<p>My AP English teacher - a tough but nice teacher - said that she enjoyed my essays when she edited them. She said they have a lot of passion, voice and were written very well. Do you guys think this is enough proof that I can stop fussing over my essays' qualities? I want to apply ASAP.</p>
<p>Today is September 12. The application is due November 1. You don't get any points for handing it in early.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would take a break from college essays for the next week or two, and come back to your essays in October or so. Once you give yourself enough time to forget what you wrote, you'll probably be able to read your essay more carefully and more critically.</p>
<p>Not to rain on your pararde, but it was my experience last year that teachers just aren't very good at evaluating college essays. Now, they can help you edit them, but her seal of approval should be taken with a grain of salt. For example, my AP English teacher flat out told a kid in my class that his Chicago essay was the best college essay she had ever read. He had a 1510/1600 SAT, 3.4gpa, hardest classes, "the best essay ever", and a rejection from Chicago. He applied early and wasn't even deferred. This kid
didn't eat babbies or rob banks either; he was a normal kid. </p>
<p>Don't apply to Chicago so early. Apply to some other schools first so you learn how to perfect the art of the application. I'd say wait until at least October 15th.</p>
<p>My son's AP english teacher-- also an amazing teacher-- didn't "get" my sons essay and wanted to steer it in a different direction. I don't know the details, didn't see the essay 'till it after it was submitted,but he DID NOT change it, said the mistake was letting the teacher read it, and he was accepted. So, ya never know.</p>
<p>So, the point is, what you think of your essay is what counts. Unalove is spot on.</p>
<p>In my completely non-expert opinion, I think a Chicago essay doesn't work as well for a teacher to read. That is, unless the teacher has a good understanding of the school itself. For example, if you hand the essay for prompt four to a teacher, they're probably going to be shocked at how strange it is. </p>
<p>I may just be pulling this out of nowhere, but it seems like a lot of teachers think the best essays are the sappiest ones, or the ones that detail some sort of struggle you've been through. Chicago essays are on a totally different plane. In other words, they're BS-Proof. When a teacher reads a college essay of somebody's, I'd be willing to bet they're looking for it to directly talk about them and their accomplishments. You don't have to mention yourself once in a Chicago essay and some teachers might not realize that.</p>
<p>Either way, though, a seal of approval is always a good thing.</p>
<p>Well, I let her read questions 1 & 2. The actual "strange" essay I'm not letting anyone read. That's between me and my admissions counselor.</p>
<p>Ah, now I understand.....and I'm cheering for you.</p>
<p>esentman -
I agree with your post <em>except</em> for the last bit - </p>
<p>"Either way, though, a seal of approval is always a good thing."</p>
<p>It needs to be the applicant's seal - not anyone else's. You need to believe in your words. </p>
<p>I think it is useful to have someone else look your essay over for typos, and to make sure you haven't wandered off on too many tangents and lost the reader entirely. But - the good news is, as unalova points out, if you put the essay aside for a couple of weeks, you be able to review it with fresh eyes and edit effectively. The trick of reading it aloud helps, too.</p>
<p>glasses -
Can you imagine ... reading AP essays all day ... I think it would take the fine edge off of any teacher. Good for your son!</p>