Press & Media
Meet the College Essay Guy
Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, is available for TV, radio, podcast, and editorial interviews on college essays, admissions, and how AI is changing student writing.
As seen in
About Ethan Sawyer
One of the country's most recognized voices on college essays
Ethan Sawyer is the Founder & CEO of College Essay Guy and one of the country’s most recognized experts on college essays and the college application process. For more than two decades he has helped students find and tell their authentic stories.
He is the author of the Amazon bestsellers College Essay Essentials and College Admission Essentials, and reaches millions of students and school counselors each year through free and pay-what-you-can courses, live workshops, books, a popular podcast, and one-on-one coaching.
Ethan holds an MFA from UC Irvine and a degree from Northwestern University. He has been featured on WGN Chicago, NBC News, The Washington Post, HuffPost, and more.
Available to discuss
What Ethan can speak to
College essays & personal statements
How applicants stand out in a year of AI-written drafts.
The admissions process for students & parents
What actually changed this cycle, and what families can ignore.
AI’s impact on college essays & student writing
What colleges are doing about ChatGPT, and what it means for applicants.
Teen identity, self-discovery & finding your story
Why the personal essay still matters for how teens make sense of themselves.
Navigating high-stakes decisions with clarity
Helping students and parents make calm, values-based choices under pressure.
As seen in
Press mentions
Inside Higher Ed
Quoted on colleges dropping supplemental essays for 2026-27, and why writing beats video. (July 8, 2026)
View article »The Wall Street Journal
Education story on colleges cutting supplemental essays. (July 2026)
View article »Inside Higher Ed
Central source on essay-prompt trends; his 300-prompt survey found identity questions most popular. (Nov 26, 2025)
View article »The Washington Post
Quoted in “‘Read me!’: Students race to craft forceful college essays as deadlines near.” (2017)
View article »NBC News
Quoted in “Dreading Writing Your College Application Essay? Tips From the Pros.”
View article »HuffPost
Profile: “Made of Compassion and Creativity: Meet Ethan Sawyer, College Essay Guy.”
View article »Media contact
Working on a story? Let's talk.
Ethan is experienced with live TV, radio, podcast, and print, and is available for rapid-turnaround commentary during admissions season (August-November).