How Many Times Should You Revise a College Essay?
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How many times should you revise your college essay? There’s no magic number. But the answer I would give is until it sounds like you and shows your best traits and qualities. Again, no magic number.
Two revisions on a strong first draft beats 10 revisions on a draft that started in the wrong direction. What you’re listening for, does it sound like you? Does every sentence earn its place? Is there anything there just to fill space When you read it and nothing jumps out as wrong and someone you trust reads it and says the same, that’s when you’re done chasing anything beyond that point is you being an overachieving perfectionist.
Don’t do it.
Short answer: Until it sounds like you and says what you mean.
Longer answer: There’s no magic number. Two revisions on a strong first draft beats ten revisions on a draft that started in the wrong direction.
What you’re listening for: does it sound like you? Does every sentence earn its place? Is anything there just to fill space?
When you read it and nothing jumps out as wrong — and someone you trust reads it and says the same — you’re done. Chasing perfection past that point is just Blinking Cursor Syndrome at the back end of the process.
Reference: the Common App essay prompts.
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