Press & Media
Media inquiries: info@write-yourself-in.com
Eric Tipler is a college admissions counselor, essay coach, and the author of Write Yourself In: The Definitive Guide to Writing Successful College Admissions Essays (Simon & Schuster, 2024). A graduate of Harvard and Yale and a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, Eric is regularly quoted by national media on college essays and admissions. He works with students one-on-one from New York City and nationwide via Zoom.
In the News
The Wall Street Journal — For College Applicants, Pressure to Make Summers Count Is Increasing By Jasmine Li, February 16, 2026. On pressure students feel around summer activities: “‘Extreme efforts to “stage-manage” a student’s narrative can backfire,’ said Eric Tipler, author of ‘Write Yourself In: The Definitive Guide to Writing Successful College Admissions Essays.’ ‘Admissions officers are professionals at sniffing that out,’ he said. Tipler advises students to spend their summers on activities they are passionate about—but not all activities are created equal.”
Bloomberg News — College Admissions Essays Shy Away From Identity Amid Trump Threats By Francesca Maglione, October 15, 2025. On how federal pressure on universities is reshaping what students write: “‘Parents and kids are reading about higher ed in the news as Trump does all these attacks on universities, so there's a lot of uncertainty about what all that means,’ said Eric Tipler, author of Write Yourself In, a guide to writing college essays.” Eric also advised on colleges' new optional video submissions.
Bloomberg News — Harvard's Embrace of SAT Showcases New College Admissions Regime By Francesca Maglione, October 22, 2024. On the state of elite admissions: “‘It's gotten more competitive and more uncertain,’ said Eric Tipler, author of Write Yourself In, a guide to writing college essays. ‘Uncertainty vis a vis what schools kids will get into, but also for families a lot of uncertainty about “What are the rules of the game, and how can I set my kids up for success?”’” (also featured in Bloomberg's newsletter, October 23, 2024).
Parents — Why Kids Are No Longer Reading Full Books By Melissa Willets, October 9, 2024. Eric discussed changes in writing requirements at the high school level, emphasizing how reading and writing skills are interconnected. “Eric Tipler, a college admissions expert and the author of Write Yourself In: The Definitive Guide to Writing Successful College Admissions Essays, says that even at elite high schools, he’s seen that students are writing less, too.”
Le Monde — Aux États-Unis, la rentrée signe la fin de la discrimination positive à l'université By Corine Lesnes, November 7, 2023. Eric was interviewed by France's newspaper of record on the first admissions cycle after the end of affirmative action at US universities.
Bloomberg News — What You Need to Know About the New Rules for College Admissions By Francesca Maglione and Skylar Woodhouse, September 26, 2023. Following the Supreme Court's affirmative-action ruling, “If a student wants a school to know about their race or ethnicity they should write about it in at least one of their essays, said Eric Tipler, founder of Write Yourself In, a college counseling firm.” “If students choose to write about race or ethnicity in their essays, they must be diligent about connecting it to a character quality, skill or ability that they will contribute to the university, Tipler said.”
The Washington Post — AP in the City: District Students Rise to the Challenge By Eric Tipler, May 20, 2007. In an op-ed for the Sunday Opinion section, Eric discussed the role of AP courses in preparing students for college-level work. “All of us who have a say in our children's education need to make sure that AP courses are balanced with opportunities for in-depth study.”
The Highlands Current — 5 Questions: Eric Tipler By Michael Turton, September 6, 2024. Eric's hometown paper in Cold Spring, NY, interviewed him about Write Yourself In, the ethics of essay coaching, and what admissions officers actually look for: "An Ivy League admissions officer once told me topics matter less than voice."
TV, Radio & Podcasts
KCAL News (CBS Los Angeles) — How to Write a Stand-Out College Essay September 25, 2024. Eric appeared on KCAL in Los Angeles to discuss strategies for writing effective college admissions essays. Anchor Amy Johnson said, “Eric Tipler has literally written the book on how to write the perfect college admissions essay. He’s also a teacher and admissions counselor, and the book is so timely.”
WWLP-22News (NBC, Springfield MA) — Mass Appeal — Tips for Writing a Stand Out College Essay September 10, 2024. Eric appeared on 22News's Mass Appeal to share college essay tips for students facing the pressure of application season.
No Guilt Mom Podcast — Episode 304: How to Go from Rejected to Accepted! Your Toolkit for College Admissions Success October 1, 2024. A conversation for parents on supporting teens through applications without taking over.
Dr. Sheryl's PodCouch — Episode 069: Write Yourself In with Eric Tipler June 11, 2024. Eric joined clinical psychologist Dr. Sheryl Ziegler (author of Mommy Burnout) to discuss how students can write authentic college essays that highlight personal growth, intellectual curiosity, and emotional maturity.
Symposia (University of Virginia podcast) — Matriculation : The Academic Transition to College December 19, 2022. Eric discussed the transition from high school to college, emphasizing the differences in the kinds of writing expected at the high school and college levels.
Selected Talks & Appearances
Eric speaks to parent groups, schools, libraries, and other nonprofits. For bookings, see Speaking.
Blue Valley Parent Advocates for Gifted Education, Kansas City, KS — panelist at parent workshop on college essays (2025)
Politics & Prose Bookstore, Washington, DC — author talk, Write Yourself In (2024)
Scarsdale Public Library, Scarsdale, NY — workshop & author talk on college essays (2023, 2024)
Zibby’s Bookshop, Santa Monica, CA — author talk, Write Yourself In (2024)
Julia L Butterfield Memorial Library, Cold Spring, NY — lectures and workshops on writing effective college essays (2022, 2023, 2024)
Watchung Booksellers, Montclair, NJ — author talk, Write Yourself In (2024)
College Bound, Washington, DC — college essay workshop for adult mentors of DC public & charter school students (2024)
Circle Match, West New York, NJ — college essay workshop for adult mentors of students from low-income NJ communities (2024)
On-site college essay workshops at public & private schools in New York, California, Virginia, and Maryland
About Eric Tipler
Eric Tipler (write-yourself-in.com) has spent twenty years working with teenagers as a teacher, writing coach, and independent educational consultant. His students have been admitted to the country's most selective colleges and universities, including all eight Ivy League schools. He is the author of Write Yourself In (Simon & Schuster, 2024), holds degrees from Harvard and Yale, and is based in New York. For interviews and expert commentary on college admissions and application essays, contact info@write-yourself-in.com .
