<p>I will be (hopefully) submitting my Common App by Monday night, and would really like to gain some insight on my personal essay before that. The reason I am a little anxious is because it's written in second person, and I would like to know the POV of an adult on such an essay. I also have a safer, "backup" essay on the same topic, but some people say it's not focused enough. </p>
<p>I'm so sorry if this is the wrong forum to post this, but with deadlines so short away, I'm really just trying to get as much opinions as I can!</p>
<p>Thank you so much to anyone who would be able to take a minute or two, and help a nervous senior!</p>
<p>@hlmom It’s a little private…and I’m not sure if I’m completely comfortable with my English teacher reading it (we’re not really that close). I’m a Canadian student, so GCs really don’t care about American application essays (and public school counselors are usually too busy anyways). </p>
<p>I never was allowed to read my kids’ essays, but they had their close friends and I believe my S had one of his English teachers read his essays. I would probably not write anything I would not be comfortable sharing with a random stranger (who is actually what the person reading the essay is when you think about it). </p>
<p>My understanding is that the essay is supposed to help show something about YOU that you want to share. If it’s something that’s very personal and a bit awkward, I’d probably try for another topic that still is about something you care a lot about but nothing that you’d be uncomfortable with, if that makes sense to you.</p>
<p>@HImom I actually would be more comfortable with sharing it with strangers/parents/friends! I have had professional essay editors look it over, and they have been telling me conflicting things, so I wanted to get some opinion from other adults. My parents are 1st generation immigrants, so they have read it but their English is just not proficient enough. Again, I have shown it to some of my closer friends, but I would appreciate an adult POV as well.</p>
<p>Just because I don’t really like my English teacher so I’ll rather not have her read something that reveals more of myself. :p</p>
<p>I’ll look at it if you want to PM it to me - I tend to be brutally honest however, but I reviewed all my daughter’s essays - I’m not an English teacher either.</p>
<p>I guess my question is…why is it written in the second person? Aren’t college essays supposed to reflect YOU, the student? Why isn’t it written in the first person?</p>
<p>@thumper1 It’s obvious that the essay IS about me…I mainly wanted to try something different. If you’ve ever read the “Red Plaid Shirt”, it resembles that a little bit. Would you like to give it a quick glance?</p>
<p>@dyiu13 Thanks! The bullying that came with a speech impediment was really quite something haha. I don’t want to make sound like a “pity” story in my essay…but rather as something that let me grow, and eventually use my voice to help others. Would you like to take a quick scan? </p>
<p>@FuzzyPeaches22 I’m not an adult, but I would just like to commend your for writing about stuttering. I’ve also struggled with it my whole life, been teased, etc. I know how hard it can be and I’m glad you’ve found a way to take control of it and channel it into something positive!</p>
<p>@z0e101 Wow it’s awesome to meet someone who has faced the same problem as me! I hope you have also been able to beat the bullying and use your experiences to shape something positive!</p>