Hey everyone,
A lot of folks have been asking us for basic essay editing tips, so we're publishing a list of things that we look for when we review essays. By the way, we've said this before, but let me just reiterate: PLEASE get your essays reviewed by someone you don't know! It doesn't have to be us (but we'll be happy if it is). :-) Remember, AdCom doesn't know you, so it's really important to get your essays read by at least one independent reader who doesn't know you at all, and ask for their candid opinion on your package.
Here are the editing tips:
A lot of folks have been asking us for basic essay editing tips, so we're publishing a list of things that we look for when we review essays. By the way, we've said this before, but let me just reiterate: PLEASE get your essays reviewed by someone you don't know! It doesn't have to be us (but we'll be happy if it is). :-) Remember, AdCom doesn't know you, so it's really important to get your essays read by at least one independent reader who doesn't know you at all, and ask for their candid opinion on your package.
Here are the editing tips:
- Remove all redundant words. A lot of qualifying adjectives are redundant - e.g., "very dire circumstances", or "significantly high volumes", etc. You don't need "very" and "significant".
- Quantify. When you say something is more, or higher, or has increased, please say by how much. This makes your essay more believable, relate-able, and real.
- Stay within word limits: There is no reason to go beyond. No. Reason.
- Keep your sentences short: The most beautiful essays are the ones in which sentences are short and succinct. Winding sentences make essays very difficult to read.
- Stay chronological, as far as possible: Essays that are not chronological can be very confusing - I've had to read some essays twice to make sense of what happened when.
- Emotion is good, drama is not: When you write about a situation, it's great to explain how you felt and why. But please, this is not a movie script.
- Don't state the obvious: In 80% of the essays we review, we're able to free up about 40 - 50 words because of this. If you've explained something already, no need to state it again.
- Finally, whatever you do, DO NOT blame someone else: There is NO excuse for this. Don't even indirectly slight someone else for what they did. Victor Lee, from the Wharton school admissions office, agreed with us in our S2S post on this topic, and called it the "kiss of death"
Good luck folks! If you're interested in getting your essays reviewed by us, email us at essaycritique@gmail.com or use the form on this page.
