College Application Essay Editing Techniques

Introduction

In college admissions, your essays can be the deciding factor that sets you apart. Beyond just sharing achievements and aspirations, the way your experiences are presented plays an important role. 

However, beyond the story you decide to share, good editing and proofreading plays a crucial role. That’s why we’ve put together this list of editing and proofreading tips to help you submit an essay that makes you proud. Check out our blog and learn great essay editing techniques.

Complete an Initial Reflection

After finishing your draft, it’s tempting to immediately start editing. However, taking a brief hiatus, whether a few hours or a couple of days, can provide the necessary distance for you to revisit your work with fresh eyes. This break not only refreshes your perspective and understanding of your essay, but also prepares you to use essay editing techniques more effectively.

Practice Reading Your Essay Out Loud

Reading your essay aloud can help point out awkward phrasing and help you build a seamless flow. Reading aloud can also reveal rhythmic discrepancies and improve the overall readability of your essay, making sure every sentence transitions gracefully to the next. This method not only helps identify areas that may disrupt the reader’s engagement but also helps fine-tune your tone.

Guarantee Structural Precision

Make sure that your writing has a strong introduction, cohesive body paragraphs, and a reflective conclusion to end your essay. These are important parts of any essay, and not only show college application readers that you know how to write an essay, but also help achieve the quality that admissions readers want to see in your college application.

Well organized structures are achieved when each section is designed to guide the reader through your essay. By focusing on this, you’re able to accentuate your essay’s clarity and impact. This not only improves readability but also reinforces the coherence of your arguments, which then demonstrates your ability to think and communicate effectively.

Practice Authentic Expression

Probably one of the key components to note is that authentic expression is everything when writing your college essay. This means you need to make sure your true voice shines through. You don’t want to sound like the King of England, (unless you are the King of England applying through the Common App!), but you don’t want to sound exactly like when you’re telling a story to a friend at lunch. Striking a balance between professionalism and personal insight is the cornerstone of great essays because it creates a unique opportunity for admissions readers to genuinely connect with you. Strive for sincerity in every word to allow your experiences and perspectives to shine through. This tip alone will set your application apart! 

Conciseness is Key

Brevity significantly increases the impact of your message, which makes concise and clear communication a crucial aspect of college application essay editing. Removing unnecessary words and redundancies not only clarifies your message but also improves the effectiveness of your essay. Review for any unnecessary words like: “just,” “very,” “in order to,” “that,” “so,” “I think,” and “and,” to improve your prose. It’s also a great trick when it comes time to edit your essay down to word count.

Careful readings of your essay should also be done to make sure every word contributes meaningfully to your essay. Try to weed out all sentences and words that don’t add value to the story you’re telling. Ask yourself: “Is this part necessary to the story I’m telling?”

In college application essays, each sentence should reveal a new detail about you. Whether it’s that you’re a big part of your school’s math team, are a creative problem solver on the debate team, or hope to study computer science; use every opportunity to show the school who you are! However, it’s important that these details play well into your essay and aren’t repeated elsewhere. 

And remember show, don’t tell! Instead of telling colleges you’re a hard worker, a creative thinker, or a great friend, show these qualities to them in the form of action. Show them how you organized your school’s homecoming dance, started a club, or worked a part time job instead of just telling them that you’re a hard worker. Instead of telling them that you’re family oriented, tell them a story about a time you demonstrated this trait on your family camping trip. When editing, make sure you’re giving colleges examples of you in action to back up claims you’re making about your personality. You’re funny, smart, hardworking, and creative– but colleges want to see you prove it!

College Essay Help

Seeking an outside perspective on your college essay can also be helpful. Feedback from trusted sources, including teachers, parents, friends (not applying to college), or Marks Education Educational Advisors, offers critical, objective insight that can highlight areas for improvement that your eyes didn’t catch. 

When asking teachers or trusted adults to read your essay, ask them if it feels like you. But remember, too many cooks in the kitchen can spoil the soup. Don’t let your essay stray too far from your tone or vision, no matter what others recommend. It should still read like you wrote it- not like how your mom, best friend, or school librarian would write it. Those who know you best are great resources for determining if an essay feels like you or not, but if you read it back and think– “That doesn’t sound like me!”– that’s when you know you’ve gotten too much feedback and should go back to your original draft.

Manually Check Your Grammar

When it comes to your college essay, your grammar check should go beyond a simple, automated review. A manual review for grammatical accuracy and punctuation is still important because computers can miss things or misunderstand your intentions.

Submitting an essay that is free of grammatical errors underlines your commitment to excellence when applying to college, and turning in an essay that’s not only structurally sound but also polished to meet the high standards of admissions committees is a great way to make a good first impression. 

Word Limits and Prompts

Adhering strictly to the prompt and word count is not just a suggestion—it’s a requirement for successful college application essays. Don’t write about whatever you want for however long you want! Following the guidelines laid out by the college demonstrates your ability to follow instructions and respect boundaries. Don’t write about the time you went abroad when they’re asking you to talk about your community at home. Don’t write about your post-graduation plans when they’re asking you to tell them what programs appeal to you. Make valid connections and make sure you address every aspect of the prompt. Such attention to detail promises your essay remains focused and within the expected parameters. By doing this, you can avoid the common pitfalls of overextension or misalignment with the prompt’s intentions. 

Conclusion

Perfecting the editing of your college application is important for leaving a lasting impact on admissions committees. They want to see that you took your time and were intentional with your process. But also, it’s great to have an essay that YOU feel proud of. 

Contact Marks Education today to learn more about our essay packages and speak to a counselor today! We’re here to help you submit only your best work and practice only the best essay editing techniques.