College Essay Guy's
2025 Counselor Training Program
Uplevel your college essay coaching with access to expert-led professional development, my comprehensive college essay coaching framework, and year-long learning.
Hi, Counselors
Over the past two years, I've shifted my approach to college applications & essays.
Why?
I've developed new frameworks and exercises that can be far more impactful in guiding students through this process.
Introducing My 2025 Counselor Training Program
Updated and revised to be even more effective and more practical than ever.
What Is It?
"Based on the culmination of the 18+ years I’ve spent helping students navigate the college application process, my Counselor Training Program is a live two-part professional development course that equips college counselors and independent consultants with the tools, skills, and resources they need to more confidently guide students through the college application process.
It remains the most effective way I know to help a student go from 'I have no idea where to start' all the way to a personal statement and supplemental essays that stand out." - Ethan Sawyer
What's Included?
Featuring My Two Signature Courses for Counselors
Join me live or take the courses on-demand.
LIVE SESSION DATES & Times:
March 11th, 18th, 25th, & April 1st
Live sessions for the Foundational Track:
10:00-11:30am PT (1:00-2:30pm ET)
Live sessions for the Advanced Track:
4:00-5:30pm PT (7:00-8:30pm ET)
Learn to help your students find their deepest story, structure their essays, and craft a personal statement they're proud of. Leave your students inspired to write their story.
Take a Look Inside part one
Week 1: Brainstorming & Choosing a Topic
Included in this module:
- What’s the Purpose of the Personal Statement?
- What are the Four Qualities of an Outstanding Personal Statement?
- 7 Mini Brainstorming Exercises + How These Exercises Can Lead to an Essay Topic
- Montage vs. Narrative Structure
- 7 Types of Montage Essay
- What Is Narrative Structure & How Does it Work?
- And more
Week 2: Outlining & Writing
Included in this module:
- Why Outlining is So (So) Important
- How to Help a Student Outline a Narrative (Challenges-Based) Essay
- How to Help a Student Outline a Montage Essay (Not Based on Challenges)
- Tips for Writing the First Draft
- Requesting Feedback on a First Draft: 4 Questions to Ask
- What to Do If a Student Is Too Attached to (or Worrying Too Much about) Writing “The Perfect Hook”
- How to Write a Simple Ending That Works for a First Draft
- Tips for Bringing Essay Examples to Life for the Reader
- And more
Week 3: Editing
Included in this module:
- The Difference Between a Boring and Not-Boring Personal Statement
- How to Help a Student Uplevel Each Paragraph in a Montage Essay
- Why Starting Over with a New Outline (Often) Makes Sense
- How to Improve the Middle of a Challenges-Based Essay
- Tips for Helping a Student Write a Compelling Hook
- How Make An Essay More Insightful
- How to Make Sure A Personal Statement “Flows”
- How to End a Personal Statement
- How to Know if a Personal Statement Is “Doing its Job”
- And more
Week 4: Refining & Up-Leveling
In our live Session 4, you can expect:
- Reviewing your essay plans live
- Live “speed sessions” from me as I apply the principles taught in this course
- Q&A on anything and everything personal statement related
“For the first time in my eight years of college counseling, I‘m beginning to get a handle on how to assist my students with the essay writing process. I’m extremely grateful to be given tools I can relate to and apply with my students.”
- Valerie J. (Private School Counselor)
LIVE SESSION DATES & TIMES:
April 8th, 15th, 22nd, & 29th
Live sessions for the Foundational Track:
10:00-11:30am PT (1:00-2:30pm ET)
Live sessions for the Advanced Track:
4:00-5:30pm PT (7:00-8:30pm ET)
Learn to help your students create an outstanding application, develop an overall application strategy, and write supplemental essays & activities lists that stand out.
Take a Look Inside part two
Week 1: The College Application
Included in this module:
- How to Create an Inspired Application and Supplemental Essays in Half the Time
- The Overlapping Prompt Game & The Super Essay
- A Sample Super Essay & The BEABIES Exercise
- How to Create an Outstanding Activities & Awards List
- The Difference Between a Very Good Activities List and an Outstanding One
- How to Up-Level the Activities and Awards List in Three Steps
- How to Write the Additional Information Section
- And more
Week 2: The “Why Us” Essay
Included in this module:
- Six Common Mistakes Students Make on the “Why us” Essay
- How to Write the “Why us” Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide
- How Students Can Find All the Resources They Need to Learn about a Particular School
- The Top Secret Three-Word Trick to Finding Specific Info for Their “Why us” Essay
- Approach #1: The Basic, Solid ‘Why Us’ Essay That Includes a Bunch of Reasons
- Approach #2: The “3-5 Unique Reasons” Strategy
- Approach #3: The “One Value” Strategy
- How a Student Can Write a “Why us” Essay If They Don’t Know What They Want to Study
Week 3: Common Supplemental Essays
Included in this module:
- The Difference Between a Regular and a “Super” Extracurricular Essay
- Eight Mistakes Students Make on Their Extracurricular Essays—and How to Avoid Them
- How to Write an Outstanding Narrative Extracurricular Essay: The Powerwall Exercise
- How to Write an Outstanding Montage Extracurricular Essay: The UC Exercise
- How to Stand Out on the Extracurricular Essay If the Topic and Achievements Are Common
- How to Write a Super Extracurricular Essay
- How to Write the "Why Major?" Essay (Including: How to Help When a Student Is Applying Undecided)
- How to Write the "Community" Essay
- How to Write the “Diversity” Essay (to be covered live)
- How to Write the 150-Word Extracurricular Essay
Week 4: Bonus Content
Included in this module:
- How to Make the Short Answers Awesome: 11 Dos and Don’ts
- How to Make Sure the Application Is Doing Its Job
- The U Chicago Essays (in “Bonus Content” module)
- Supplemental Essays That Are Too Good to Share (And Why I Don’t Share Them)
- How to Create a Great College List
- Do interviews matter? If so, how do I prepare?
- Demonstrated Interest: A Brief and Practical How-To Guide
- How to Turn Your Common App Activities List into an Awesome Resume
- How to Write a Great Transfer Essay
“This course provides so much of what it took me 38 years to gain through firsthand experience in the business. Taking it will help anyone looking to hone an important part of their college counseling skills with the goal of truly helping students.”
- Dawn B. (Independent Consultant)
FYI, this year, the program doesn't end in April...
We'll Stay Connected Throughout The Year
Join me in a year-long exploration of these new frameworks for helping coach compelling applications and essays.
After the course, we'll meet during the 2025 admissions season to share learnings, feedback, and best practices, including:
After the course, we'll meet during the 2025 admissions season to share learnings, feedback, and best practices, including:
- Exploring the latest applications for these tools and resources
- Analyzing your student essays and applications live
- Interviews with college admission officers on this approach
- Optional working groups, for those interested
What Else Is New In 2025?
My approach has evolved and I’m excited to share these updates with you.
Updates & Additions:
- Brainstorm Better Topics in Less Time (without Relying on Simply the Essence Objects and Values Exercises)
- Outlining Essays: Beyond my "4 Types of College Essays" Framework
- Writing a Compelling Hook That Grabs the Reader’s Attention
- New Ways Generate Insights That Demonstrate Critical Thinking and Emotional Intelligence
- Select a Topic That’s (More) Likely to Help Them Stand Out
- How to Help Students Write about Mental Health Challenges and Anxiety (New Examples)
- A More Streamlined Approach for Advising on the Additional Information Section
- How to Help Students Write an Effective “How Will You Contribute (aka Diversity)” Essay + New Example Essays
- How to Be the Essay Coach or Counselor You’d Like to Be Led by
PLUS... You'll Get Access to My Comprehensive Choose Your Own Adventure Essay Revising Tool
What is the CYOA tool? It's the comprehensive curriculum I use with students to teach great college essay writing.
You and your students will get answers to questions like:
You and your students will get answers to questions like:
- What’s the purpose of the personal statement?
- What are some of the most effective exercises for brainstorming a topic?
- What if I can’t decide if my topic will make a “good” essay?
- Should I write about mental health challenges?
- How can I bring more insight into my essay?
- What are some ways that I can write a great hook/intro?
- How can I more effectively communicate how I overcame and grew from my challenge(s)?
New Bonus in 2025: For the first time ever, I'm providing student-access for the full year for all of your students, too.
Inside the courses, you'll learn things like:
- The New (Updated for 2025) Brainstorming Process I Use With My One-on-one Students (Including the Google Doc I Send Them)
- How I Help a Student Choose a Topic
- What to Do When a Student Feels They Have “Nothing to Write About”
- How to Tackle the Topic of Mental Health Issues
- How to Help a Student Outline & Structure an Essay When They Finally Have a Great Topic
- How to Handle Writing About Religion, Politics, and Other Stigmatized Issues
- How to Help Students Create an Inspired Application and Supplemental Essays in Half the Time
- The Difference Between a Very Good Activities List and an Amazing One
- How a Student Who “Hasn’t Done That Much” Can Up-level Their Activities List
- What Students Should and Shouldn't Include in the Additional Information Section (& How this Section Could Make the Difference in Their Application)
- How to Help Students Write All the Major Supplemental Essays Required of Selective Colleges
- Lot's More.
Additional Resources Include
Who is this program for?
Foundational Track
This one’s for you if:
- You’ve never taken one of my courses and aren't too familiar with my free resources.
- You have 1-5 years experience guiding students on essays.
- You want to learn the fundamentals of how to help students brainstorm, outline, and revise their essays and application.
- You’re more interested in hearing me (Ethan) teach content.
Advanced track
This one’s for you if:
- You’ve already taken my personal statement course (maybe even twice).
- You have 6+ years experience guiding students on essays.
- You already know the CEG approach; you want the latest and greatest information out there on college essays & applications.
- You like a balance of Ethan teaching and connecting with other experienced colleagues.
2,600+
Counselors have taken their work to the next level through CEG courses.
“In the morass of college admissions, the College Essay Guy explains it all in a way that's amazingly attainable!”
Barbara Paterson
“I've been a dean or director of admissions for more than 20 years and enthusiastically recommend Ethan's essay writing courses and materials for students and counselors!”
Michael Trevino
Christine Holladay
Jessica Chermak
Flexible Payment Options
for 2025
Access is important to us. We want you to enjoy these courses in a way that fits your needs and budget.
Total Value of the Program: $2,497
Full Cost of the Program: $1,297
Early Bird Price: Just $997
Valid Through Tues Feb 11th
PLUS... My "First Fifty" Offer:
The first fifty folks to join the program this year will also be invited to two small-group sessions with me (Ethan).
The first fifty folks to join the program this year will also be invited to two small-group sessions with me (Ethan).
Single-
Payment
Option
Counselor Training Program (Early Bird Price)
$997
Value: $2,497
Pay-what-you-can spots available for college counselors in high schools, nonprofits and CBOs
3-
Payment
Option
Counselor Training Program (Early Bird Price)
$332.33
X 3 payments
Value: $2,497
Pay-what-you-can spots available for college counselors in high schools, nonprofits and CBOs
Scholarships, Group Rates, or Sign up with a Friend
We offer Pay-What-You-Can spots for high school counselors and CBOs
We also offer group rates for schools, CBOs, and IEC practices who enroll multiple counselors
Or get 20% off if you sign up with a friend
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Money Back Promise
We want the investment in the Counselor Training Program to be an absolute no-brainer for you.
So if you register for the program, engage in the sessions, and still don’t find them useful, email us and we'll refund your money within 60 days of the date you signed up.
This money-back guarantee only applies if you actually engage with the course sessions and complete the assignments.
So if you register for the program, engage in the sessions, and still don’t find them useful, email us and we'll refund your money within 60 days of the date you signed up.
This money-back guarantee only applies if you actually engage with the course sessions and complete the assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will CEG still offer individual live courses a la carte in 2025?
Yes. We’ll be launching our full, individual courses as we’ve done in past years at $697 each. The benefit of signing up for the Counselor Training Program (both courses) is that you pay a heavily discounted price (approx 50% off the second course).
Do I need to attend all the live sessions?
No need. All the live sessions are recorded and will be uploaded for viewing inside your course library once you register.
When are the live sessions?
You’ll find the course dates and times listed here.
Is there Pay-What-You-Can for this offer? Do you offer payment plans?
Yes to both! PWYC offers are available to counselors working in high schools, non-profits, or community based organizations, we have payment plan options for independent consultants, and we offer group rates (see above to apply). Email us if you have any questions: help@collegeessayguy.com
Will you record all the live sessions?
Yes, we’ll record all the live sessions for the two courses.
How long do I have access to the courses?
You’ll have lifetime access to the courses. In addition, your students will have access to the Choose Your Own Adventure Tool through Feb 1st, 2026.
