<p>Hm. Personally I’ve never heard of this, but I’d never use it - I’m pretty poor so can’t afford it, but even if I did, I’d rather write it myself - agree w/Ducktape, writing a college essay of 500~800 words or so…it really isn’t that bad.</p>
<p>I suppose it could help, if you think from another perspective, to those uber math/science kids who can’t write a half-decent essay, in which case if they didn’t use it and wrote a crapppy essay it would be unfair that their math/science ownageness got overridden due to their essays. So they’re just good at different things and all their accomplishments in different areas getting pwned due to one essay might be unfair…</p>
<p>basically i suppose to those that really can’t write an essay, it is a great option.</p>
<p>I used this service last year. I applied to all the UCs and Johns Hopkins. I got into all the UCs but didn’t get into Hopkins (first choice).</p>
<p>As for the service, I think it helped me, but I don’t think its unethical because they don’t change what you say. Rather, they change how you sound. For example, in one part of my essay I was talking about something I liked about the college I wanted to go to and why, and the editor fixed it for me so it doesn’t sound like I’m boasting. Basically they change how you sound to colleges, but not the content of what you say.</p>
<p>Overall I think the service is great and I highly recommend it. It really helps you organize your cluttered essays and make them sound very nice while still preserving the “you”.</p>
<p>EDIT:
Oh and they don’t write the essay for you, they edit it. The essay writing service is a lot more expensive and I didn’t do that because I can write my own essays lol…</p>
<p>Whoever says that people who oppose this practice are communist/socialist is idiotic. Communism and socialism are systems where the government controls industry. I don’t see how opposing unfair advantages in college admissions is similar to that. Things like this are another reason why standardized tests ought to be given more weight in college admissions.</p>
<p>At schools that are non-need-blind, these students have an obvious advantage.</p>
<p>Another way to show that is to look at SAT scores. The College Board publishes data showing the positive correlation between income level and average SAT scores. In addition, many universities publish the data for the acceptance rates in each SAT range (600-690, etc.); the higher up, the higher the acceptance rate. So, you can conclude that the rich will have an easier time getting in. I bet if you collected data on income level and acceptance rate, you’d see a positive correlation. ;)</p>
<p>I agree and disagree to this statement. The rich also have some advantage in standardized testing for some reasons, although the playing field is a lot more level. If you are poor (family income <60,000) then there’s a good chance that you will not be able to spend money on sat books or tutors. People might refute this argument by saying that you can get books from the library, which is a valid point. But remember, if your family makes <60,000 year, then I am sure you will have to work to help support your family rather than study for the sat.</p>
<p>Essay Edge has been around at least since the my son was applying to schools 4 years ago. I certainly looked at their site thoroughly. To me, at the time and without regard to the costs, the risks were to great. Today, I think you all are at even greater risk should you choose to use a company like this. I certainly could be wrong. Since the inception of the writing portion of the SAT and ACT, colleges now get the writing sample. (I know I read this next part somewhere or heard it, I just can’t find it.) Should your essay be strikingly different than your SAT/ACT sample then “red flags” go off and your application is looked at in a different light. NOT GOOD.</p>
<p>My thoughts about the stanford applicant to whom Az1698 referred is that he must have been a sufficiently strong writer that his SAT/ACT essays and his Essay Edge essay were not so different that it raised a question about the authenticity of his application essay.</p>
<p>As for the wealthy, they do have an advantage when it comes to things that can be purchased. But there are many things that “money just can’t buy” such as URM. A rich kid with good grades/scores is not exactly unique in the pool of IvyLeaque applicants.</p>
<p>My opinion is that there is one case where the wealthy do have an advantage and that is with schools that are not need blind. Beyond that, with applications being done holistically, I am not that sure about an advantage.</p>
<p>Oftentimes, the local library doesn’t have them, or they’re very outdated, or always checked out, etc.</p>
<p>More importantly, many students are simply not aware of such resources; they don’t know about the prep books and such, much less that they can find them at their local library. You can see this in many other aspects of an application–many low-income students aren’t even aware of the scholarships just for them, or of the internships they could be doing, or of the research they could be helping out with. They simply don’t know of it. I’d say those who are well-off are more likely to know about these things and to get in on them.</p>
Agreed. Many people do not no these resources/opportunities exist.</p>
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<p>In these applications, do they look at family income as well? Because my point is that people with less money are less likely to get into a top tier need blind school because they will be at somewhat of a disadvantage.</p>
<p>I recall from 4 years ago that traits that were sought out by colleges (at least MIT and I will extrapolate to the IVY due to selectivity) were first generation college student, english not first language, and non white or asian. I don’t remember the rest but those were all against my son so they made an impression. But if you look at those traits, you can come to your own conclusion as to whether any of those might correlate to a lower income. In my opinion, income might not be listed on the application but, if they are seeking students with traits that correlate to lower income, doesn’t that achieve the same thing but just in an indirect way. Plus these traits cannot be “bought” for any amount of money and cannot be faked by wealthy applicants.</p>
So the writing section on the SAT/ACT actually has a purpose… I didn’t know that. From my experience with the SAT/ACT though, the writing sections have a certain “formula” which will get you a 10-12 on the essay. On top of that, colleges always say that they take into account the essay on the SAT/ACT is written in 25/30 minutes. So they aren’t necessarily good comparisons are they? </p>
<p>Someone I know did something similar. I don’t know the details but the lady basically wrote it for the student after the student handed in a draft. They was rejected from her #1 choice. </p>
<p>If it was simply editing, I would not have any qualms about it. But, if it includes rewriting, I find it repugnant…</p>
<p>As a poster who used this service said, they also offer the writing service for a higher fee. I agree with asdfjkl1 that editing is not as bad a writing, but it still puts the lower class kids at a disadvantage. If a upper class kid went to his English teacher at a prep school or something, they would offer much better editing than would a overworked city teacher.</p>
<p>This is their writing service:
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<p>Edit: They also try to appeal directly to parents:
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<p>They also get students to “inform” parents about the program.
<p>That ACT/SAT essay usage is confusing because you do see school that say that they do not use the SAT/ACT writing score but I know that I have heard about caution is using essay’s that are not your own and how the SAT/ACT essay sample is used to determine if your application essay is too good to be true. </p>
<p>As I am writing this, I think the source was a newspaper (MB magazine) article my husband showed my a number of month’s ago. Actually, I just found the article online: </p>
<p>Also, during my more recent college research while looking for the right schools for my daughter, I came across a college (don’t remember which one) that required the submission of a graded writing assignment from the applicant. MB a better option for colleges?</p>
<p>Yes, the writing sample is a really smart idea. That would level the playing field, because if you are capable of getting into Harvard or something, then your high school writing assignments will be really good.</p>
<p>I love how much they stress the "Harvard-educated"ness. Personally, I’d probably prefer a UChicago grad, but whatever.</p>
<p>On the wealthy having an advantage debate- part of the fact is that kids just don’t go to college. Look at statistics of college matriculation in general by income level. Environment plays a huge role in a person’s development, and if you’re not raised in one that values education (and I know kids who would qualify for that free ride at Harvard that this doesn’t apply to, so this isn’t a blanket statement), no matter how smart you are you may never even consider shooting for college or for your full academic potential. Just a thought.</p>
<p>A lot of people work with their English teachers on their essays. I dunno, I think this program is stupid, because you shouldn’t be able to buy your way into college admissions, but I’m wealthy enough to be using their service and won’t. I think the solution is just to write such a kick-ass essay that this company doesn’t matter. Of course, that’s much easier said than done.</p>