<p>Sometimes, the best form of advancement is the avoidance of self-sabotage. As we approach the ED deadlines, let’s try to not screw up everything you worked so hard on right? Getting people to help you with your college application essays is great…if you know what you’re looking for and how to leverage their specific set of skills.</p>
<p>So…who has complete authority to correct your essay in absolute? </p>
<p>**An Ivy League student/grad? **No *
I remember once there was an Ivy League guy on this forum who claimed to be King of the World in essay editing. Interesting man. So I tested him. I sent him one of my own essays to see what he would say. Turns out, he corrected every application essay like a formal law school paper—scrutinizing sentence structure in way that read like a formal dissertation. Not surprisingly, he was a law student. This colored his world, and while he might be a fine lawyer one day, his advice was horrifying. Bad combination when giving advice to an ignorant and naïve international student. Now, very surprisingly, he also told every person who he helped to post on this forum and praise him—so spammy. Why yes, yes, now I can see why he wants to get into law. </p>
<p>*Your English teacher? **Probably not.
English teachers are often people who majored in education for college. They honed their skills in a specific sort of argumentative writing that they then teach you in class. It’s great for the SAT. It’s great for logical reasoning. But it lacks flair. Emotion. Soul. They’re nice people, and they CAN help (especially for grammar). However, people overstate their importance and their authority in college application essays.</p>
<p>*Your close friends? **Probably not.
1) They’re biased (for better or worse)
2) They read your content through the lens of their personal experiences with you as a contextual anchor (which admission officers will not have, so it’s a bad simulation)
3) They know nothing about the politics of admission</p>
<p>*Every person on the planet? **Hell naw.
Some people think that, like, the more people that look at your essay the better. They collect readers here like Pogs or Pokemon cards (outdated reference FTW). I mean, look at some of the people on this forum! Seriously y’all,
1) Not all people are qualified to give thoughtful opinions on your essay (even the ones who you think are qualified).
2) Even if you get a bunch of thoughtful opinions, at a certain point advice contradicts itself and contorts your essay to the point when…it no longer becomes you. Pragmatically, that’s not a huge issue, but it’s very easy to tell when you read across multiple essays how much something is modified (and possibly manipulated/fraudulent).</p>
<p>*Americans – **Not really
For the internationals out there reading this, some of the best essays I’ve ever read in my life have come from you. What many lack in God-given talent they more than make up for in pure effort and research they put into their essays. </p>
<p>Truth be told, no one has complete authority over your essay except for you.. Not me, not former admission officers. At the end of the day you should live and die by your story, and if they don’t like it, then it’s their loss. </p>
<p>So, let’s break this down very technically…who SHOULD be correcting your essays in WHAT WAYS. The way I view it, certain people should focus on certain aspects of your essay.
<em>***Fanfic writers / short story writers* – These people know how to piece together a compelling story, the creative elements, the pace and flow. By far the most under-estimated group.
</em><em>Teachers* – For grammar.
</em><em>People who don’t know you / don’t like you *– I’d rather have biased negative opinions than biased positive ones.
</em><em>Me, along with any other insider *– For the perspective and politics.
</em><em>Anyone* – for “first impressions.” One of the best exercises you can do is to give someone your essay, say “read it in 2 minutes” then have them give their impressions about you. Keeping it in that very tight, narrow scope is actually insightful for you.
</em>*English majors in Ivy League colleges *– For grammar. </p>
<p>Just remember though, *the most important evaluator is yourself. **You know how you want to position your essay. You know what you want to reflect the admissions office. You know your story. **Short changing the time you spend on your essays is short changing yourself. * And you deserve better than that. I am writing these posts and helping individuals because I value your future, and you should value yours equally by spending the proper time evaluating your essays.</p>
<p>I cannot guarantee you anything, but I want to give you your best chance.</p>
<p>Part 1 - <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1696127-ultimate-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-1-finding-the-perfect-topic.html#latest">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1696127-ultimate-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-1-finding-the-perfect-topic.html#latest</a>
Part 2 - <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1696716-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-2-making-your-essay-the-1-in-1000.html#latest">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1696716-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-2-making-your-essay-the-1-in-1000.html#latest</a></p>
<p>P.S. I’m available to help anyone with one essay via PM as well, as long as you send it to me 1 week before the deadline as I am busy with my job during most days. </p>
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