Book resources

The Treasure Trove

Every guide, template, worksheet, and podcast mentioned in College Admission Essentials and College Essay Essentials. Pick your book and chapter to see everything that chapter mentions.

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Chapter 2 · College Admission Essentials

What Do Colleges Look for in Students?

Guide

More on our Admission Nutrients, including a six-part podcast series that deep dives into each one.

Chapter 3 · College Admission Essentials

Inside the Classroom: Courses, Grades, and Academic Planning Essentials

Guide

CEG’s Ultimate Guide for Choosing Your High School Courses

Chapter 4 · College Admission Essentials

Outside the Classroom: Extracurricular and Summer Planning Essentials

Guide

How to Build an Independent Research Project in High School

Guide

400+ Extracurricular Activities: a List of Examples & Opportunities, and a Comprehensive Guide

Chapter 5 · College Admission Essentials

ACT and SAT Essentials

Outside resource

FairTest’s list of Test-Optional and Test-Free Colleges

Outside resource

Free online test prep resources for the SAT and ACT

Guide

25 Practical Ways to Reduce Testing Anxiety

Chapter 6 · College Admission Essentials

How to Create a Balanced College List

Worksheet

Values Spectrum Exercise

Outside resource

Worksheets by Dr. Steven Antonoff

Outside resource

The College Finder

Template

College Preferences Template

Template

Sample College List and Essay Tracker

Guide

Questions to Ask on a College Tour

Guide

List-Building FAQs

Guide

Paying for College Guide

Outside resource

Federal Student Aid Estimator

Chapter 8 · College Admission Essentials

Early Decision and Early Action

Podcast

CEG Podcast #123: “Should You Apply Early Decision or Regular Decision? (And the Chart That Can Help You Decide)”

Outside resource

A spreadsheet listing the ED and RD acceptance rates for hundreds of schools

Chapter 9 · College Admission Essentials

Demonstrated Interest

Podcast

CEG Podcast #506: Demonstrated Interest: What Is it, Why Is it Important, and How Do You Show it? with Dean of Enrollment Christine Bowman

Podcast

CEG Podcast #108: Demonstrated Interest: How to Build Authentic Relationships with Colleges (and Why It’s a Good Idea)

Guide

What is Demonstrated Interest? A Practical How-To Guide

Chapter 11 · College Admission Essentials

Essential Application Prework

Worksheet

College Essay Guy Brainstorming Prework

Guide

Detailed guides for each of the exercises in this chapter

Worksheet

25 Questions to Help You Brainstorm Content for Your Activities List or Extracurricular Activity Essay

Chapter 12 · College Admission Essentials

How to Up-Level Your Activities and Honors List (and Why You Should)

Worksheet

CEG’s Epic List of Activities List Verbs

Guide

Examples of 80+ activities and descriptions

Template

The BEABIES Exercise Downloadable Template + Examples

Guide

How to Write Your University of California (UC) Activities List

Chapter 13 · College Admission Essentials

How to Write the Additional Information Sections

Worksheet

An extensive list of potential inclusions for the Additional Information and “Challenges and Circumstances” sections

Chapter 14 · College Admission Essentials

Should I Discuss Mental Health in My College Application—And If So, How?

Guide

A longer guide with more counselor letter examples, guidance on how to weave a mental health disclosure into a single paragraph of the personal statement, and tips for weaving mental health disclosures into supplemental essays

Podcast

A three-part podcast with insights from a college adviser and mental health counselor, an admission officer, and a student who chose to disclose in her application

Chapter 16 · College Admission Essentials

Navigating AI Use in the College Application Process

Guide

Navigating College Applications with AI: What Colleges Say + CEG’s Advice to Students and Counselors

Chapter 17 · College Admission Essentials

How to Write a Personal Statement That Matters

Worksheet

College Essay Guy Brainstorming Prework

Guide

The Free Guide to Writing Your Personal Statement

Guide

Personal Statement Examples

Guide

How to Write a Great Hook

Video

10 Ways to Bring More Insight into Your Essay

Worksheet

Roles and Identities “Superpowers”

Guide

The Feelings and Needs Exercise

Guide

List of Common Topics

Example essay

Stomach Whisperer Essay

Chapter 19 · College Admission Essentials

Creating Your Supplemental Essay Tracker

Template

A College List + Essay Tracker spreadsheet [Template]

Chapter 20 · College Admission Essentials

The Super Essay (How to Write Better Essays in Less Time)

Template

An example Essay Tracker with potential (color-coded!) Super Topics

Template

The BEABIES Exercise Downloadable Template + Examples

Chapter 21 · College Admission Essentials

How to Write the “Identity + How will you contribute?” Essays

Guide

How to Use the Roles and Identities Exercise to Write an “Identity/Diversity + How would you contribute” Essay

Guide

How to Answer the Diversity (and Other Related) Supplemental Essay Prompts 2025–2026

Worksheet

If You Really, Really Knew Me (one more exercise to uncover other parts of yourself that you might share)

Worksheet

List of Positive Qualities for College Application Essays or Recommendation Letters

Chapter 22 · College Admission Essentials

How to Write the “Why Us?” Essay

Template

“Why us” Essay Research Chart 2.0 (non-AI version) and 3.0 (AI version)

Chapter 24 · College Admission Essentials

How to Write the “Navigating Differences” Essay

Guide

Links to guides on a wide range of supplemental essay prompts, updated each year

Chapter 25 · College Admission Essentials

How to Write the “Extracurricular Activity” Essay

Guide

How to Write your Extracurricular Essay without Rockstar Achievements

Guide

Six Techniques for Writing Your 150-Word Extracurricular Essay

Guide

How to Improve Your Mediocre Extracurricular Essay in 30 Minutes

Guide

How to Decide Which Extracurricular Activity to Write About

Chapter 26 · College Admission Essentials

The Dos and Don’ts of the Short Answers

Guide

How to Get Great Letters of Recommendation

Worksheet

Letter of recommendation questionnaire

Guide

How to write a letter of recommendation: Counselor’s Guide + Samples

Guide

Writing a recommendation letter for a student: Teacher’s Guide + Samples

Chapter 28 · College Admission Essentials

How to Prepare for the College Interview

Worksheet

College Essay Guy’s Interview Workbook (a downloadable guide you can use to prepare your answers)

Guide

College Interview Tips and Strategies: The Ultimate Guide (including sample questions to ask your college interviewer)

Guide

160+ College Interview Questions from Top Universities

Podcast

Podcast: College Interview Tips and Strategies

Chapter 29 · College Admission Essentials

Merit Scholarships

Guide

A Guide to Merit Scholarships + List of 25 Great Merit-based Scholarships

Chapter 31 · College Admission Essentials

The “After” Shot: How to Make Sure Your Application Is Doing Its Job

Video

A short video on the dangers of getting feedback from too many people

Chapter 32 · College Admission Essentials

Artists

Podcast

Podcast: Debunking the Myth of the Starving Artist

Guide

How to Apply to Art School: The Essential Guide

Outside resource

How to prepare an art portfolio for art school admission

Outside resource

How to light and photograph 2-D and 3-D artwork

Outside resource

Tips for writing your artist statement

Outside resource

Ask the Art Prof articles

Video

Art school portfolio video critiques

Outside resource

Pro development videos and tips for artists

Chapter 33 · College Admission Essentials

Athletes

Template

Example Email Template

Outside resource

NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete

Worksheet

College Priorities Analysis (PDF)

Worksheet

Student-Athlete Profile example (PDF)

Outside resource

Student-Athletes “Do-It-Yourself Guide”

Worksheet

NCAA General Recruiting Rules Timeline (May 2019 new rules)

Outside resource

Athletic Recruiting Advisers across the U.S.

Chapter 34 · College Admission Essentials

International Students

Guide

A comprehensive hub of resources for international students, including blogs, podcasts, and more

Chapter 35 · College Admission Essentials

Homeschoolers

Guide

Applying to College as a Homeschooler: Essential Tips and Resources

Worksheet

Example Homeschool Student Transcript

Podcast

Podcast: Advice for Homeschooling Students

Chapter 36 · College Admission Essentials

Students Interested in Minority Serving Institutions

Outside resource

Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions

Outside resource

Hispanic Associations of Colleges and Universities

Outside resource

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI)

Outside resource

National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO)

Outside resource

American Indian College Fund

Outside resource

Native Pathways Guidebook

Outside resource

Center for Native American Youth

Outside resource

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium

Outside resource

College Horizons

Outside resource

National Indian Education Association

Outside resource

Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science

Outside resource

American Indian Science and Engineering Society

Outside resource

Scholarships and Funding Resources for Alaskan Native and Native American Students

Outside resource

The Ciri Foundation

Outside resource

Native Forward

Outside resource

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Outside resource

APIA Scholars

Outside resource

United Negro College Fund

Outside resource

Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Guide

Tuition Benefits for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Students

Chapter 37 · College Admission Essentials

First-Generation and Low-Income Students

Guide

CEG’s First-Generation and/or Low-Income Resource Center

Guide

The Matchlighters Scholars Program (free one-on-one help for low-income students on their college essays and college list: collegeessayguy.com/ matchlighters)

Outside resource

Fly-In and Diversity Visit Programs for College Students

Outside resource

I’m First! Guide to College

Outside resource

The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs

Podcast

Podcast: Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream (with Sara Goldrick-Rab, author of Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream)

Podcast

CEG Podcast Episode: The Being Not-Rich Guide

Chapter 38 · College Admission Essentials

Undocumented Students

Outside resource

US State Policies on DACA & Undocumented Students

Outside resource

Guide for Undocumented Individuals Traveling in the US

Guide

Should I Come Out as Undocumented in My Personal Statement? (Part 1 of 2)

Guide

How to Come Out as Undocumented in Your Personal Statement (Part 2 of 2)

Guide

15 Ways to Advocate for Undocumented Youth (Blog)

Podcast

CEG Podcast Episode 101: Life as an Undocumented Student at Harvard

Podcast

CEG Podcast Episode 102: How to Advocate for Undocumented Students

Guide

Four Things Undocumented Students Need to Know About Applying to College (Blog)

Outside resource

TheDream.US

Chapter 39 · College Admission Essentials

Neurodivergent Students and Students with Learning Differences

Outside resource

The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences, 16th Edition (the premier resource guide with information about college admission, services, programs, and accommodations at colleges in the United States)

Outside resource

Neurodiversity in College (free, sortable database of 200+ “neurodiversity-friendly” colleges and universities)

Outside resource

Autism/Neurodiversity/Disability Scholarships, Internships and More

Outside resource

What Questions Should I Ask the Student Disabilities Office?

Outside resource

6 Reasons to Consider a Gap Year

Outside resource

Should You Disclose a Disability When Applying to College?

Outside resource

Getting Into College Is the Easy Part

Outside resource

Test-Optional and Test-Free Colleges

Outside resource

Choices (a postsecondary planning night for college-bound students with learning differences)

Chapter 40 · College Admission Essentials

LGBTQ+ Students

Outside resource

LGBTQ+ Student Scholarship Database

Outside resource

Point Foundation

Guide

Should I Come Out in My Personal Statement? (And If So, How)?

Outside resource

Guide to College for LGBTQ Students

Chapter 41 · College Admission Essentials

Self-Directed Students

Outside resource

Blake Boles’s Tips on Emailing to Request a Letter of Recommendation or Connecting with an Interesting Stranger

Outside resource

More Tips on Writing a Great Mission Statement

Worksheet

One Sheet Examples

Worksheet

Two-Sheet Example

Template

Sample One Week Plan [Template]

Outside resource

DoSomething.org

Outside resource

BlakeBoles.com

Outside resource

LEAP4change.org

Guide

Tips for Learning What Type of Leader You Are (from Lauren Calahan)

Worksheet

A Checklist for Conversations with Potential Partners (and What to Do When Someone Says “No”)

Chapter 42 · College Admission Essentials

Transfer Students

Guide

How to Write a Successful College Transfer Essay

Chapter 43 · College Admission Essentials

Veterans

Outside resource

The website for Education Benefits

Outside resource

Yellow Ribbon Program

Outside resource

Student Veterans of America

Outside resource

Financial aid sources for children of military service members and veterans

Outside resource

American Council on Education, which coordinates college credit for military service

Outside resource

A Transfer Guide: Understanding Your Military Transcript and ACE Credit Recommendations

Outside resource

Information on the Joint Services transcript

Outside resource

Service to School

Outside resource

VA Benefit Comparison Chart (Click on GI Bill comparison tool)

Chapter 44 · College Admission Essentials

Students Interested in Women’s Colleges

Outside resource

Women’s College Coalition

Chapter 47 · College Admission Essentials

How Senioritis Can Earn You a “Fear of God” Letter

Outside resource

How to Create the Simplest, Best To-Do List Ever

Chapter 49 · College Admission Essentials

Financial Aid Awards, and How to Write a Financial Aid Award Appeal Letter

Worksheet

Amanda Miller’s Simple Award Letter Analyzer

Outside resource

State Financial Aid Programs

Podcast

Podcast: How to Appeal a Financial Aid Award Letter

Outside resource

MyFinancialAidLetter.org (a site that “decodes” your award letter into three categories: grants/scholarships, work-study, and loans)

Outside resource

SwiftStudent (a free, central repository of financial aid appeals / request letter templates)

Chapter 51 · College Admission Essentials

What to Do If You’re Not Accepted Anywhere

Guide

Colleges With Late Application Deadlines: Complete List

Outside resource

Gap Year Association

Chapter 2 · College Essay Essentials

Brainstorming

Worksheet

Additional brainstorming exercises

Chapter 3 · College Essay Essentials

What Colleges Are Looking For (a.k.a. College Admission Nutrients)

Guide

A 6-part podcast series with Deans and Associate Deans of Admissions on these qualities

Chapter 4 · College Essay Essentials

Picking a Topic

Guide

Outlining and Writing

Guide

More example essays

Chapter 7 · College Essay Essentials

Revising

Guide

How to Make Extracurricular Activity Essays Work (Better)…and Why They Fail

Guide

The “This Is Me” Essay is in a blog called “Should I Come Out in My Personal Statement? (And If So, How)?”

Guide

How to Weave in Extracurricular Activities without Being Too Obvious

Guide

More Ways to Write a Great Transition Sentence

Want the whole list?

See every resource from this book on one page, sorted by chapter.

Want help applying what you’re reading?

Our coaches and counselors work with students one-on-one on everything in both books.

The Treasure Trove

What Do Colleges Look for in Students?

More on our Admission Nutrients, including a six-part podcast series that deep dives into each one.

Inside the Classroom: Courses, Grades, and Academic Planning Essentials

CEG’s Ultimate Guide for Choosing Your High School Courses

Outside the Classroom: Extracurricular and Summer Planning Essentials

How to Build an Independent Research Project in High School

400+ Extracurricular Activities: a List of Examples & Opportunities, and a Comprehensive Guide

ACT and SAT Essentials

FairTest’s list of Test-Optional and Test-Free Colleges

Free online test prep resources for the SAT and ACT

25 Practical Ways to Reduce Testing Anxiety

How to Create a Balanced College List

Values Spectrum Exercise

Worksheets by Dr. Steven Antonoff

The College Finder

College Preferences Template

Sample College List and Essay Tracker

Questions to Ask on a College Tour

List-Building FAQs

Paying for College Guide

Federal Student Aid Estimator

Early Decision and Early Action

CEG Podcast #123: “Should You Apply Early Decision or Regular Decision? (And the Chart That Can Help You Decide)”

A spreadsheet listing the ED and RD acceptance rates for hundreds of schools

Demonstrated Interest

CEG Podcast #506: Demonstrated Interest: What Is it, Why Is it Important, and How Do You Show it? with Dean of Enrollment Christine Bowman

CEG Podcast #108: Demonstrated Interest: How to Build Authentic Relationships with Colleges (and Why It’s a Good Idea)

What is Demonstrated Interest? A Practical How-To Guide

Essential Application Prework

College Essay Guy Brainstorming Prework

Detailed guides for each of the exercises in this chapter

25 Questions to Help You Brainstorm Content for Your Activities List or Extracurricular Activity Essay

How to Up-Level Your Activities and Honors List (and Why You Should)

CEG’s Epic List of Activities List Verbs

Examples of 80+ activities and descriptions

The BEABIES Exercise Downloadable Template + Examples

How to Write Your University of California (UC) Activities List

How to Write the Additional Information Sections

An extensive list of potential inclusions for the Additional Information and “Challenges and Circumstances” sections

Should I Discuss Mental Health in My College Application—And If So, How?

A longer guide with more counselor letter examples, guidance on how to weave a mental health disclosure into a single paragraph of the personal statement, and tips for weaving mental health disclosures into supplemental essays

A three-part podcast with insights from a college adviser and mental health counselor, an admission officer, and a student who chose to disclose in her application

Navigating AI Use in the College Application Process

Navigating College Applications with AI: What Colleges Say + CEG’s Advice to Students and Counselors

How to Write a Personal Statement That Matters

College Essay Guy Brainstorming Prework

The Free Guide to Writing Your Personal Statement

Personal Statement Examples

How to Write a Great Hook

10 Ways to Bring More Insight into Your Essay

Roles and Identities “Superpowers”

The Feelings and Needs Exercise

List of Common Topics

Stomach Whisperer Essay

Creating Your Supplemental Essay Tracker

A College List + Essay Tracker spreadsheet [Template]

The Super Essay (How to Write Better Essays in Less Time)

An example Essay Tracker with potential (color-coded!) Super Topics

The BEABIES Exercise Downloadable Template + Examples

How to Write the “Identity + How will you contribute?” Essays

How to Use the Roles and Identities Exercise to Write an “Identity/Diversity + How would you contribute” Essay

How to Answer the Diversity (and Other Related) Supplemental Essay Prompts 2025–2026

If You Really, Really Knew Me (one more exercise to uncover other parts of yourself that you might share)

List of Positive Qualities for College Application Essays or Recommendation Letters

How to Write the “Why Us?” Essay

“Why us” Essay Research Chart 2.0 (non-AI version) and 3.0 (AI version)

How to Write the “Navigating Differences” Essay

Links to guides on a wide range of supplemental essay prompts, updated each year

How to Write the “Extracurricular Activity” Essay

How to Write your Extracurricular Essay without Rockstar Achievements

Six Techniques for Writing Your 150-Word Extracurricular Essay

How to Improve Your Mediocre Extracurricular Essay in 30 Minutes

How to Decide Which Extracurricular Activity to Write About

The Dos and Don’ts of the Short Answers

More short answer examples (with notes on why they’re great)

How to Get Great Letters of Recommendation

Letter of recommendation questionnaire

How to write a letter of recommendation: Counselor’s Guide + Samples

Writing a recommendation letter for a student: Teacher’s Guide + Samples