I’m applying to a few Ivy Leagues and other schools and was just wondering: who do you ask to proof read your essays?
I have well over 10 at this point and I don’t see who can possibly look over all of them for me but at the same time I can’t submit without having someone check at least once.
Who do you guys ask?
I can’t think of anyone who would read over everything for me and give me constructive criticism and paying for a professional would be far too expensive.
I’ve asked siblings and teachers.
I ask one of my former English teachers. I dont ask my parents.
So far I’ve had my common app and a supplement looked over by one of my teachers and he’s given me brilliant feedback and lots of comments - don’t know how I could have done it without him. Just don’t see myself bringing 15 more to him…
15 thats a lot.
@Emma27, I am a parent. I have read some essays for students on CC and made comments. If they are in Google Docs, they are a bit easier to comment on. My own kids don’t apply all of my comments. As my comments are often something like “why did you choose this word here” or “consider shortening this sentence.” I have gotten one or two from CC students that were not polished enough for me to proceed (in other words, it felt as if the student wanted help WRITING the essay) so I sent those back with the comment “keep writing - this is not yet at the proofreading stage”.
On CC you are not getting Ivy League readers, however. Consider farming out your best essay first. Readers are willing to read one essay. Start there. See what kind of helpful feedback you get. Go from there. As for me, if I read one essay that I enjoyed reading, and I can find the time, then I will read another one. PM me if you would like for me to read an essay.
I asked my parents, my dad is a professor so he writes a lot, and he has given me a ton of help.
You should also ask English teachers, school guidance counselors, trusted people on this forum etc.
I am so lucky to have an amazing AP english teacher who loves seniors and is willing to read all of our essays! So far I think she has read and given me comments on about 10 supplemental essays. I have also had my junior-year english teacher read some… I would say ask a teacher that you feel you have a good relationship with and will be willing to help you out! Good luck!
@lots2do Could I please send you my essay too? I am almost ready to submit my applications and would greatly appreciate any final thoughts. So far, only my English teacher and my parents have seen it, so I would be very grateful if I could get a bit more feedback. Thank you!
Keep in mind, guys, that 10 essays-- even 5 essays is a LOT to ask of anyone.
YOU need to do the bulk of the proofreading. You need to edit your essay until you’re very happy with it, and THEN ask someone to take a look at the one essay you’re most worried about.
I teach Seniors (though math, not English.) This year I teach 192 students, in addition to my homeroom and my 3 once-a-week math SAT classes.
If every one of my students asked me to read 5 essays, it would be close to a THOUSAND ESSAYS. All of which are vitally important to the writer. Oh, and in addition to any letters of recommendation that need to be written. (Did I mention regular school work? And details like getting dinner on the table for our own families?)
Then again, the common app opened in August. Had students given those 5 essays to their teachers at the start of the school year, it would be a lot less of a crunch now.
Right now, my in box here contains essays from 4 CC writers awaiting my attention. I’m tired, and I’m not getting to them tonight. Tomorrow I’m testing 4 classes, and one more on Thursday, so the rest of this week doesn’t look good either.
But I had lots and lots of free time in August and September.
There’s a saying I love: “Lack of preparation on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.”
I agree with the above comment partly, but asking teachers to read essays isn’t a lack of preparedness in my opinion. I spent weeks editing all my essays and then I asked my teacher to look over them. Granted, my school is really small and that teacher only has 40 students. But she encouraged all of us to bring her her essays because she wanted to. There’s nothing wrong with asking for a second set of eyes, whether that be a teacher or parent or anyone else. Worst case scenario, your teacher says no and you move on with your life 
I agree that you shouldn’t hand your teacher a rough draft, but there’s nothing wrong with handing him/her a polished 100-250 word supplement and asking him/her to look over it.
I don’t mind reading essays if anyone needs an essay read as long as they aren’t to Duke,Tufts, JHU, NYU, Washington at St. Louis, UNC Chapel Hill, or UChicago since I don’t want to plagiarize anyone.
AN essay is one thing.
TEN essays is quite another.
And the common app opened on August 1. It’s now October 21.
Just your English teachers and any other teacher you think could give you good feedback!
@bjkmom What you said about timing. I’ve been hammering my own kid about this, but I find it’s very hard for them to see the big picture. For them, it’s just one piece of writing, and it’s not quite ready (in their minds) for review and just one more day or week will make the difference. They can’t see the giant pile on the teacher’s desk, or the teacher’s crowded calendar. I don’t think I could back at in the day either. So we just keep pointing it out and hope something sticks…
I’ve been hammering my Senior homeroom with the same message.
They can’t seem to realize that it’s not about their one essay, or their 10 essays. It’s about that workload from each of 600+ members of the senior class.
You want help with your essay? I know lots of people who would have been more than happy to offer it earlier in the school year.
But if you’ve chosen to wait 2 1/2 months to get to it, know that all those people you’re counting on may now have a whole lot less time than they did earlier.