Is it worth paying for a college essay review service?
I'm going into my senior year and I've been working on my college essays for a while now. Some of my friends say it really helped them to pay for a professional essay review service, but I’m not sure if I should spend the money, especially since I don’t have a huge budget.
I’ve gotten feedback from my English teacher and a friend of my mom, but I keep seeing ads for people who offer really “expert” reviews—like they say they used to work in admissions at top schools or are published writers. Has anyone tried one of these services and did it actually make a difference in your essays? Or do you think it’s just as good to get advice from teachers or school counselors?
Would love to hear about other people’s experiences before I make a decision!
I’ve gotten feedback from my English teacher and a friend of my mom, but I keep seeing ads for people who offer really “expert” reviews—like they say they used to work in admissions at top schools or are published writers. Has anyone tried one of these services and did it actually make a difference in your essays? Or do you think it’s just as good to get advice from teachers or school counselors?
Would love to hear about other people’s experiences before I make a decision!
2 weeks ago
•
10 views
Camille L.
• 2 weeks ago
Advisor
This is a really common question, and it's smart to think carefully before spending money. Professional college essay review services can be worth it in certain situations, but they're not automatically necessary for everyone.
If you've already gotten thoughtful feedback from an experienced English teacher and another adult, you might have covered the basics: spelling, grammar, flow, and basic structure. What paid reviewers—especially those with admissions experience—often add is insight into what makes essays stand out to actual admissions officers. They can help you identify parts of your essay that are overused, too generic, or don’t quite answer the prompt, and offer strategies to improve the storytelling or show off your unique perspective.
On the other hand, some high school teachers, especially if they regularly work with college essays, can offer very strong guidance for free. I know students who wrote stellar essays just working closely with a teacher or school counselor. But I’ve also seen students benefit from professional reviewers, especially when they were feeling stuck, worried their essay was cliché, or aiming for highly selective schools and wanted a second opinion from someone familiar with those expectations.
Here’s an example: A student thought her essay about leading a food drive was polished after teacher review, but a paid reviewer pointed out it sounded too similar to many other essays and encouraged her to focus instead on a surprising moment when she accidentally offended a recipient—then explored what she learned about dignity and communication. That shift made her essay much more original.
If your budget is tight, it’s absolutely reasonable to rely on trusted teachers or mentors. If you do go for an essay review service, look for one that gives detailed, personalized feedback (not just line edits) and check for clear credentials. Some services provide sliding scales or discounts for students with financial need—don’t be afraid to ask.
Ultimately, your essay needs to sound like you. External help is only useful if it amplifies your voice rather than rewriting it. Using a mix of feedback sources—friends, teachers, possibly one pro review—often adds the most value without breaking the bank.
If you've already gotten thoughtful feedback from an experienced English teacher and another adult, you might have covered the basics: spelling, grammar, flow, and basic structure. What paid reviewers—especially those with admissions experience—often add is insight into what makes essays stand out to actual admissions officers. They can help you identify parts of your essay that are overused, too generic, or don’t quite answer the prompt, and offer strategies to improve the storytelling or show off your unique perspective.
On the other hand, some high school teachers, especially if they regularly work with college essays, can offer very strong guidance for free. I know students who wrote stellar essays just working closely with a teacher or school counselor. But I’ve also seen students benefit from professional reviewers, especially when they were feeling stuck, worried their essay was cliché, or aiming for highly selective schools and wanted a second opinion from someone familiar with those expectations.
Here’s an example: A student thought her essay about leading a food drive was polished after teacher review, but a paid reviewer pointed out it sounded too similar to many other essays and encouraged her to focus instead on a surprising moment when she accidentally offended a recipient—then explored what she learned about dignity and communication. That shift made her essay much more original.
If your budget is tight, it’s absolutely reasonable to rely on trusted teachers or mentors. If you do go for an essay review service, look for one that gives detailed, personalized feedback (not just line edits) and check for clear credentials. Some services provide sliding scales or discounts for students with financial need—don’t be afraid to ask.
Ultimately, your essay needs to sound like you. External help is only useful if it amplifies your voice rather than rewriting it. Using a mix of feedback sources—friends, teachers, possibly one pro review—often adds the most value without breaking the bank.
Camille L.
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating