A prospective student’s high school transcript is the most important individual component of an application. Hannah and Mark discuss what admissions officers look for when reviewing transcripts and how transcripts demonstrate an applicant’s academic preparedness and academic resourcefulness. They share advice on building a high school course schedule and how ... Show More
Sep 16
Interview with Jimmy Hatch ’24, The Ivy League Insurgent
Hannah and Mark interview Jimmy Hatch, a recent Yale graduate and 26-year US military veteran who is the host of the new podcast, The Ivy League Insurgent. As a former Navy SEAL, Purple Heart recipient, and nonprofit founder, Jimmy became Yale’s oldest freshman at the age of 52. ... Show More
49m 23s
Apr 2025
Bulldog Days Live 2025
For their third annual Bulldog Days Live episode, Hannah and Mark interview three recently admitted students about how they chose to spend their time in high school. The students share their insights on balancing schoolwork, extracurricular activities, social life, work, family, ... Show More
48m 31s
Jan 2024
501: What Colleges Want (Part 1): A Deep Dive into the Factors Colleges Deem Important & State of College Admissions Report
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Show Notes</span></strong></p> <p>On today's episode, Ethan sits down with David Hawkins, Chief Education and Policy Officer at National Association of College Admission Counselors (aka NACAC), and they get discuss, among other things: </ ... Show More
51m 41s
Feb 2024
88. How to Find Your Unique Voice in College Application Essays
<p>How do you capture an Admissions Officer’s attention through your college essays? On today’s episode, Nivanthi Karunaratne, a Graduate Coach at InGenius Prep, shares her personal journey of self-discovery through music and how it has influenced her approach in helping students ... Show More
24m 52s
Sep 2024
517: Inside the Application (Part 3): Supplemental Essay Deep Dive + Developing the College List w/ Special Guest Renee Ferrerio
<p>Today's episode is part three of our series, Inside the Application. Ethan is joined by Cassidy, a current high school senior who is working on her college applications for the Fall 2025 term. This episode is a deep dive into the supplemental essays — specific essays that man ... Show More
1h 14m
Mar 2024
505: What Colleges Want (Part 5): A Crash Course in the Supplemental Essays + Application with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy)
<p>On this week's episode, Tom Campbell (CEG's Community Manager) sits down with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy) for Part 5 in our What Colleges Want series to talk about some of the other written parts of the application—the activities list, additional information section, and ... Show More
50m 53s
Mar 2024
504: What Colleges Want (Part 4): A Crash Course in the Personal Statement with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy)
<p dir="ltr">On this week's episode, Tom Campbell (CEG's Community Manager) sits down with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy) for Part 4 in our What Colleges Want series to talk about the personal statement. According to the latest State of College Admission report – after grades, ... Show More
51m 18s
Feb 2024
503: What Colleges Want (Part 3): "Positive Character Attributes": What Are They, and How Do You Show Them in Your College Application?
<p dir="ltr">In today's two-part episode, we're delving into one of the potentially more confusing aspects of what colleges want — "positive character attributes" — which 65.8% of colleges give considerable or moderate importance. </p> <p dir="ltr">In part 1, I'm joined by Tom Be ... Show More
1h 2m
Mar 2024
506: What Colleges Want (Part 6): Demonstrated Interest: What Is it, Why Is it Important, and How Do You Show it? with Dean of Enrollment Christine Bowman
<p dir="ltr">On today's episode, Ethan is joined by Christine Bowman, Assistant VP for Admission at Southwestern University. In part 6 in our series on What Colleges Want, Ethan and Christine get into:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr">What is demonstrated interest and how do colleges track ... Show More
58m 30s
Sep 30
616: Authoring Your Life: Why the Personal Statement Is About (Much) More Than Getting into College
In today's episode, I'm joined by my long-time colleague, and our Chief People Officer here at CEG, Sandy Longworth. Sandy has worked as a therapist, a researcher, college counselor — among other things — and has spent years studying the role that narrative storytelling plays in ... Show More
1h 16m