Is it okay to ask someone to write your college essay for you?
I'm kind of freaking out about writing my college essay. I keep hearing that it has to be super personal and unique, but when I sit down to try, I just get stuck.
A few people I know said they got outside help, like even having someone basically write their essay for them. Is that crossing a line? I don't want to mess up my chances, but I also seriously don't know how to make my essay stand out on my own.
Would admissions officers even know if you had help? Is there a right way to get feedback, or is it just cheating if someone else writes it? Just trying to figure out what's normal and what's not for college apps right now.
A few people I know said they got outside help, like even having someone basically write their essay for them. Is that crossing a line? I don't want to mess up my chances, but I also seriously don't know how to make my essay stand out on my own.
Would admissions officers even know if you had help? Is there a right way to get feedback, or is it just cheating if someone else writes it? Just trying to figure out what's normal and what's not for college apps right now.
4 months ago
•
74 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
It's completely normal to feel stressed about writing your college essay—almost everyone does! The essay is meant to be a reflection of YOU, showing your personality, values, and unique voice. That’s why having someone else write your college essay crosses a major ethical line, and yes, it’s considered cheating.
College admissions officers are very experienced at spotting inconsistencies in writing style or maturity level. If an essay sounds nothing like the rest of your application (like your transcript, other written sections, or recommendations), that's a red flag. Sometimes essays that are too polished or generic also stand out for the wrong reasons, and this can negatively impact your application—some schools even have honor codes you have to sign that say your application is your own work.
However, getting help is totally fine—as long as you use it the right way. What's normal and perfectly acceptable is seeking feedback or suggestions on how to make your writing clearer or stronger. For example, you might write a draft and then ask a teacher, counselor, or trusted adult to review it. They can point out where your story could be more specific, help you catch grammar mistakes, or suggest ways to organize your essay better. Just make sure the final product is still 100% your thoughts, your experiences, and your words.
For example, maybe you wrote about a summer job, but your counselor says, “Why did that matter to you?” or “How did that change you?” That’s great feedback. But if someone else says, “Let me write your essay for you,” or they start rewriting big sections themselves, that’s where it goes too far.
If you’re stuck, try starting with a single moment or detail (like the time you helped your neighbor with groceries or the conversation that changed how you saw a challenge). Write a horrible first draft if you need to—just get your ideas down. Then get feedback in small doses, focusing on how to make your own story shine.
So, bottom line: get help shaping your story, but don’t let anyone tell it for you. Your authentic voice is exactly what colleges want to hear!
College admissions officers are very experienced at spotting inconsistencies in writing style or maturity level. If an essay sounds nothing like the rest of your application (like your transcript, other written sections, or recommendations), that's a red flag. Sometimes essays that are too polished or generic also stand out for the wrong reasons, and this can negatively impact your application—some schools even have honor codes you have to sign that say your application is your own work.
However, getting help is totally fine—as long as you use it the right way. What's normal and perfectly acceptable is seeking feedback or suggestions on how to make your writing clearer or stronger. For example, you might write a draft and then ask a teacher, counselor, or trusted adult to review it. They can point out where your story could be more specific, help you catch grammar mistakes, or suggest ways to organize your essay better. Just make sure the final product is still 100% your thoughts, your experiences, and your words.
For example, maybe you wrote about a summer job, but your counselor says, “Why did that matter to you?” or “How did that change you?” That’s great feedback. But if someone else says, “Let me write your essay for you,” or they start rewriting big sections themselves, that’s where it goes too far.
If you’re stuck, try starting with a single moment or detail (like the time you helped your neighbor with groceries or the conversation that changed how you saw a challenge). Write a horrible first draft if you need to—just get your ideas down. Then get feedback in small doses, focusing on how to make your own story shine.
So, bottom line: get help shaping your story, but don’t let anyone tell it for you. Your authentic voice is exactly what colleges want to hear!
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
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5.0 (5 reviews)