The Ultimate Guide to
Craft Your Story!
Online Course & Interactive Workbook
to Develop, Structure, and Strategize
EVERY TYPE of College Essay
A strategic step-by-step process to convey your personal values,
experiences, and potential to stand out in admissions!
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 name of the FGLI student you helped.
"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, structure analyses, and space to begin creating were found all in one guidebook! Eventually, 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 am proud of the learning experience I got from all this. May positivity and inspiration forever exist!"
- Karla (USC), California
Does this sound familiar?
• I know I need to get started on my college apps, but I have no idea HOW.
• I’m feeling very nervous and stressed.
• I’m sick of writing poor essay drafts and starting over and over again.
• My thoughts are scattered and I don’t know how to organize them.
• Every essay topic I think of seems cliché. I don’t know how to stand out!
• I don’t think I have any interesting life experiences to write about. I’m just a regular person...
• I want to write about a significant challenge I experienced, but I don’t want it to be a “sob story” that seeks sympathy.
• I need help showcasing my personality in my writing and sharing my story in a creative way.
I was just like you.
• When I applied to college in 2018, I had big dreams of getting into top-ranked colleges, but I had no plan or guidance on how to get there.
• I wasted a LOT of time rewriting countless essay drafts and scrambling to learn college essay strategy all on my own.
• And as a result… I was incredibly stressed throughout the process.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE.
So what did I do?
• I sought out numerous articles, books, and videos to educate myself on the ins and outs of the college application process. And I have continued researching college essay strategies ever since.
• I made an organized game plan and implemented time-saving strategies to stay on track.
• My work paid off! I was accepted into every school I applied to including Stanford, USC, UCLA, UCSD, NYU, and more.
• But most importantly, I experienced an incredible journey of self-growth. I learned that the college application process isn’t just about getting into college, it’s about understanding and communicating who you fundamentally are as a person.
Dyllen Nellis back in 2019!
There IS a way to complete your college applications 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.
The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story is your bridge to success.
The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story
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 name of the FGLI student you helped.
"I absolutely loved your course! I was so worried about the application process because I had no idea how to write a college essay, and then enrolled in your course and it helped so much and made organizing and brainstorming essays
so easy. I loved your words of encouragement and humor throughout the course and it felt really personal.
I am so grateful for your program and all your advice that helped me get into all 6 schools that I applied to!"
- Jolie (Texas A&M), Texas
What is Included?
• 14 Chapters of Step-by-Step Course Content
• 26 Successful College Essay Examples - Analyzed & Color-Coded to Break Down Structure:
• 8 Common App Essays
• 7 UC PIQs
• 6 Why Us Essays
• 5 Supplemental Essays
• Digital Workbook on Google Slides with 15 Worksheets to Map Out Your Ideas
• College Organization Sheet
• Self-Reflection & Values Exercises
• Brainstorming Exercises
• Idea Mapping to Find Your Best Topic
• Essay Structures for Every Type of College Essay
• The Differences Between the Common App Essay & the UC PIQs
• Full Guide to Writing the "Why Us" Supplemental College Essay
• How to Strategically Take Notes While Researching Colleges
• And Transform Your Notes Into the Outline of Your Essay
• This is one of the trickiest essays to get right! Stop falling into cliches and learn how to STAND OUT.
• How to Write the Opening Anecdote & Closing Sentences
• Storytelling Strategies That Apply to ALL College Essays
• The Writing & Revision Process
• Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them - I have identified these mistakes from editing 800+ college essays!
• Techniques to Improve Your Writing
• The Ultimate List of Overused Phrases to Avoid
• Videos to Supplement the Writing Process
The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story
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 name of the FGLI student you helped.
"Dyllen!!! I just want to say you have been BY FAR the MOST helpful resource I've gotten throughout this college process. Like you, I didn't come from a family with money to pay for a college counselor, and I've spent months and months researching on my own. I was at the tail end of submitting my applications when I discovered your course and it has helped me really dig into my values to create essays that speak to me. I am 100% recommending your course to my younger sister who has a few years before she starts this process. So much love for you girl <3"
- Jessica
What Makes This Course Unique?
• Don't get bogged down by hundreds of pages of information from books and blogs-
I've already done all the heavy lifting! This course organizes the most ESSENTIAL information from
my years of research into a step-by-step, comprehensive guide.
• With a strong emphasis on conveying personal values, crafting a cohesive narrative, and building a solid essay outline, you will save time you would have spent scrapping an unnecessary number of poor drafts.
• You will strategically structure your college essay using college essay outlines that hit all the necessary components while maintaining flexibility and room for creativity. Most successful essays follow these structures, whether they intend to or not!
• You will study the strategies of successful example essays by admits of top universities, which have been analyzed and color-coded to break down structure.
• This isn't just a college essay guide, it's a journey toward self-discovery.
College Essays are the #1 driver of your "Personal" rating during the admissions process. In order for admissions officers to recognize your personal values, you need to identify and understand them for yourself.
• This course is created by Stanford student, Dyllen Nellis, who has the recent personal experience
of applying to college and has thoroughly researched the college application process!
The Ultimate Guide to Craft Your Story
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 name of the FGLI student you helped.
"This course was a huge lifesaver that made me excited to work on my application! It has allowed me to have fun and be creative during a time that tends to be filled with stress over college applications. Every lecture you have written out was super helpful and constructive. It was worth the money. Thank you :)"
- Raisa (UC Berkeley), California
"Honestly, I absolutely LOVED IT!!! This course was extremely helpful in helping me organize my college list and most definitely helped me figure out which values and qualities I wanted to highlight in my essays.
It was also really colorful and aesthetically pleasing."
- Khushi (UCLA), Montego Bay, Jamaica
Designed For Gen Z, By Gen Z
We're all about aesthetics →
Bright colors, diagrams, & simplistic design.
We have shorter attention spans →
Concise bullet points of text & vernacular language.
We thrive off positive vibes →
Words of encouragement, fun GIFs, & a splash of humor.
We learn by doing →
Interactive learning, brainstorming and idea mapping exercises.
"The course helped me so much throughout my college application process. It really allowed me to add structure to the process and identify what I needed to work on. The workbook was amazing at helping me organize my ideas and evaluate what I truly wanted to convey in my essays. The videos and curriculum integrated into the course really helped me tell my story and be proud of my writing. It was definitely worth it! I would recommend it!"
- Uriel (USC Presidential Scholar), California
The Ultimate Guide
to Craft Your Story!
By Dyllen Nellis
My Story
Hi, I'm Dyllen. I am a current Stanford undergraduate interested in the intersection between design, technology, and education. When I applied to college, I sought out numerous articles, books, and videos to gain valuable insight into the college application process. What I learned was indispensable. I was accepted into 8/8 schools I applied to including Stanford, USC, UCLA, NYU, and more. Two years later, I continue to thoroughly research college essay strategies, work with students, and create educational content on YouTube to increase accessibility around college applications.
Why I Created This Guide
After gaining an understanding of the many techniques used to craft a successful college essay, I decided to formulate a comprehensive guide that combines all of my research into one systematic process. I have developed a strategic, simplified, and structured method that will lead you through each step of writing a college essay from ideation to completion. My system places emphasis on the necessary pre-production work that will save time in the long run by ensuring that your essay is well-organized and reflects your personal essence. Through this online course and interactive workbook, I intend to relieve the stress that often comes with college essays and incite confidence and determination toward this effective, hands-on approach.
"This was an extremely fun process and definitely was a fantastic form of self-reflection and self-exploration!
The course is fantastic."
- Olivia, Virginia
Here's What Will Happen Once You Click "Enroll Now"
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 Slides!
You will need a Google account to access the digital workbook.
Access to the course will last for 2 years.
Due to the digital nature of this course and workbook, all sales are final. There are no refunds available.
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 2-3 weeks.
Does the course come with essay editing?
Essay editing and feedback by me or my team is not included in the course, however, we do offer this as a separate service! 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 would like to meet with me, Dyllen Nellis, live over Zoom, you can find more info here!