I’m a parent who hasn’t had to apply to college for over 40 years. Just seeing the stress and anxiety of what this generation of kids have to go through his heartbreaking. But listening to this podcast has really alleviated a lot of stress, gave me deeper insights, and so many ideas to help support my son and his search, and in his applications. Listening to all the ideas and advice have really helped my son to explore how he wants to let admissions officers know who he is. It’s also allowed me to see that many of the things he wants to talk about in his essays are excellent ideas and outside of the box thinking. I really appreciate this podcast because of its insightful and deeper context provided as well as its balance and making sure that wherever you want to go to college or wherever you end up at can be your dream school.

Good content but the host frequently goes on long monologues instead of letting the guest speak.

Thank for such well done podcasts - they have really helped me understand both the college admissions topics and other things to think about as a parent of a soon-to-be high schooler. Also kudos for making it easy and fun to listen to!

I’m so grateful I found your podcast!! I’m going back to school and I’m soaking up so much from you! Thank you so much!

This podcast deserves 5-stars because it is an honest and useful guide to writing essays that will get a kid admitted into a good college. The downside is also its honesty. - Be authentic, unless you’re “privileged.” (“Privilege” defined: rich, or even middle class, or god forbid a two parent home. Or, if you know what gender you are, and have never been confused about it...etc) - Make sure you visit the schools that you want to attend, to demonstrate interest and garner material for your essays. Nevermind the fact that you’re supposed to be too poor to be able to afford these visits, and should not have reliable adults in your life to take you. - Don’t include any political topics or religious topics in your essays unless you have an extreme liberal bent or unless you’re a member of a religion that is popular with liberalism. If you communicate anything in your essays that hints at anything other than classic American Liberalism— that will be a BIG red flag to colleges that you are closed minded, and they don’t want closed minds on college campuses. - Be sure to buy the “how to write college essay” books and purchase the workshops we sell— because you need all of the tips we have to offer. But definitely be too poor to buy these books. Thanks for the honesty!!

Great podcast

The information goes far beyond the website and provides great inside knowledge

Great podcast Ethan! I've enjoyed listening and it is very informational. Great interview with Park Muthe. I have used your resources for my College Essay Academy class I do in the summer for students in the Philadelphia area. I have been a college counselor at Delaware County Christian School for 7 years now and was a college counselor at two schools in SC and CA for 9 years prior to that. I work with a dozen international students a year. I'm happy to contribute in any way I can to assist you!

With Ethan's specific expertise and easy demeanor is is great that he is so open and willing to share all of his gifts and knowledge with other counselors. Although I consult for students applying to medical school, so much of what he covers is still very relevant. I would love to hear tips and tricks for helping students who are "stuck".

Hey - I love listening to this podcast. One suggestion: please don't fawn so much over your guests. We get it -- they are experts in their field and they have generously given their time. That said, I could do with less congratulations, and more meat, you know? All the info on demonstrated interest was great. Did not know about the common data set -- very good and helpful info.

Great & informative podcast. I would love next to see some advice for international students. How can foreign students avoid writing essays about cliche or overused themes?

As a relatively new College Counselor, I am still learning and taking everything in that I can. I am in a one-man office with very limited financial resources for PD. These podcasts and Ethan's other resources have been essential in my own development as a professional in the field. Thanks so much for your help!

I am in the process of transitioning to a new career as an Independent Educational Counsultant, and I am absolutely thrilled to have discovered Ethan's resources. These podcasts are incredibly informative and should help level the playing field for students and parents.

Ethan's approach to everything college is just great! Informative, insightful, unpressured, highly practical, and high quality. I love the discussion with Maria Furtado, Director of Colleges that Change Lives. She brings great perspective to the college search, plus great advice about how to deal with Uncle Joe (the relative who cares only about prestige). The interview with Dr. Aliza Gilbert on how to help undocumented students with the college process is inspiring and so practical. Thanks Ethan!

Ethan has an easygoing style that is so pleasant to listen to on this stressful subject. I especially liked h is interview with Maria Furtado, Colleges that Change Lives. Subcribe to his channel - he's got some great interviews coming up in the next few months that are excellent training podcasts for parents learning about colleg admissions. I'm telling my families that work with me to listen to his podcasts!

Very well done and a must for any college admissions toolbox. On par with the Getting In podcast series with Julie Lythcott-Haims in its content and interviewing/discussion style. Have already sent to several students and parents and will incorporte into my professional work.

You know how you listen to a number of "experts" and after a bit they all begin to sound suspiciously the same? That is never the case with Ethan. He leaves the all-too-familiar information on shore and pilots into the deep waters of actionable strategies, applicable exercises and keen insights. Ethan a generous captain as well! He shares freely (on his blog -- where I first discovered him -- as well as here on his podcast). With wisdom, Ethan asks his guests about the questions that really matter to parents of college-bound students, and to students as well. There's so much misinformation and myth in the world of college admissions. Ethan's voice is one of clarity, sanity and smart direction. Make time to listen to what he has to say. Christy P.S. Looking for someone to interview? Check out Micheal McKinnon of College Planners of America in the Chicago area. He's been interviewed a number of times by Frank Bruni for his best-selling books.

Thank you for sharing resources and knowledge useful not only for US students and counselors, but also for many international students around the world.

I had read Ethan's book, and utilized many of the resources on his website. I knew these new podcasts would be great, and they don't disappoint. Practical and interesting information I can use with my students immediately! Ethan is so generous with his time and advice, and truly has a "we are all on the same team" attitude toward all college conselors. I look forward to each new podcast, and continuing the camaraderie. Thanks for all you are doing for the students and this profession!

Hey Ethan, Thanks for giving me a great podcast to listen to in my car. Yesterday I listened to you interview the Harvard undocumented student and it as great. I also really enjoyed the episode where you interviewed Jill about students thinking about how they spend their summers. Thank you, as always, for adding to other IEC's toolboxs in how we help our students.

Ethan is correct-CTCL are wonderful institutions. Great podcast and wonderful consortium of schools.

Ethan has done it again! Amongst all of the other free resources that Ethan has provided over the years, this podcast is extremely helpful to me due to my extensive travels. Ethan's methodical approach and ingenuity are on full display and he has brought a wide-variety of interesting guests and experts to share their knowledge and stories to the world. What I love the best about Ethan's podcast is that it is nearly impossible not to walk away with a smile on my face. I find myself just a little more happy and at peace with myself after listening. I can certainly tell Ethan is living out his passion. Keep up the good work Ethan--I'm a big fan!

I have used Ethan's book and essay writing workshop tools with my students. The results have been great. In fact, the workshops have become my "go to" with students as I build my practice. Both my students and I experience a "shift" after going through the exercises that enables us to get to the meatier aspects of the application process. Thank you for providing us with useful and insightful (and effective!) resources. Keep up the great work and best of luck, Ethan! -Sunita

The best thing about Ethan is his ability to take complex ideas and topics and break them down into meaningful pieces. Everytime I hear him in person or work through his resources, not only learn something new to help me with my students, but also I learn somethin new about myself. I have been listening to the podcasts in the car and my only complaint is that I have to keep pulling over so I can take a few poignant notes- Thanks to Ethan, I now have lots of sticky notes with fantastic ideas all over my car!! His work inspires me to challenge myself in new ways and to keep growing as a counselor, mother and person. Thank you Ethan for bringing your talents, you compassion and your voice to the world of college admissions preparation. BTW I have cut up your list of 100 interesting questions, put them in a jar and put them on our dining room table . . . .. . instant conversations and deep thinking at dinner!

this is quite possibly the most helpful podcast I have ever listened to. I've only listened to about two and a half and already college and applying to college seems way less scary. I am certainly making my parents listen to these as well as we embark on the college process ! what's wonderful about having this in podcast form is that, unlike a lecture, you are able to pause and really chew and digest what Ethan and Ethan's interviewees are saying, which also makes taking notes easier because you are not worried about missing the next thing they say. I would be interested to hear advice or stories about studying abroad in college, whether for a year, a couple months, or the whole time. I'm excited to hear the upcoming podcasts especially about creating college lists. I have pages of notes already !! all around a great great podcast.

Ethan has done it again! His advice and guides are vital for students, counselors, and consultants alike to navigate writing a great essay and being more informed about the college admissions process. I cannot recommend him highy enough and am excited to see what else he has in store on his podcast. Highly recommended!

Very glad to hear an interview with a Summer Expert.

This guide will help me as I coach students who want to write great college essays. I have also used Ethan's website to help my students brainstorm and explore their own strengths. They often discover insights about their personal values in the process. Thanks, Ethan! Keep up the effort!

This podcast was very timely. I appreciate the info on financial aid appeals. I look forward to future episodes. I'd live to hear information/strategies on waitlists and deferrals. Great work!

I can't wait to tell my whole (rural public)school about this podcast! Thanks for giving regular kids access to solid admissions info. You are the best!

Listened to the Financial Aid Appeal podcast, and am already putting it to use. Very useful, practical advice. I love Ethan's questions - he seemed to anticipate the questions I had, which was very useful, considering I would not have been able to ask them live. I am looking forward to listening to them all now. Making time in my day for each of them. Keep 'em coming, Ethan!

I was thrilled when I learned that Ethan would be doing a podcast. I love how Ethan is always finding new ways to strengthen the counseling community and share his knowledge and expertise not only with students, but to anyone interested in learning more about admissions. Interviewing experts is a great idea and only further supports his own program that so many of us have adopted and worked with. Thank you Ethan!!!

I love style, content, and tone of his podcasts. Ethan offers wisdom regarding the writing proces that is often invaluable.

Great strategies--I just couldn't "see" the spreadsheet you referred to in the podcast as I believe this might have been a webinar initially with visual aids. I used many of your "keeping them on task and engaged" approaches when I taught high school juniors and seniors. Want to purchase Essay Workshop in a Box!

I am an independent educational consultant. The podcast with Jill Tipograph was excellent. She gave so many wonderful tips on making summers count yet explore, grow and have fun. The podcast really emphasizes the importance of summer planning and the range of activities that students can pursue. Just ordered her book and glad to know about her website.

Ethan has been our familiy's resource for practical and down to earth college admissions advice. He has provided many quality resources available for free. These podcasts do not disappoint in that there is a wealth of FREE information included. I just finished listening to the guide regarding summer experiences for high school students. I now have tools to help guide my sons to experiences that will help them grow. Thanks Ethan!

I'm a podcast junkie and a college counselor at an elite Jesuit boys' school in St Louis. Imagine my excitement when I opened the email from Ethan announcing the release of his podcast today! Everything Ethan does - his books, his website and now this podcast - is timely, approachable, creative and user-friendly. You'll come away from this with great insiders' information and feeling empowered and energized about the college admissions process! I'm binge listening today!!

Ethan Sawyer has put together an amazing guide to help counselors put together a workshop that will help students get to the heart of a thought-provoking college essay. Besides the podcast, his website is chock full of resources and information no matter how much time you have. Don’t forget to check out his tumblr page of resources as well. Look forward to hearing more from Ethan!

if i'd had this just a year ago, college would've been a lot less daunting. it's a great listen and i enjoyed them immensely.