Helping Students Apply to Highly Selective Colleges & Universities

An on-demand online video course for counselors and educators

Led by Tom Campbell (former Pomona College Admissions Officer)

Recently we conducted a surveyed for counselors and asked: “what area do you most need support with?”

The top answer? Highly selective admissions. By a landslide.

As counselors and educators, we know that less than 1% of U.S. high school graduates enroll at the most selective colleges (the Ivies, MIT, Stanford, UChicago and Caltech, etc.). We also know that students can find parallel programs, opportunities, qualities, and experiences at many of the 2,000+ other colleges and universities across the country.

At the same time, these realities don’t stop students from applying in droves.

And so, our Helping Students Apply to Highly Selective Colleges mini-course was born.

Led by Tom Campbell, this course covers all things highly selective admissions. Counselors will leave with a clearer understanding of the current selective admissions landscape (and what’s changed in recent years), an inside look at how admissions officers read applications, and case studies of successful applicants.

Since we’re firm believers that “where you go is not who you’ll be,” you'll also receive information about other paths and college options (and tips on how to get students and families to see these as valid!)

"This course provided insider information that I have wondered about for years as a school counselor, along with clear explanations and helpful case studies. It significantly changed the way I explain highly selective admissions to the students and families with whom I work. This course was incredibly worthwhile and helpful!

College Essay Guy resources are, without question, the best possible combination of down-to-earth honesty and concrete, actionable advice and resources. "

-Sarah, College Counselor

We'll help you:

Demystify the highly selective admissions process for your students and families and gain clarity around what these institutions are looking for.

Teach students how to demonstrate their unique skills, qualities, values and interests to highly selective institutions.

Bring more ease, purpose and joy to your students' college process – especially if they have their sights set on highly selective schools.

What folks are saying about this course:

"Interactive, engaging and informative sessions! As a seasoned college advisor, but new to the world of highly-selective applications, I felt that the sessions were absorbable and very informative. 10/10 recommend!"

- Brandi F.

"I was absolutely blown away by this course! This was my first course with College Essay Guy. From the resources provided to the lessons packed full of super valuable information, to the follow ups, to the offer of an additional class, I was truly flabbergasted with the quality of this course!"

-Rebecca, College Counselor

The course is so helpful in understanding the complex admissions landscape. Ethan and Tom are very well informed and extremely generous with their knowldge, on top of being friendly. I highly recommend the course to anyone really in the college counseling industry, not just newbies as there is a wealth of knowledge to be shared by those guys!!

- Gwynn

Helping Students Apply to Highly Selective Colleges

An On-Demand Video Course with Tom Campbell
(Counselor & Former Admissions Officer at Pomona College)

This course covers all things highly selective admissions: what these institutions are, what they offer, how to talk about them with your students, what they're looking for, and how the process works.

I'll also cover:

Data that helps illustrate the reality of applicant pools at highly selective institutions
Visuals and analogies to help better understand the nuances of the competitive college landscape
Case studies and examples of students who’ve been successfully admitted to highly selective institutions (as well as examples from competitive applicants who were rejected)
A “behind the curtain” look at the most common reading process and workflow at highly selective colleges (called Committee-Based Evaluation)
Brainstorming exercises and writing techniques to help your students crush one of the things they have the most control over when applying to selective colleges: their story
Lots more

Are you a student or parent?

See our sessions for students here:

For Students & Families

After the course, you'll be able to answer these frequently-asked student and parent questions:

What are admission officers looking for?
Who typically attends these types of schools?
How different are the application processes and priorities at these schools? Why are they so competitive?
How much do the different application components (courses, grades, test scores, activities, recommendations) matter?
Is it possible to “chance” myself at these colleges?
I’m an international student with high financial need, and highly selective institutions tend to be the only ones with aid policies that would fully fund me. How does my process differ?
What are the biggest myths about highly selective admissions?
How much do “hooks” matter at highly selective colleges? And if I don’t have a hook, what should I do?
Is applying to highly selective colleges even worth it?
What types of scholarships are available at highly selective colleges?
What role do essays play at highly selective colleges?
How many of these schools should I apply to, and how do I juggle all the work that comes along with it?
What do successful applications look like and what do these applicants do differently?
If I started thinking about this relatively late, is it “too late” for me to be competitive—and how can I know?
How many highly selectives should I apply to (if I do decide to apply)? How many schools in general?
Is test-optional legit?

Meet Your Facilitator

Tom Campbell has reviewed thousands of college essays and applications and interviewed countless students as an admissions officer at Pomona College and the College of the Holy Cross. He also works on CEG's internal college essay review committee where he provides insight and practical feedback on college essays and applications. He has also worked as a college counselor at a selective independent high school and understands how challenging writing about oneself can be and how high stakes it can feel — you’ll find nothing but empathy and solidarity from him as you craft your narrative.

Ready to help your students stand out?

One-time Payment

Access to the Full Course

Recordings of Live Sessions & Q&A

PDF Resources

$397.00

Payment Plan

Access to the Full Course

Recordings of Live Sessions & Q&A

PDF Resources

$132.33 x 3 months

“College Essay Guy resources are, without question, the best possible combination of down-to-earth honesty and concrete, actionable advice and resources. This course provided insider information that I have wondered about for years as a school counselor, along with clear explanations and helpful case studies. It significantly changed the way I explain highly selective admissions to the students and families with whom I work. This course was incredibly worthwhile and helpful!”

Sarah, counselor

Can’t afford this course?

Access is really important to me. In fact, it’s at the heart of most of everything I do and is why so many resources on my site are free. It’s why I’m offering pay-what-you-can spots for high school college counselors in schools, CBOs, or non-profits with small budgets and few resources for professional development.

“Wait, so if our counseling department doesn’t have a budget, we can still join?”

Yep. If that’s you, request a pay-what-you-can spot. Don’t be shy; I’d love to have you.

Helping Students Apply to Highly Selective Colleges & Universities

An on-demand online video course for counselors and educators

Recently we conducted a surveyed for counselors and asked: “what area do you most need support with?”

The top answer? Highly selective admissions. By a landslide.