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Duke University
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Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
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800

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Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

How personal should a college essay be?

Hi all, I'm in the process of writing my college essay, and I'm wondering how personal I should get. I want to show the admissions officers who I am, but I also don't want to overshare or make them uncomfortable. What's the right balance? Any advice would be appreciated!

11 months ago

Hi there! It's great that you're thinking about the balance between being personal and oversharing in your college essay. It's important to let your true voice and personality shine through, but at the same time, you want to keep it professional and appropriate.

One method you could try is to pick a specific instance, event, or experience that has played a significant role in shaping your identity, and discuss the impact it had on your life. By focusing on a particular aspect, you can avoid revealing too much about your personal life while still telling a powerful story.

In general, try to avoid discussing highly controversial or uncomfortable topics, unless they're essential to your narrative and show a clear, important aspect of your growth. Remember, the admissions officers want to know who you are and what makes you unique, but they're also looking for students who will contribute positively to their campus community. So, focus on the lessons you've learned, how you've grown, and the qualities that make you an excellent candidate for their school. Good luck!

11 months ago

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