<p>I'm applying to the University of Illinois, and I'm a little worried about one of my essays. I believe that I wrote it well, but is my writing too sophisticated and ornate? Will they think I'm pretentious?</p>
<p>I tried to tone it down a little. Maybe I'm just over exaggerating. </p>
<p>...anybody wanna help out?</p>
<p>"Ornate" implies that you use lots of ten-dollar words and stuff. Don't. Even the most sophisticated writing doesn't look like a thesaurus puked on it.</p>
<p>Most people should write like they speak, especially in a personal essay. Ask your friends to read it and see if they think it sounds like you.</p>
<p>I think using SAT words (the easy-medium ones) are good, but using obscured words that your pocket dictionary doesn't even register is overboard. XD But I doubt you went that far.</p>
<p>If you PM it to me, I could give you more comments~</p>
<p>I'll check it out too ;)</p>
<p>i agree with colly. just be sure to use YOUR words.
the essay is you. read it as/to a stranger, and see if it sounds like you</p>
<p>And, most importantly, the worst thing is trying to be someone else (how can u know others are better than u!!)</p>