Is it okay to have someone else write your college essay?

Getting help with your college essay is very common, but there’s a huge difference between support and having someone else write it for you. Admissions officers expect the essay to be your genuine voice and personal reflections. If someone else writes your essay, especially if it doesn’t sound like you or match your writing in other parts of your application, there’s a good chance colleges can pick up on that.

Colleges read thousands of essays every year, and experienced admissions officers notice when an essay seems too polished, disconnected from the student, or uses vocabulary that doesn’t match your background. It can hurt your chances if they suspect the essay wasn’t written by you, and, in the worst cases, submitting work that isn’t your own is considered academic dishonesty. Some schools may even rescind an offer of admission if they discover the essay wasn't yours.

That said, it’s completely normal (and encouraged!) to get feedback or guidance. For example, you can definitely ask a teacher, counselor, or trusted adult to read your draft and give suggestions about clarity, structure, or areas to expand. Maybe a tutor can help you brainstorm or revise awkward sentences. The important thing is that the final product is your own thoughts, stories, and writing style.

Many students find brainstorming with others or getting editing advice really helpful. For example, one student I know struggled with narrowing down a topic, so she sat with a mentor who asked her questions about her favorite memories, challenges she’d faced, and what makes her unique. From there, she wrote the draft herself, and her counselor helped her clean up some grammar. The result was a genuine essay that sounded just like her—a piece that really helped her stand out because it was authentic.

Ultimately, admissions officers want to get a sense of who YOU are. Even if you’re not a confident writer, your personality, honesty, and perspective matter far more than perfect prose. If you’re stuck, try recording yourself telling a story about a meaningful moment, then write that down as a starting point. Remember, your voice is what matters most here.