How true is the idea that on the personal essay, how you write is more important than what you write about?
It comes down to being interesting, easy to like and root for as a reader. Someone who would be nice to be around on campus, a good fit and academically curious. Fine writing produces this more clearly than poor writing. Bad mechanics show a lack of preparation and might distract from being engaged.
So it’s false for me.
It’s simply that both content and execution matter.
To what degree can one make up for the other?
That’s school. Admissions officers. And student dependent.
They go together.