FREE MASTERCLASS
3 Steps to Write a Phenomenal College Essay
Attend my free masterclass and receive a special DISCOUNT + BONUS to The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story!
ATTENTION: All high schoolers and college applicants who feel overwhelmed, stressed,
and scatter-brained when it comes to getting accepted to your dream colleges.
Join The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story
to strategize, write, and submit phenomenal college essays
for ANY prompt – and never have writer’s block again.
I know how you feel...
Your days are jam-packed with challenging classes and extracurriculars, and now you’ve gotta apply to college on top of that?! 🤯
You’ve got a ton of pressure to get into college and make yourself and your family proud, but honestly… you just have no idea HOW. 😭
You have no clue where to begin, so you procrastinate even starting. 😳
You’ve tried drafting your college essays, but every time they just sound so… bland. ☹️
You’re beginning to think that you just aren’t unique enough to get into your dream schools. 😢
Your mind is swirling with questions, but you’ve got no one
to answer them.
🤨 How do I avoid sounding cliché and instead stand out?
🤨 Do I really have to sell my pain as a “sob story” to get into college? That feels icky!
🤨 How do I create college essays that feel authentic instead of braggy?
And sooner or later…
You become trapped in a time-wasting cycle of scrapping and rewriting poor essay drafts.
The stress increases, your well-being takes a toll, and college applications live on in your mind as literal H, E, double hockey sticks. (Believe me, I’ve been there.)
Let's face it.
College essay strategy is not taught in most high schools...
yet it can literally make or break an application.
Let’s cut the rumors & misconceptions that float in the hallways, yeah?
So you’re telling me you didn’t cure cancer or go through a seriously traumatic event?
Neither did I, and I got into every school I applied to!
Real talk: Your achievements and challenges do not define you.
Everyone has a story to tell, no matter how big or how small.
Sometimes, the most meaningful essays come from the smallest moments.
You could make your whole essay about a trip to the grocery store!
(And yes, someone has successfully done that.)
When you engage in deep self-reflection and use the right strategy, you can turn any story into a compelling college essay.
Sorry to break it to you, but while GPA can get you in the door, it won’t set you apart. There will be students with the same scores & activities as you...
but no one has your story.
Most colleges in the U.S. use a process called “holistic review”. They take SEVERAL factors into consideration to gain a full picture of who you are. We’re talking empirical data like GPA, scores, and achievements, but also personal qualities like leadership, intellectual vitality, and emotional intelligence.
You are literally given a “Personal Rating” in admissions! (Say what??)
Numerous schools across the U.S. (especially the more competitive ones) classify your “Character/personal qualities” as “Very Important” or “Important” in their admissions statistics. (Trust me, I dug through tons of common data sets to prove it.)
And what’s the Number 1 driver of your Personal Rating? You guessed it, college essays.
TLDR: Many students underestimate the importance of the Personal Rating, but every year it’s becoming increasingly important – especially with test-optional policies.
Let’s flip this false belief right on its head:
With my 3-Step Process, you will actually SAVE at least 3 hours a week.
(Wait… really??)
Yup, this course is carefully designed to best utilize your time every step of the way.
Without proper strategy, you will find yourself…
- Wasting your time fumbling through tons of essay drafts you aren’t proud of.
- Feeling extremely stressed and scattered throughout the process.
- Submitting mediocre college essays that fail to convey your true potential.
You can craft a dazzling admissions essay with only 1 hour of writing a day, and I’ll show you how.
Why Most Students Write Mediocre College Essays
(And What YOU Are Going to Do Differently)
Imagine what it would be like to strategize, write, and submit
phenomenal college essays for ANY prompt (with ease).
🤩 A sneak peek into your future…
🔥 Approach your essays with expert strategy
– feeling stress-free and having fun along the way!
🔥 Complete your applications early
– with extra time to cherish your friendships before splitting off in different directions.
🔥 Submit your applications with confidence
– knowing you did everything in your power to create the future you desire.
🔥 Strengthen your knack for storytelling, organization, and time-management
– skills that will benefit you for the rest of your life.
🔥 Repurpose your excellent essays
– and win thousands of dollars in scholarships.
I’ve helped students around the world achieve exactly this.
And I can’t wait to show you how too.
^ This could be you!!
Hey there, I'm Dyllen Nellis!
When I applied to college in 2018, I had big dreams of getting into top-ranked colleges, but I had no idea HOW. My parents weren’t familiar with the competitive college admissions landscape and I noticed a lack of guidance at my public high school. (Anyone relate?)
So here's what I did...
I sought out numerous articles, books, and videos to educate myself on the ins and outs of the college application process. What I learned was indispensable.
And it all paid off - I was accepted into every school I applied to including Stanford, USC, UCLA, NYU, and more.
But most importantly, I experienced an incredible journey of self-discovery.
I engaged in deep self-reflection and became more grounded in my values and identity than ever before.
Here’s what I learned:
The college application process isn’t just about getting into college, it’s about using specific strategies to effectively convey your values, experiences, and potential to colleges.
However…
Even with my success, I was still *incredibly stressed* throughout the process.
I spent so much time sifting through millions of random resources to figure out the strategy to get into my top schools, that I didn’t have a comfortable amount of TIME to actually execute what I had learned.
I’ve made the mistakes. I’ve put in the work. I’ve been through the stress.
Now YOU don’t have to.
Every year since, I’ve continued to research college essay strategy and I've gone on to coach thousands of students across the world.
I have taken everything I’ve learned from…
- Admissions officers & top college consultants.
- Working with THOUSANDS of successful students across the world!
- Analyzing my Stanford admissions file to understand exactly what led to my acceptance.
- Writing and storytelling strategies I developed through my coursework at Stanford University.
- User feedback from previous students who took this course.
…to create the best program to support YOU through this process.
As Seen On...
Winner of the OZY Genius Award • Sponsored by Chevrolet
"The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story" is 1 of 10 projects chosen out of thousands of applicants to receive funding and mentorship from industry experts.
The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story
The program for high-achieving high schoolers and college applicants who are ready to discover their personal narrative, unlock a stronger understanding of themselves, and submit phenomenal college essays – with ease.
2022-2023 EDITION!
When you purchase this course, you also provide one to a first-generation, low-income student!
You will receive a thank you email with the first name of the FGLI student you helped.
What if writing college essays was EASY?
"This course was like taking a bubble bath when there's a zombie apocalypse outside your door."
"The college application process was super stressful and scary, but Dyllen made it easy to step back and get to the root of my problems. If you're unsure about what stories to write about, she made it easy to pinpoint the most interesting things about you, make them relevant to your character, and write wonderful essays. Her course was super helpful because she identified specific things people did to make their essays impactful and impressive and made it easy to apply those methods to your own work. Dyllen broke down the structure and made it a more collaborative and individualized experience, making it easier to figure out what to write about. I have friends starting the application process, and
I'm recommending (aggressively pushing) this course to them."
Julie – Columbia University
California
"Through this course, I got into schools that I would never have fathomed getting into - schools with below 5% acceptance rates. It has truly been a dream come true."
"I loved how organized this entire course is and how easy it makes it for students to craft meaningful essays while also being authentic and truthful to who they are. This course allowed me to learn a lot about myself, and in turn, teach those reading my essays who I am as well."
Maggie – Harvard University
California
"The writing tips paid off as I was able to get into a school I didn't expect to get into (USC) which increased my self-confidence."
"I loved this course! I felt like my thoughts were scattered all over the place, with online advice scattered everywhere. But the Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story turned my college application process into something more than just a stressful situation. Top-notch essay examples, essay structures, and space to begin creating were found all in one guidebook! I am proud of the learning experience I got from all this. May positivity and inspiration forever exist!"
Karla – University of Southern California
California
Come on in! Here's a sneak peak of your path to success.
Prep Module
Save Time & Prevent Stress
- How to Work Smart, Not Hard
- Make a Complete Game Plan For Your College Apps
- Research-Proven Organization & Time Management Strategies
- 3 Success Stories From Real Students
Module 1
Discover Your Story - Brainstorming
- Why Most Students Write Mediocre College Essays (And What YOU Are Going to Do Differently)
- The Stand-Out Qualities Colleges Look For in Students
- 4 Brainstorming Exercises
- Essay Topic FAQs: Cliché Topics, Sob Stories, Application Theme, and More!
- What If There's No Happy Ending? All Your Questions ANSWERED.
Module 2
Craft Your Story - Structuring
- How to Choose Your Best Topic
- How to Define Your Essay's Theme
- The Two Main Essay Structures for Every Type of College Essay
- Every Storytelling Component For a Stand-Out Essay
- How to Create a Complete Outline For Your Essays (You can kiss writer's block goodbye!)
Module 3
Write Your Story - Drafting & Revising
- Drafting Strategies to Best Optimize Your Time
- How to Start and End Your Essay
- How to Use a Metaphor to Make Your Essay Shine
- Every Mistake & Overused Phrase I've Identified From Editing THOUSANDS of Essays
- Actionable Strategies to Make Your Essay 10x Better
- How to Cut Down Words
- Common App vs UC PIQ Writing Strategy
- How to Repurpose Your Essays For Multiple Applications
Module 4
How to Write The "Why Us" Essay
- How to Stop Sounding Like Everyone Else
- Identifying Your Aspirations & Values That Connect With the School
- How to Strategically Take Notes While Researching Colleges
- And Transform Your Notes Into the Outline of Your "Why Us" Essay
-
(This is one of the trickiest essays to get right!
Stop falling into clichés and learn how to STAND OUT!)
And on top of that, you're gonna get some sweet BONUSES
to make the process even easier.
BONUS!
26 Successful Essay Examples
By Real Students Accepted Into Top-Ranked Universities
(Analyzed & Color-Coded to Break Down the Structure!)
A STUDENT-FAVORITE!
- 8 Common App Essays
- 7 UC PIQs
- 6 Why Us Essays
- 5 Supplemental Essays
BONUS!
How to Make Your Activities & Awards List POP
Your achievements are superrrrr impressive, but are you explaining them in the best way?
Level up your achievements – just by the way you communicate them!
- The Common App vs UC App
- Do's & Don'ts
- How to Order Your Activities List
- The Complete Word Bank of Strong Verbs
BONUS!
1 FREE ESSAY EDIT!
My team of essay editors at top-ranked universities will edit 1 of your essays any size under 800 words.
We will add comments and suggestions to improve essay structure, sentence phrasing, clarity, cohesion, grammar, flow, and storytelling.
At the bottom of the document, we will write several paragraphs detailing your overall feedback: what you did well and how you can improve!
Your essay will be edited within 5 days of submitting through our form!
See what other students are saying...
How much is it worth to you to STOP spending hours frantically revising essay drafts that never had the right topic, structure, or strategy to begin with?
If your essay still doesn't feel "right" after multiple revisions, your wording is not the problem, it's your topic & structure.
😇 SAVE time sifting through random resources online and follow a proven 3-Step Process.
😇 SAVE time & money on endless essay edits and learn to build a solid foundation for your essay from the ground up.
😇 SAVE money on college consulting call packages with this self-guided solution.
And most importantly... save yourself the stress.
Are you ready to write phenomenal college essays – with ease?
Join The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story and get instant access to...
- Actionable Strategies to Make Your Essay 10x Better
- Everything I've Learned From Editing THOUSANDS of College Essays
- Full Guide to Write The "Why Us" Essay
-
BONUS: 26 Successful College Essay Examples
(Color-Coded & Analyzed!) - BONUS: How to Make Your Activities & Awards List POP
- BONUS: Get 1 of your essays edited by our team of editors for free!
Just a one-time payment of $397
When you purchase this course, you also provide one to a first-generation, low-income student!
You will receive a thank you email with the first name of the FLI student you helped.
My students have done it, and so can YOU!
"I never imagined I could craft the quality of essays necessary to be admitted to some of the country’s most competitive and high-ranked universities."
The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story was invaluable in my journey to craft the best college application essays possible.
Like most, the college application and essay writing process initially felt daunting and intimidating. But after enrolling in The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story and completing the workbook, I understood more about who I was and the personal values and stories I wanted to convey throughout my college application essays. The step-by-step workbook allowed me to break the process down into more manageable pieces to which I could better fine-tune the details and be less stressed. Everything is methodically well-planned and detailed.
Dyllen also has an incredible team of editors, in particular Joe Dodson, whom I had the privilege to work with. He provided constructive and detailed feedback that allowed my essays to improve with each new draft. As a result, I was admitted into some of my top choices, including Berkeley & UCLA, and I am certain that I could not have done it without Dyllen and The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story.
Abraham – UCLA
California
100% Risk-Free Guarantee
When you join The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story, you gain access to the strategy you need to craft a dazzling college essay that will make admissions officers go WOW.
Lack of results stems from lack of support. This is a proven process that has worked for thousands of students across the world, and if you fully commit and put in the work, you will achieve the results you desire.
An investment in your education is invaluable. These are skills you will use in college and beyond! So as you make a decision to commit, it's important to me that you feel safe. That is why I offer a 100% money-back guarantee. If you join and find the fit isn’t right, simply request a refund within 7 days of purchase. No strings attached.
*Don't be the person who logs on, downloads all the worksheets, absorbs all the content, and asks for their money back, k? Years of hard work have been poured into this program and I value your integrity to honor the support this program provides.
This course is perfect for you if...
You believe in becoming a smarter, more confident version of yourself.
This isn't just a college essay course, it's a journey toward self-discovery.
In order for admissions officers to recognize your personal values, you need to identify them for yourself. The course includes brainstorming & structuring exercises – you won't find anywhere else – to help you analyze your experiences, identity, and emotions.
I will teach you to embrace vulnerability while practicing self-compassion.
You value a streamlined process over information overload.
Noise on the internet can be anxiety-provoking. There's so many random resources out there and it's hard to pick apart just the "good stuff". Unlike my YouTube videos, the content in this course is much richer. For every strategy I teach, I explain why you should do it, how it will impact admissions officers, and the consequences of not doing it. You will learn HOW to achieve each strategy with actionable steps and specific examples.
You want to avoid writer's block at all costs.
With my college essay outlines, your essay will include all the necessary storytelling components while maintaining room for flexibility and creativity. (Most successful essays follow these structures, whether they intend to or not!) There will be no question as to what you're going to write next – all you'll need to do is turn your bullet-point structure into sentences and paragraphs.
You believe problems should be solved with empathy.
This course is designed with empathy. It includes exercises and advice to boost your motivation, support your well-being, and foster a growth mindset. Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on building YOUR best application!
Designed For Gen Z, By Gen Z
We learn by doing
→
Interactive workbook to map out your own ideas.
We have shorter attention spans
→
Engaging & easy-to-digest video content.
We're breaking the mental health stigma
→
Exercises to improve mental health & spur personal growth.
We thrive off positive vibes
→
Words of encouragement to promote self-compassion
& a growth mindset.
Proven strategy. Step-by-step guide. Real results.
Here's what will happen once you enroll...
1. You'll enter your log in and payment information.
2. Look for a confirmation email with a link to the course platform where you can immediately begin learning.
3. Look for an email invitation to access your digital workbook on Google Docs!
You will need a Google account to access the digital workbook.
Access to the course will last for 2 years.
FAQs
How long does this course take to complete?
This course is asynchronous, meaning you have access to ALL the content for up to 2 years, and you can work at your own pace, on your own time! It is also meant to guide you through the ENTIRE essay writing process for ALL essays, so the timing may vary depending on your schedule and the number of essays you need to write. To go through the course and craft 1 essay from brainstorm to final draft, it generally takes around 3-4 weeks.
Does the course come with essay editing?
Yes! 🤩 One essay edit is included in the course starting Aug 12, 2022! For additional essay edits, visit https://collegeessayadvice.com/editing for more info 🙂
Can I meet with you to discuss my ideas, essay topics, and drafts?
Apart from this course, I offer college application consulting as a separate service! If you enroll in this course, you can get a special 40% discount to meet with me 1 on 1! For additional live meetings over Zoom, you can find more info here!
There IS a way to complete your college apps without the excess stress.
There IS a way for the college application process to be easy and fun.
There IS a way to submit your essays with confidence and pride.
You have what it takes to reach your goals.
The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story is your bridge to success.
How much is it worth to you to STOP spending hours frantically revising essay drafts that never had the right topic, structure, or strategy to begin with?
If your essay still doesn't feel "right" after multiple revisions, your wording is not the problem, it's your topic & structure.
😇 SAVE time sifting through random resources online and follow a proven 3-Step Process.
😇 SAVE time & money on endless essay edits and learn to build a solid foundation for your essay from the ground up.
😇 SAVE money on college consulting call packages with this self-guided solution.
And most importantly... save yourself the stress.
Are you ready to write phenomenal college essays – with ease?
Join The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story and get instant access to...
- Actionable Strategies to Make Your Essay 10x Better
- Everything I've Learned From Editing THOUSANDS of College Essays
- Full Guide to Write The "Why Us" Essay
-
BONUS: 26 Successful College Essay Examples
(Color-Coded & Analyzed!) - BONUS: How to Make Your Activities & Awards List POP
- BONUS: Get 1 of your essays edited by our team of editors for free!
Just a one-time payment of $397
When you purchase this course, you also provide one to a first-generation, low-income student!
You will receive a thank you email with the first name of the FLI student you helped.
Scholarships for First-Gen Low-Income Students
Let's Collab
ADMISSIONS DISCLAIMER
Any college acceptances shown through our website are only to demonstrate what might be possible now or in the future. There can be no assurance as to any particular admissions outcome based on the use of our website. You agree that we are not responsible for your college admissions decision, the success or failure of your personal decisions, or any other result of any kind that you may have as a result of information presented to you through our website. You are solely responsible for your results.
TESTIMONIALS
We present testimonials and insights about other people’s experiences with our program for purposes of illustration only. The testimonials, examples, and photos used are of actual students. They are not intended to represent or guarantee that current or future students will achieve the same or similar results; rather, these testimonials represent what is possible for illustrative purposes only.
This course was a lifesaver during college apps. It was incredibly helpful in providing examples of successful essays from students who got into a lot of the schools I applied to. Every example was analyzed line by line which made it easier for me to view my own essay objectively while writing and editing (Dyllen is also a great editor)! Another helpful thing is the list of overused phrases. Hearing from someone who has read a ton of essays tell you what won't stand out was SO HELPFUL and I definitely caught myself trying to use some of those phrases. This course is helpful no matter what step of the essay writing process you're on and helped relieve a lot of stress for me!
Ellie – UT Austin Texas