<p>I'm wondering if some parents would care to read my essay and provide a little feedback. I know you're very busy, but I'm concerned of my essay's quality and appropriateness for college admissions. I'm debating professional essay editing, and a few comments from you would help clarify whether my writing requires that drastic of measures. I love the content of my essay and I won't change it for anything in the world, but in terms of presentation and style intuitively I have a sense that something might be wrong. I've also tried the wonderful editing procedure suggested by ohio_mom, but given my unavoidable bias in reading the paper, would nevertheless, appreciate your thoughts very much.</p>
<p>You really need to be careful about having others look at your essay. Some schools ask what feedback you received on your essays and who "edited" them. This should be your own effort, not that of virtual unknown strangers!</p>
<p>The "virtual unknown strangers" is a red herring.<br>
I like to help students because I know many of them have parents who cannot do so; some parents don't even speak English. Schools and teachers also vary a lot in the amount of support they provide to students as they write college application essays. S1 had a teacher who made writing college application essays an assignment throughout September and November, using Common App prompts. S2, who graduated early, had no such experience. And this is before we consider expensive tutors.
By the way, I've written several books. I've had lot of feedback as well as copy-editing. But they are still my books.</p>
<p>Agree with marite. Helping students in need of adult feedback is one of the things I most like to do here on cc. Telling a student what came across well, what didn't; suggesting where they might elaborate, etc. is not the same as those paid essay mills or even something that would require a student to say that I "edited" his/her essay. I didn't. I am not familiar with schools asking "what feedback" a student received on the essay. But an honest answer would be that an adult friend reviewed and commented on the essay.</p>
<p>Editing and outside review is, to me, a central part of the writing process for any good writer.</p>
<p>I agree with the other parents. Close friends and family are frequently not objective when evaluating essays. Virtual strangers often make helpful suggestions about which parts of an essay work and which do not. Their opinions of the essay aren't colored by personal knowledge of the student. Also, remember that the target audience will be strangers!</p>