"I" and "my" in a college essay?

Applying to College
1

<p>So I'm writing my personal statement as a first person narrative of my experience volunteering at an animal shelter. Now I've ended up using the aforementioned words quite a few times. It's way more complex than "I did this and I saw that", but the words show up quite a few times throughout. Is that frowned upon?</p>

2

<p>I’d think that it’s natural to have the words “I” and “my” in a first person narrative… If you yourself are bothered, then find a way to omit as many of those words as possible. I think that you can also go to the College Essay forums and ask someone for his/her opinion or to proofread.</p>

3

<p>Unless your entire essay is like the example you gave, you’re fine. A personal statement is expected to have “I” and “my” in it :)</p>

4

<p>If they weren’t there, it’d be a problem.
If every sentence starts with one, it’s a problem.
Everything in between is good.</p>

5

<p>You’re fine. I used first person pronouns in (I think) all of my essays.</p>

6

<p>You scrapped the first one?</p>

7

<p>Yeah, just didn’t want to go in that direction with my essay. But I am writing more than one. To get into 1 college alone, I have to write about 2 essays, and 2 more to apply into their honor’s college.</p>

8

<p>In a personal statement “I” and “my” are to be expected. If you’re worried about it find someone who can give you useful editing advice (an English teacher, neighbor, etc). Let them read it without telling them your concerns. If they point out the I/my situation then adjust. If they say nothing, ask them about it, then potentially adjust. Otherwise you’re good to go.</p>

<p>Finding a good editor who doesn’t already know your story is hugely helpful. If a neighbor doesn’t “get” your essay, how will an admissions officer?</p>