One of the best parts of writing your college essay is what it reveals—not just to admissions officers, but to you. I’ve seen students surprise themselves with hidden strengths, deeper self-awareness, and the satisfaction that comes from pushing through hard work. That process of striving is valuable—it’s the same determination you’ll need in college and life.
But here’s the thing: if you overedit, let too many people “fix” it, or use AI to write parts of it, you risk losing what makes it yours. And if your essay ends up sounding like a 40-year-old wrote it, admissions will notice—especially now.
Get feedback, yes. Make it stronger, yes. But keep your voice. Your essay should reflect you—your humor, your quirks, your way of seeing the world. When you finish, you should be able to read it and think, “Wow… I didn’t know I could write that.”
Student Self-Check: Am I Crossing the Line?
✅ This is my idea – The main story, reflection, and examples came from me.
✅ The content is original – No one else (or AI) replaced my words.
✅ Feedback shaped, not replaced, my work – I considered suggestions but made the final choices.
✅ It still sounds like me – If my friends or family read it, they’d recognize my voice.
✅ I’m proud to put my name on it – I could read it out loud to an admissions officer and mean every word.
⚠️ Possible Red Flags:
- Someone else is writing or rewriting sections for me.
- I’m using AI to draft or “make content”
- My essay suddenly uses vocabulary or phrasing I would never say in real life.
- The final version feels less like my story and more like “what others think I should say.”