So I had someone read over my college essay first draft. It was a messy first draft, not my best work. The lady said not to be “too quirky” or talk about how I’m “shy” in my essay.
Is the reader (who is highly qualified) just rude/whatever, just didn’t like it or is being too quirky or introducing taboo topics too much?
BTW I’m applying to left leaning notoriously “quirky” schools so…
The objection may be to the wordiness in the phrase that you have quoted here. Go back and re-write your essay in plain English and see what it looks like then.
Ok, thanks. Besides that, can you tell me if there are topics, in your opinion, that should just be off-limits?
Lol, when I think of a “quirky” essay, I think of someone who’s trying to use something random (like noodles or a ceiling fan) as a metaphor for his/her personality/character/identity. That or writing a poorly-done essay about something “weird” hobby like World of Warcraft or your addiction to fanfiction. Writing about being shy isn’t taboo, but it is cliched. Other cliches to avoid are essays about sports, coming to America and having to learn English, doing volunteer work with underserved communities, etc. Taboo topics, which should also generally be avoided, are mental illness, anything very graphic, things like politics and religion, etc.
Lol don’t worry my essay isn’t about being shy. Thanks! I was just curious.
Also, for what it’s worth, you asked for a critique. Giving you one that finds flaws with your essay doesn’t qualify the lady as “rude”, it means she was doing exactly what you asked her to do.
Completely true bjkmom. I apologize for the wording on that. She is a very intelligent and apparently highly educated/successful etc. woman who I had never met before. Her services (tutoring etc) were free and I was just wanted to take her advice with a grain of salt just because she isn’t someone I know personally.