Best tips for cutting down my college essay?

Feeling attached to every sentence of a personal essay is totally normal, especially when the story feels so close to your heart. Cutting down is one of the toughest but most crucial steps. Here are some methods to help you trim without losing your voice or the important core of your essay:

1) Identify Your Main Message: Read your essay and, in one or two sentences, summarize the main idea or takeaway. Make sure every paragraph and detail supports that message. Anything that doesn't directly build toward it can be reworked or removed.

2) Highlight Must-Keep Moments: Go through your essay and highlight the sentences or sections that are essential—the ones your story can’t live without. These might be key turning points, dialogue that reveals something big, or the overall conclusion. Everything else is up for debate.

3) Cut Repetition or Over-Description: Writers often describe the same event or feeling in different ways. Look for spots where you might be repeating an idea or using more adjectives than needed. For example, instead of saying, "I was devastated, overwhelmed, and lost when my grandmother moved out," just pick the single word that best conveys the emotion.

4) Tighten Your Language: Sometimes you can say the same thing in fewer words. "Due to the fact that" can become "because." Replace "I realized that I had to take responsibility" with "I took responsibility." Little changes like this add up.

5) Use Active Voice: Active voice is usually more concise than passive voice. For example, instead of "The support I received from my family was something I relied on," try "I relied on my family’s support."

6) Eliminate Background Info: You might not need as much context as you think. If you spend several sentences setting up a scene, see if you can summarize it more briefly, especially if your essay is about personal growth, not the details of the family event itself.

For example, one student started with a paragraph describing their family’s Sunday dinner routines in detail. In the final version, they cut this down to one sentence: "Every Sunday, my family gathered around a cluttered table, laughter and argument mixing with the scent of garlic."

After you make cuts, read your essay out loud to check if the flow still feels natural. Often, you'll find spots where you can combine sentences or ideas. Getting feedback from someone unfamiliar with your story can help spot areas that feel unnecessary or unclear.

Ultimately, trimming is less about losing your voice, and more about making every word count. You might feel that losing details sacrifices meaning, but a focused essay often has even more impact. Good luck—you’re almost there!