Is it appropriate to use the word “you” in college essays? (More specifically, “you see”)
It depends on how you are writing the essay. “Dear Reader” may be a little more appropriate and sophisticated, but one would have to read the whole essay to tell for sure. You might read the essay aloud to yourself to see if the “you” flows.
I’ve seen students occasionally address the reader. I think it’s okay to do it once or twice, but it really depends on the context.
Depending on the tier of college, they value your ability to self edit, make wise choices, show the right restraint. OP needs to tell us how he/she wants to use “you” or “you see.”
In many cases, if the sentence works without a “you see,” it’s not needed.