
60-day money-back guarantee
Register, join the sessions, and do the assignments. If it’s still not useful, email us within 60 days and we’ll refund your money.
Pay What You Can
We hold pay-what-you-can spots every session for students from low-income households.
It only takes a moment. Reach out below to request a spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do online courses actually work? My student struggles to finish vidoes.
Fair concern, and it’s why this runs live. Weekly sessions with Ethan, Q&A on every call, and bonus feedback sessions create accountability that a video library alone can’t. If your student misses a week, the recording is posted within 1-2 days so they never fall behind.
How is this different from free resources on YouTube?
Free resources are scattered and contradictory. This is the full sequence in order, taught live, with the exact tools and feedback Ethan uses with his 1-on-1 students. Your student ends with finished essays, not a playlist they meant to watch.
How much time will it take each week?
Plan for the 90-minute live session each week, plus a few hours of writing between sessions. Sessions run twice a day, so your student picks the time that fits.
Are the sessions recorded?
Yes, we record each session and upload them to their respective courses 1-2 business days after each session.
My student is a rising senior applying this fall. Is the timing right?
Yes. The summer cohort is built for rising seniors. You’ll finish your personal statement in June and July and your supplementals in July and August, before fall deadlines.
Is there Pay-What-You-Can for this offer? Do you offer payment plans?
Yes to both! PWYC offers are available to qualifying students, and we have payment plan options listed on the pricing section of this page.
How long do I have access to the courses?
You’ll have access to the courses for one year following purchase. For example, if you purchase on Sept 1, 2026 you’ll have access until Sept 1, 2027.