Dear (overworked/tired/in a hurry) Counselor:
Some of you have mentioned before that, while you greatly appreciate the thoroughness of our resources, sometimes we’re … a bit too thorough (And yes, we acknowledge that writing 3,000ish words on transitions is … maybe a lot. We’re just excitable.).
So we had a team of CEGers build a series of CEG Quick Guides—1-2 page pdf versions of our most popular content that you can give to students who may not be looking to delve into the depths of, say, The Zoom-In Transition vs The Thematic/Threaded Transition.
College Essay Guy’s
Quick Guides:
Advising guidance for undocumented students
A guide that points out key factors to keep in mind, considerations for college lists for undocumented students, pros/cons of disclosing status, and further resources
Click here to view/download the Advising Guidance for Undocumented Students Quick Guide PDF
Researching your best-fit colleges (series of 4 PDFs)
Setting your priorities (characteristics of schools + finances)
Factors to consider when selecting colleges for a list + financial terms and considerations, leading into:
EFC > $35k
A decision flow chart for students with an EFC of greater than $35k, + how to filter, list, and research schools
EFC > $20k-$35k
A decision flow chart for students with an EFC of $20-35k, + how to filter, list, and research schools
EFC > $0k-$20k
A decision flow chart for students with an EFC of greater than $0-20k, + how to filter, list, and research schools
Click here to view/download the Researching Your Best-Fit Colleges Quick Guide PDF
Additional PDFs: EFC > $35k | EFC > $20k-$35k | EFC > $0k-$20k
Building a college list
A breakdown of how to build a balanced list + understand admission chances
Click here to view/download the Building a College List Quick Guide PDF
Planning college visits
How to plan a college visit, things to observe/keep in mind while visiting, and some useful questions to ask guides
Click here to view/download the Planning College Visits Quick Guide PDF
Beginnings and endings of essays
Specific tactics to use to begin and end a college application essay + things to avoid
Click here to view/download the Beginnings and Endings of Essays Quick Guide PDF
Personal statement—Montage Structure
A quick breakdown of key elements of how to write a montage personal statement
Click here to view/download the Personal Statement Montage Structure Quick Guide PDF
Personal statement—Narrative Structure
A quick breakdown of key elements of how to write a narrative personal statement
Click here to view/download the Personal Statement Narrative Structure Quick Guide PDF
Activities lists
This addresses the goal/purpose of an activities list + how to build a strong list and descriptions
Click here to view/download the Activities List Quick Guide PDF
UC PIQs
Explains the difference between PIQs vs personal statements, the UC evaluation process, elements of a strong PIQ, and specific suggestions for addressing each PIQ prompt
College interviews
A few very common questions asked during interviews, things to consider before your interview, how to prepare in 1 hr, how to engage during the interview + pro tips
Click here to view/download the College Interviews Quick Guide PDF
Applying to US schools as an international student
Things to understand before students start the application process, a quick breakdown of key elements they’ll need to create/do, and how to develop a college list (with key factors/differences for int’l students)
Click here to view/download the Applying to US Schools as an International Student Quick Guide PDF
Many, many thanks to the CEG Quick Guides Team:
Lisa Yoffee
Lisa Yoffee (she/her) has a BA in Writing and Theater from Sarah Lawrence College and an MFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University. She uses her passion for storytelling and writing to help students with their college essays. She has optioned screenplays to independent producers, is the head writer for a sketch comedy group, The How To Crew, and can be found staying up way too late one weekend every June for the 48-Hour Film Festival as one of three writers for Team UNCA.
Mindi Trimble
Mindi creates a sense of belonging and growth in students through helping them produce clear, specific, confidently vulnerable application content. As a classically trained soprano, Mindi creates a sense of community with her audience by producing sound in a clear, vulnerable, and lyrical voice—often with a comedic (and these days, socially-distanced and digital!) twist.
Top values: Empowerment | Communication | Meaningful Work
Laura Hopper
Laura Hopper was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from UCLA, she worked in the entertainment business, cultivating the careers of screenwriters and authors. As Executive Editor for Disney Publishing, she developed and edited books connected to ABC television, ESPN, ABC Family and Freeform. Laura also wrote a young adult romance called I NEVER. As a college essay specialist, Laura views students as authors, working to help them tell their stories, reveal their core values, share their vulnerabilities and realize their college aspirations.
Andrew Callery
Andrew Callery is a college counselor at an independent school and has worked with hundreds of students in the college application process—many of whom were the first in their families to attend a four-year college. A graduate of Villanova University, he started his career in San Francisco and moved to Michigan, where he now lives with his wife and family. In addition to his work with College Essay Guy, Andrew also works seasonally for a highly selective institution, where he assists in the review of applications for undergraduate admission.
Logan Shearer
Logan Shearer studied English & Russian for four years in a rural Iowa town. Currently a college counselor with a college access program outside Chicago (alliteration unavoidable; I tried), he loves guiding students through the transformative college process. He subscribes to Ethan’s “ease, joy, and purpose” mission in all stages of the college process, but especially building college lists. Beyond the computer, New York, New Mexico, and Tennessee are Logan’s favorite states. Only North Dakota & Alaska to go.
Sofia Blake
Sofia (Tcherckellova) Blake. Sofia believes in the power of young people to lead, contribute to, and live meaningful lives. As a college application coach, she supports students in building skills and mindsets that lead to sustained success and an evolving sense of accomplishment. Born in a family of theater and film professionals in Eastern Europe, Sofia nurtures her interests in languages, cultures, the arts, politics, and the creative process. She's worked for for-profit consulting and non-profit organizations in Washington, DC and Asia. She holds a B.A. from Brown University and graduate degrees from L'Institute des Sciences Politique in Paris and Georgetown University.
Anne Kean
Anne Kean (she/her) is a graduate of Haverford College, University of Pennsylvania and UCLA where she earned degrees in History, Psychological Services and School Counseling and a certificate in College Counseling. She is an independent educational consultant in Portland, Oregon and CEG Matchlighters volunteer. She loves helping students find colleges where they are likely to engage deeply and thrive. Often accompanied by her dog Scout (and on occasion her teenage boys), she finds joy outside among the trees, in the ocean, and pondering possibilities under the stars.
Top Values: Curiosity | Love | Growth
