<p>I've written two college essays and have had them read by two english teachers, an previous college counselor and english teacher (now my school head master) and my college counselor.</p>
<p>Everyone has very much enjoyed the essays, some liking one more than another, but my college counselor found one to be horrible and "useless as a college essay" and the other as "having a gleam of promise."</p>
<p>I really don't know what to do. Everyone else likes my essay minus my counselor. Ultimately, it s the essay I find that best describes me that I should send in, but my college counselor will be the one who writes an evaluation of me a student, and I'm worried I will give a wrong impression if he knows that I'm using the essay he despised.</p>
<p>What are the specific criticisms that the GC has? What, precisely, about the essay makes it, according to him, "useless"?</p>
<p>You may or may wish to go into this here on the forum, but I would suggest thinking this over and considering for yourself how persuasive those reasons may be. You could also run those reasons by one of the people who liked the essay.</p>
<p>I think for context, you would have to read them to understand his comments. I could forward them to you if you like?</p>
<p>Anyway, he basically felt that one of the essays didn't present "me" very well and was about a pointless subject. Teachers thought the "pointless" subject was unique and original.</p>
<p>He felt the other essays had a nice anecdote and began to show an interesting idea, but then refrained saying the anecdote was unecessary and distracting.</p>
<p>I think my GC is a fine guy; he knows stuff and has worked as a college counselor for many years. However, he is old (near 75), forgetful, and perhaps a bit old fashioned when it comes to this writing business.</p>
<p>OP- Will your GC know which essays you finally submit? Do you have to turn everything into him, or can you apply online, where he won't actually see the essays?</p>
<p>Well, theoretically, he doesn't HAVE to see my essays. But in the event he asks to, what can I say? I don't want to give him a negative impression...After all, he is writing my college evaluation...</p>
<p>Why don't you try writing an essay that fits what he is suggesting? You might like it better yourself. Then, make your own decision on what to use.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'll work on his suggesstions anyway, but I don't want him to govern the content of essay. I don't only want to create a "workable" college essay, but that one is creative aswell. I don't think my GC likes creativity..</p>
<p>Funny, I was just talking to a friend today about her son's essays from last year. She said he showed them to two teachers who liked them and then two people who used to be readers for colleges. Those two readers hated her son's essays. He got into every school he applied to (7, including one top 20). Write what you think is YOU. Try the other essay of you feel like it, but follow your heart about which one to use. Good luck.</p>