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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
200
800

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Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Using 'I' in college essays

So, I've been going over my drafts and I noticed I use 'I' a lot. Is that a problem in college essays or is it okay because it's supposed to be personal?

10 months ago

Hey there! Using 'I' in your college essays is actually expected, considering the essay is an opportunity for admissions officers to get to know you personally. It's your story, your insights, and your reflections that they're interested in. The trick, however, is to use 'I' in a way that still keeps the focus on showing rather than just telling. For example, instead of saying 'I'm a hard worker' or 'I had this experience', demonstrate this trait by briefly describing a challenging project or experience and how you handled it. Also, balance the use of 'I' by sometimes starting sentences with other words or phrases to vary your sentence structure and keep the reader engaged. As long as your essay has a good mix of narrative, reflection, and insight, you'll be in great shape. Happy writing!

10 months ago

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