Who reads your college essay?

Your essay will be read by the admission committee, which will include admission counselors and in some cases professors.

Who should read my college essay?

Friends and family are a good resource to check for authenticity. It's best to seek help from family members with a strong writing or English educational background, or from older siblings and cousins who have been through the college admissions process.

Does every college essay get read?

Yes, admissions officers do actually read essays, but they might have already screened candidates first in a preliminary round. Every admissions office has a different process and it's impossible to sum up the exact step-by-step process for each admission office in one blog post.

Do your parents have to read your college essay?

If the parents are paying the application fees, then the applicant would be smart to let them read the essays. However, parents must realize this is the student's journey, the student's project.

How many people should read your college essay?

Use tools like spell and grammar check, and ask at least two other people to read your essay and offer feedback. You can ask a trusted family member to take a look, or even reach out to a friend with exceptionally good writing skills. We often get so close to our own words that we miss obvious errors.

reading my emotional college essay that got me into princeton, upenn, duke, and brown

Should I let my friends read my college essay?

It's definitely a good idea to have someone else read your college essay before submitting it. Getting feedback can help you identify areas for improvement, catch errors, and ensure that your essay accurately represents your thoughts and experiences.

How do I know if my college essay is good?

Can I swear in my college essay?

Avoid swearing in a college essay, since admissions officers' opinions of profanity will vary. In some cases, it might be okay to use a vulgar word, such as in dialogue or quotes that make an important point in your essay. However, it's safest to try to make the same point without swearing.

Is it okay to say I in a college essay?

Not only is it fine to make “I” statements in your application essays, but colleges expect your essays to sound like you, too!

Is it OK to address the reader in a college essay?

Don't write the whole essay to an unknown “you,” but if the narrative calls for it, occasionally addressing readers as “you” is generally okay.

Can my college essay be exactly 650 words?

Personal Statement Length vs.

Similarly, the Coalition Application, which has 150 member schools, features an essay with a recommended length of 500-650 words. 650 words is the most common limit for your personal statement, but some schools may ask students to write more or less.

How much do college essays really matter?

As you can tell, college essays are very important for applicants hoping to get accepted into prestigious institutions. And if you are planning to apply to any colleges that are test optional or test blind, then the essay probably becomes more important, since schools have fewer data points to work with.

Do admissions officers see your name?

Will college admission officers see my full name on my application, even though I am not required to disclose my ethnicity? Short answer: yes. Longer answer: who sees it and at what pint in the admissions process may vary substantially.

What shouldn't be in a college essay?

While drug addiction, alcohol use, arrests, jail stints, and similar activities may seem intriguing, they are usually college essay topics to avoid. There is a chance the admissions committee won't view those actions favorably, regardless of the lessons they learned along the way.

What not to say in a why college essay?

This might seem obvious, but it's best to avoid writing about anything that portrays the school you're applying to in a negative way. Some students might consider doing a negative topic as a way to stand out or get credit for taking a risk on their essay. However, the school isn't likely to see it this way.

How not to say I in an essay?

State your claim directly instead of using “I think.” Sometimes, all you need to do is drop a clause such as “I think” or “I believe” from the beginning of a sentence. Getting rid of the personal pronoun is more objective, and it makes your statement sound more confident.

Is one typo in a college essay bad?

You double and triple-checked each essay, and you were positive that everything was perfecto. But then, you reviewed your submitted materials and — gasp — you noticed a mistake! Don't panic. One mistake is not going to jeopardize your admission.

Is lying on a college essay illegal?

First, we will deal with the easy bit: if you knowingly employ deception (stating something on the application that you don't believe is true) in order to receive an advantage (admission to college), then that is most definitely fraud.

Can a bad essay ruin your college application?

After months or even years of working to achieve excellent test scores, strong grades, and relevant work/volunteering experiences, fatigue can get the best of people. However, a weak college application essay can severely hurt your chance of admission.

How serious should a college essay be?

The point of a college essay is to convince the reader that you would be a good person/an asset to have at the institution. It doesn't have to be serious; it just has to showcase YOU.

What happens if you have a bad college essay?

If a student's essay isn't great OR good, the admission officer will probably just skim past the essay and move right on to your transcript and your test scores to evaluate your candidacy for admission. Bad essays don't get read. Period.

How do you avoid cliches in college essays?

What is inappropriate to write about in a college essay?

Avoid topics that are: Overly personal (e.g. graphic details of illness or injury, romantic or sexual relationships) Not personal enough (e.g. broad solutions to world problems, inspiring people or things) Too negative (e.g. an in-depth look at your flaws, put-downs of others, criticizing the need for a college essay)

Is it bad to write about anxiety in college essays?

Conventional wisdom would caution students against discussing mental health issues in their applications. College essay consultants have discouraged students choosing it as a topic in the past. However, we also encourage students to be bold, speak their truth, and stand out from the crowd.

Should I talk about myself in my college essay?

It is generally acceptable to write about yourself in a college application essay. In fact, it is often expected that you will do so. Admissions committees want to get to know you as a person, and to understand your motivations and goals.