• FREE LIVE WEBINAR

What Colleges Are Looking for + 5 Ways Families Can Prepare for a Successful Admission Process

  • Thursday, July 16th
  • 6-7 PM PST/9-10 PM EST
  • Can't make it live? A recording will be available within 1–2 business days.

Join Ethan Sawyer, founder of College Essay Guy, along with Tillie Gottlieb, former admission officer and Senior College Counselor, for an inside look at what colleges are really looking for and how families can prepare for a successful admission process.

We’ll cover:

  • Trends from the current admission cycle.
  • The factors colleges weigh most heavily when making decisions.
  • How students can know which classes to take.
  • How much essays really matter, and for whom.
  • Why demonstrated interest can matter, and how to show it authentically.
  • What 9th and 10th graders can do now to set themselves up for a great process.
  • Live Q&A with Tillie and Ethan to get your specific questions answered.

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MEET YOUR HOSTS

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. 

Tillie Gottlieb

Senior College Counselor · College Essay Guy

With 15+ years of experience, Tillie brings a global, insider perspective to college admissions, with a background spanning admissions, elite boarding schools, private counseling in Southeast Asia, and leadership as a Co-Director of College Counseling in the Bay Area.

She’s helped students get into top colleges nationwide—but more importantly, she helps them build applications that actually make sense and feel like them. Tillie specializes in guiding students—especially in STEM, business, social sciences, and the arts—toward clear, cohesive, and compelling stories.

Known for her sharp eye, deep listening, and sense of humor, she makes a high-stakes process feel a lot more manageable. Filmmaker, former ballet dancer, game show competitor, and guac enthusiast—she brings both creativity and real talk to the process.