<p>Whenever I write an essay for anything, I give it to my friend to read and criticize. She is familiar with my writing style and my personality which I am trying to display through the essay. Would it be a good idea to ask her to help me revise my essay if she is applying to the same college? She hasn't written her essay yet, and the school is her first choice, and my third or fourth choice. I do not want to influence her application at all by giving her my essay to read, but I am torn between someone who understands me enough to really criticize my work and giving her a fair chance to think independently for her essay.</p>
<p>I would advise against it. Have your parents proofread it. </p>
<p>Not a good idea.</p>
<p>the whole point of the essay is to let someone who doesn’t know you get to know you by reading it. But if your friend already knows your writing style and your personality, she’s not going to know if she got a chance to do that through your essay. </p>