Have an idea for a resource to include here? Email us: help@collegeessayguy.com 

Resources for Students and Counselors:

Note: If you don’t find a hyperlink below, that means the resource is forthcoming. We’ll add links when each resource is ready.

Read the 2023 race-conscious admission decision from the Supreme Court at this PDF.

FG/LI (First Generation and/or Low Income) Resource Center (Resource Hub)
This resource center was built to try to clarify and simplify the college application process for any student feeling a bit confused or unsure concerning how to approach it. So while we use “First Generation and/or Low Income” in the title, as these are students who most often lack clear support and guidance, the resources are by no means limited to just those students. And for students seeking support from a real-live human, check out our Matchlighters Scholars Program.

Paying for College in Four Steps (Guide)
We are lucky to work with some pretty incredible folks at CEG, including Amanda Miller, an independent financial aid specialist and college adviser who also serves as the financial aid go-to lady for the Matchlighters program. Amanda put together this guide to help students find and apply for scholarships efficiently and successfully, determine which colleges are most likely to be affordable for you, apply for grants with minimal stress (#FAFSA), and make sense of your financial aid award letters so you can make an informed decision about your college costs.

(Guide for Counselors) How (and Why) to Uplevel Your School Profile: A Guide for Counselors that Predominantly Serve First Generation, Low-Income and/or Underrepresented Students of Color (Blog Article)
Counselors: Advocate for your students with this essential, but sometimes overlooked document: your school profile. This important PDF can help admission officers understand the context of your school community by including information on your curriculum, demographic data, the percentage of students on free and reduced lunch, and much more. This example from Achievement First Hartford serves as a model.

The Better FAFSA: What You Need to Know (Webpage)
What does “Better FAFSA” really mean? The U.S. Department of Education has put together a list of resources and guidebooks answering this question, and more. 

Is it “Okay” to Write about Race in Your College Application—And, If So, How? (Blog Article)
This guide offers practical advice for students and counselors, including examples of essays by students who chose to discuss race and its impact on their character and unique abilities.

The “If You Really, Really Knew Me” Exercise (Template)
This practical, comprehensive exercise helps students generate a list of identities, skills, qualities, and skills they can share with colleges. It’s one of our favorites here at CEG—if you use it, just give us a shout-out. :)

The Social Identities Exercise (Template)
This exercise is another favorite and is useful for helping students think about diversity and identity in both broader and more nuanced ways. Includes a guide for counselors, facilitators, and parents.

How to Answer the “Diversity” (and Other Related) Supplemental Essay Prompts (Blog Article)
This year, many selective colleges added an essay prompt (see next resource linked below for list) inviting students to write about diversity, identity, race, cultural background, or the importance of inclusivity. This guide walks you through how to tackle those prompts.

Race-Conscious Admission Was Struck Down—What Does This Mean and What Can Students and College Counselors Do? (Podcast Episode)
Learn from legal expert Jay Rosner what the decision means and practical advice for students and counselors. 

7 Things Latinx Families Need to Know About Preparing for College— in Spanish and English (Podcast Episode)
Hear Lorenzo Gamboa (Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach at Santa Clara University) bust a few common myths Latinx families confront, including the notion that students have to major in a high-paying profession and the myth that undocumented students can’t go to college. We also discuss whether or not students should discuss race or cultural influence in their application after the SCOTUS decision to ban race-conscious admissions.

Why You Don’t Have to Write about Trauma in Your College Essay to Stand Out—and What You Can Do Instead (Podcast Episode) & (Blog Article)
This podcast with TedX speaker Tina Yong addresses how students can speak in their application about identity without feeling they have to write about traumatic experiences. We’ve also created a practical blog post to help students brainstorm alternative ways to share about the skills, qualities, interests, and values they’ll bring with them to a college community.

RESOURCES FOR College Admission Officers

National College Attainment Network Federal Policy Action Center (Webpage)
NCAN is a national membership organization for college access and attainment organizations with a mission to ensure all students—especially first-generation students, students from underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds, and those from low-income backgrounds—have an equitable opportunity to achieve social and economic mobility through higher education. Part of this mission includes keeping the college attainment community informed of all that’s happening at the federal level. Curious about how a new policy might impact your students? NCAN might be a good place to start.