What are the best strategies for editing my college essays?
I'm currently working on my common app essay, and honestly, I've reached a point where I can't tell what needs to be changed anymore. I've revised it so many times that all the words are starting to blur together.
How do you guys approach the editing part? Do you rely more on peer feedback or try to fix everything yourself first? I've heard people say to read the essay out loud, but I'm worried that might not be enough. Would it help to just step away from it for a few days, or ask my English teacher for advice?
Any tips for making sure my true voice doesn't get lost when I'm getting feedback or editing multiple times? I'd appreciate any advice from people who've been through the process already.
How do you guys approach the editing part? Do you rely more on peer feedback or try to fix everything yourself first? I've heard people say to read the essay out loud, but I'm worried that might not be enough. Would it help to just step away from it for a few days, or ask my English teacher for advice?
Any tips for making sure my true voice doesn't get lost when I'm getting feedback or editing multiple times? I'd appreciate any advice from people who've been through the process already.
4 months ago
•
15 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
It’s very common to hit that wall where your essay just feels like a jumble of words—almost every applicant has been there! When you’re deep in revisions, it does get tricky to tell what’s working and what isn’t. Stepping away for a few days is a great first step; it lets your mind reset, which makes it easier to spot awkward phrasing or places where your story doesn’t flow.
Reading your essay out loud really does help, especially for catching oddly worded sentences or repetitive language that you’d miss when reading silently. You don’t have to perform it dramatically—just hearing it can highlight what feels natural and what feels forced. Some students also use text-to-speech tools or ask a friend to read it back to them, which offers a fresh perspective.
Getting feedback is crucial, but it's also important to be selective about who you ask and how you use their comments. Two or three thoughtful readers are better than a dozen, which can lead to conflicting advice. English teachers, college counselors, and trusted peers are great choices, especially if you tell them specifically what you’re concerned about ('Does this sound like me?' or 'Is this clear?'). If you just want general impressions, sometimes a friend who doesn’t know your topic well can offer a valuable outsider’s perspective.
To keep your own voice intact, try this: after incorporating feedback, read through and highlight sentences or sections that sound the most like YOU. Save an early draft that you felt captured your authentic voice, and, if your revised version feels too polished or generic, compare it to the old one—a lot of students end up blending the two to keep sincerity and clarity.
For example, one student realized their essay got too formal after a teacher’s edit, so they kept the teacher’s suggestions for grammar but restored some of their original word choices and humor. The result felt both polished and personal.
Lastly, remember editing is often about cutting extra words and unnecessary details, not just about fixing errors. Ask yourself things like: Is this detail necessary? Does this sentence show a part of who I am, or is it just filler? That way, every edit brings you closer to the heart of your story, rather than away from it.
Balancing honest feedback with your authentic voice takes some practice, but it’s definitely doable. Good luck—you’re closer than you think!
Reading your essay out loud really does help, especially for catching oddly worded sentences or repetitive language that you’d miss when reading silently. You don’t have to perform it dramatically—just hearing it can highlight what feels natural and what feels forced. Some students also use text-to-speech tools or ask a friend to read it back to them, which offers a fresh perspective.
Getting feedback is crucial, but it's also important to be selective about who you ask and how you use their comments. Two or three thoughtful readers are better than a dozen, which can lead to conflicting advice. English teachers, college counselors, and trusted peers are great choices, especially if you tell them specifically what you’re concerned about ('Does this sound like me?' or 'Is this clear?'). If you just want general impressions, sometimes a friend who doesn’t know your topic well can offer a valuable outsider’s perspective.
To keep your own voice intact, try this: after incorporating feedback, read through and highlight sentences or sections that sound the most like YOU. Save an early draft that you felt captured your authentic voice, and, if your revised version feels too polished or generic, compare it to the old one—a lot of students end up blending the two to keep sincerity and clarity.
For example, one student realized their essay got too formal after a teacher’s edit, so they kept the teacher’s suggestions for grammar but restored some of their original word choices and humor. The result felt both polished and personal.
Lastly, remember editing is often about cutting extra words and unnecessary details, not just about fixing errors. Ask yourself things like: Is this detail necessary? Does this sentence show a part of who I am, or is it just filler? That way, every edit brings you closer to the heart of your story, rather than away from it.
Balancing honest feedback with your authentic voice takes some practice, but it’s definitely doable. Good luck—you’re closer than you think!
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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5 years
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