r/CollegeEssays • • 17h ago

Rant Personal statement makes me want to rip my hair out

6 Upvotes

ea deadlines are in like two weeks and I hate everything.
I had brain cancer, it’s an integral part of my story and I need to talk about it, but that seems like such a low quality story. I hate the fact that people reduce my accomplishments to that, and I don’t want to do that to myself.
I’ve done draft after draft of talking about it, not talking about it, talking about not talking about it, and everything in between. I can be kind of a perfectionist and I hate it. I haven’t written a single supp yet.
For everyone in my life that said brain cancer would “at least give me a good college essay”…. I have news for you. It’s giving me a blank word document


r/CollegeEssays • • 10h ago

Rant The more I think about this stupid essay, the less I care about college

3 Upvotes

Is there any way I can get out of this mindset? Its like the more I actually ask myself what im doing the harder it is to justify it to myself.

Im not even sure its worth it. Im only writing this fuckass essay for my dream school, which i dont make the grades to get into. My safty school (which will be the one I end up going to anyways) doesn't require an essay.

I want to care about this stupid essay but I just cant bring myself to. Has anyone ever felt this way? And how do I get out of this mindset.


r/CollegeEssays • • 21h ago

Advice Does my college essay include things that make me look like I don't care about school?

3 Upvotes

I ran my essay through Google Gemini, NOT to edit it but to catch any grammatical errors/get suggestions, and one thing it said was to change part of my first paragraph where it looks like I disregard what I have learned in school, which can be unappealing to admissions officers. What do you think? If you have any suggestions of what to say instead please let me know!!

My first paragraph:

'My favorite teacher is not one you’d find in a school, or in any type of class, but at home, lounging on the sofa. My favorite teacher, and best friend, is a mini-Aussie named Rosemary. I have come to believe that the most important lessons I carry with me have derived from her, and are perhaps more meaningful than anything I have learned in school.'


r/CollegeEssays • • 2h ago

Common App Common app essay help pls

1 Upvotes

Hi im super lost on writing my common app essay and i know its a super big deal bc all the universities see it. from what i understand its supposed to tell the university about yourself and who you are as a person. ive been hearing alot about a 'slice of life' essay which is using a specific moment to show who you are but i cant think of a really defining moment that i can talk alot about. my lifes mostly sunshine and rainbows but one thing about me is im super open minded and imaginative i have more hobbies that i can count which is why its kind of hard to choose a single experience to write about and i know admissions officer dont like to see a shallow well rounded person they like a focus. i get okay grades GPA 3.83 unweighted and i do have a general direction in life like my major but the common apps not really about your major right? does anyone have some tips on where to start?


r/CollegeEssays • • 8h ago

Common App College Essay Help!!!

1 Upvotes

Hi, I was wondering if I could send my Common App essay to anyone to please read and give feedback?


r/CollegeEssays • • 10h ago

Common App Would anyone be willing to read my essay? (Personal statement)

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I’m in a jam with my essay- I don’t really know what to change, if there should be changes, and only my english teacher has read it, so id like more perspectives, especially from people who don’t know me.
my essay is about my experience living with roommates for most of my life!

If you’re intererested, I’ll DM you! Thank you so much


r/CollegeEssays • • 10h ago

Common App Essay advice

1 Upvotes

Let me know if someone can review my essay and I can dm you! It's mostly done im just overthinking lol


r/CollegeEssays • • 11h ago

Common App is anyone willing to review some of my hooks/outlines for some of my drafts?

1 Upvotes

I just need to find out if I should continue some of my essays, how I should modify them, etc. lmk and I'll DM you. TYSM


r/CollegeEssays • • 11h ago

Supplemental Essay Help with DKU essay focused

1 Upvotes

Hi, I would like to get insights and help about my application and essay. If anyone experienced would like to help, I would appreciate it.


r/CollegeEssays • • 13h ago

Common App Is this a fitting topic?

1 Upvotes

I selected CommonApp prompt #5 and the essay opens with this line: “I was already picking out my Olympic tattoo before I had even made it to Australia.”

And then follows into this ↓

Olympic dream / full lacrosse obsession
→ earn a spot on a national team for lacrosse
→ Oct Australia Tournament becomes first step toward LA28 Olympic games
→ my country withdraws from tournament due to financial issues/ path collapses
→ keep training anyway
→ lacrosse starts feeling different
→ question what I was actually chasing
→ realize the memories I miss most are the random international people/moments, not stats or wins
→ recognize my brain is drawn to novelty, patterns, different cultures/beliefs/systems
→ see that same curiosity in religion/economics/business
→ realize I still wanted the medal/tattoo, but lacrosse was also giving me access to a wider world I was obsessed with

My intention is to connect this with my interest in majoring in International Business/Affairs


r/CollegeEssays • • 14h ago

Advice Looking for one-on-one help (paid)

1 Upvotes

Hi all
I’m currently a second year cc student preparing to transfer to a four year university, and I’ve been struggling with my personal statement.
I believe I have a unique story to tell, but I’m having a hard time figuring out where to start and how to put it into words. I actually had a draft written, but the writing center at my school told me to throw it out 😭😭
On top of that, I work full-time while attending school full-time, so I don’t have much time to go through multiple rounds of trial and error.
I’m looking for someone with strong writing skills, preferably someone with experience in college transfer applications, who would be willing to work with me one-on-one, either over Zoom or somthing. We can discuss compensation.
If you’re interested or know someone who might be able to help, please leave a comment or send me a DM.
Thanks in advance!


r/CollegeEssays • • 19h ago

Discussion rate my essay

1 Upvotes

I’m so desperate, can someone read my personal essay for college admissions. Praying for uga.


r/CollegeEssays • • 19h ago

Common App Starting personal statement with quote

1 Upvotes

I knowww everyone says not to start a personal statement with a quote...but I want to real bad. I want to quote "I am I am I am" from The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, its a beautiful quote that fits in my essay and Its not some popular, cliche one that everyone knows + its super short and sweet

Thoughts? If its a terrible idea I get it BUT if anyone would still be willing give some advice on how to incorporate it, it would be awesome


r/CollegeEssays • • 21h ago

Review Exchange someone please help with my essay

1 Upvotes

I’m applying to the US as an international student. I really need help with my college essay..


r/CollegeEssays • • 10h ago

Common App PLEASE HELP IM DESPERATE

0 Upvotes

I am a high school senior and I've hit a massive wall with my applications. I have been working hard on my Common App essay for months. I chose a topic that feels right, but I am really struggling to execute it, and trying other topics just doesn't feel like me. After weeks of trying to edit it line-by-line using different websites and AI, I feel completely lost and stressed out.

My deadlines are coming up in about two weeks. Because I am aiming for several competitive reach schools, I am really hoping to find a fresh set of eyes to give me some guidance. I cannot afford a paid college tutor, but I am not looking for a quick grammar fix or someone to do the work for me. I just need a collaborative partner.

I have written about multiple different things in my drafts. I have a topic that I think is excellent, but I can’t figure out how to execute it. the other ones that I can execute, I don’t think the topic or quite as great. I am so terribly stressed. Writing with this sort of subjectivity is so stressful to me. I would love to find someone who can help me fully restructure my original draft and figure out how to make the execution match the ideas in my head. I would be so grateful to connect with a strong writer, a college student, or someone who has successfully gone through the selective admissions process to bounce ideas back-and-forth over this weekend or next week.

If you have some time to collaborate via PM, please shoot me a message. Thank you so much!