“Can you
read my college essay and give me feedback?”
That’s what
a lot of students ask before they hand over their essay to a counselor, a
teacher, a parent or relative. It’s a
good idea to seek advice from people you trust and who are invested in your
college future. But when you ask for
essay feedback, be specific about the kind of feedback you want.
Do you want
to know if your story will resonate with a college admissions officer?
Do you want
to know if the essay sounds like you?
Do you want
to know if your essay is well-written and typo-free?
And most
importantly, is the person you’re asking the best person to give the feedback
you’re looking for?
I’m not
suggesting you should employ an army of critics to review your college essays
(too much feedback tends to muddle the essay and frustrate the writer). But before you ask someone for feedback,
think about what kind of feedback would be most helpful. And don’t be shy about asking for
specifically what you think you need.