<p>Remember that essays are subjective; you can't please everybody. Don't change your essay so much that you lose your voice. That is what I have learned. :)</p>
<p>One of my readers said:
[quote]
I found the essay as a whole really confusing and all over the place.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>...while another said:
[quote]
This is really beautiful. I love your transitions.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I just wanted to point this out, since it can be easily forgotten. :)</p>
<p>^ Seconded. :)</p>
<p>It’s true that you shouldn’t let other people’s opinions guide you in what is essentially a very personal endeavour.</p>
<p>However, I would advise against ignoring negative feedback. If you’ve requested feedback, you can’t discard some of it because you don’t like it. The fact that someone thought your essay was amazing doesn’t invalidate another person’s criticism.</p>
<p>And, after all, it is always better to think you have a lot of work to do than to overestimate your own talent. Assume that your essay really is too confusing and try to improve its structure.</p>
<p>Good point from the OP and ghostt 
I guess you just have to find a medium amongst the two views.</p>
<p>
Of course, but when you get two completely contradictory opinions, who should you listen to? Or, when you get many people who think your essay is great, and then one who thinks it’s terrrible? I guess you really need to take what everyone says with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>
I agree. :)</p>
<p>People’s views vary because they may have different expectations for your essay and therefore judge the writing by different standards.</p>
<p>If you have a reasonable level of confidence in your writing abilities, it shouldn’t be necessary to ask a CCer to read your essay. I only showed my essay to one person - my English teacher - and she said that there was no way I would get in anywhere (besides the “quirky” institutions like University of Chicago) with such an essay.</p>
<p>Clearly, things turned out differently. Write your essay and submit it.</p>
<p>A motivational quote:</p>
<p>“… I don’t give a damn/What you think, I’m doing this for me, so **** the world”</p>
<p>That ought to be your attitude.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I agree.</p>
<p>To add to my post, I would like to reiterate Ghostt’s sentiments:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is true, though I don’t necessarily think it should guide the formulation of a college essay. But I liked it enough to quote. :)</p>
<p>And no problemo. :)</p>