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Korn's Korner

Rachel Korn is a internationally recognized college advisor and consultant. She attended Brandeis University as a Justice Brandeis Scholar, and Harvard University, where she earned a Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration. Rachel worked on the admissions staffs at Wellesley College, Brandeis University, and The University of Pennsylvania, where she visited hundreds of high schools across the nation, interviewed prospective students, and read and advised committees on approximately 10,000 applications. Rachel shares her wisdom regularly at Hundreds of Heads. Rachel has been a frequent guest on The Today Show discussing the college admissions process.
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Polish Those Essays

Have an outsider edit your college application essays.

You've finally written the essays and double- and triple-checked them yourself. Now have someone else quadruple-check you.

With the incredible amount of time you're spending writing and re-reading these essays, you'll lose your ability to see mistakes. Remember: Even professional writers need editors, so asking a parent or a teacher to help catch your mistakes is not only helpful but appropriate.

 
What an outside opinion should check:
 

• Accurate grammar and spelling. The essays don't need to be strictly formal (contractions are okay), but all must be "correct."

• The essays show who you are. After reading an essay, does the reader know you? If not, you'll want to make some changes to bring in your "voice."

• You're staying on topic. If an essay goes beyond a page, something is actually "wrong." Your editor can help you figure out what the less-important facts are and suggest changes to tighten your writing.
 
 
 
HOH Tip
 
 
Don't play with margins and fonts to squeeze in more. What you are doing is obvious, and if you happen to be the 30th application of the day for the reader and your font is small, it is not fun for the admissions committee.
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