Can someone help me cut this down to below 650 words? I had a lot to write about for my college essay sry lol

Instead of suggesting areas to cut, I have some advice I would like you to consider. You do not have to follow my suggestions, just please consider it.

This essay is where the college admissions officers meet you. Does this really share who you are? What do you want them to know about yourself?

Also, read it from their POV. Everyone misses the simplicity of childhood, it's true, but these are people who want to see promising things in prospective students. You don't want to give the wrong idea. College is not simple. I can tell from the last portion of the essay that you are determined to succeed, and I am sure you will, but you may need to show it a little more. Showing vs. telling is super important in the admissions essay. You may want to cut back on the early challenges and focus on the positive. A big mistake in writing college admissions essays is highlighting the challenges over the good changes, the growth. Also, be careful on bringing up challenges you had before high school...unfortunately, the admission officers don't always care much about what happened before high school. Another area to be cautious in is listing various challenges...students write essays about things like moving from their childhood town so much that it is an overused topic, so definitely something to consider.

Another thing to ask yourself: Is this something memorable? Will your essay stand out?

Here is a video I found SUPER helpful about writing essays: youtube.com/watch?v=lAtFF47Ce4k

Hope this is helpful. You got this! Please lmk if you have any questions!

Time has flown by quickly. I remember when I was younger, always impatient, with one minute feeling like forever. As I approach adulthood and prepare for college, it feels like yesterday that I was counting down the minutes until recess in elementary school. Now, standing on the brink of a new chapter, I feel the pressure of time slipping away. I’m struck by how swiftly the years have passed. I still recall the endless waits at the supermarket with my parents, where the minutes felt stretched as I fidgeted in line, longing to be anywhere else. But now, I’m anxious about my future and the fleeting nature of time.

I miss the carefree memories of childhood, like playing in the playground and going on field trips without a worry. One vivid memory is from fourth grade during field day, where I got first place in almost every event, such as the relay race and tug-o-war. It was incredible to hang out with friends and just goof around. Another cherished memory is a fifth-grade field trip to a roller skating rink. Despite falling often, it was fun to be present in the moment.

My fifth-grade graduation marked one of the first instances of change and the swift passage of time. It was nerve-racking yet exciting. Little me never knew what was to come. I remember the party and the ceremony that followed. Back then, I remained relatively indifferent. At the graduation party, laughter filled the air as cameras flashed. Between bites of cake and shared jokes, the future felt distant, overshadowed by the joy of the moment. But as I walked up the stage during the ceremony, I felt the reality of time slipping away. All those fond memories seemed to pass by so fast.

Initially, I started middle school with ease, but a family move forced me to change schools. Leaving friends from kindergarten was incredibly hard. The new environment was daunting; I felt like an outsider, overwhelmed by unfamiliar faces and a different culture. Making friends was difficult, but I persevered and eventually adjusted. Then the pandemic hit, bringing a wave of isolation that led to lost friendships and plummeting grades. Adjusting to high school after lockdown felt like struggling through a maze with no clear path. My social anxiety grew, making every interaction feel formidable and each day a battle against an ever-present sense of loneliness.

Despite these challenges, I managed to pull through and significantly raise my grades in high school. My resource room teacher became not just a helper but a true source of encouragement. We tackled difficult subjects together, and I started to see my hard work pay off. I committed to attending extra help sessions, even when they seemed overwhelming. Gradually, I became accustomed to the environment and made some friends throughout high school, despite my social anxiety. These obstacles taught me to rise above challenges, molding me into the person I am today.

Looking back, I miss the simplicity of childhood. As I stand at the crossroads between the past and the future, I’m struck by the rapid passage of time and the experiences that have shaped me. Despite all the changes, I’m filled with determination for the adventures ahead in college. I plan to immerse myself in campus activities and utilize support resources to refine my social skills and overcome anxiety, paving the way for strong personal and professional relationships.

Hope this helps!

Certainly! Here’s a condensed version of your essay, keeping it under 650 words:

Time has flown by. I remember being impatient as a child, where minutes stretched endlessly. Now, as I prepare for college, it feels like yesterday that I was counting down the minutes to recess in elementary school. I’m struck by how swiftly the years have passed. Those once-endless supermarket waits with my parents now seem fleeting compared to my anxiety about the future.

I cherish the carefree memories of childhood—playing on the playground, field trips without worry. One vivid memory is fourth-grade field day, where I won nearly every event. Another is a fifth-grade trip to a roller skating rink, where, despite falling, I lived in the moment. These experiences were pure joy, overshadowed by the distant future.

Fifth-grade graduation marked the first instance of change and time’s swift passage. It was nerve-racking yet exciting. At the party, laughter and cake filled the air, and the future felt distant. But during the ceremony, I realized how quickly time was slipping away as I walked the stage, feeling both nervous and excited.

Starting middle school was easy until a family move forced a change. Leaving my kindergarten friends was hard, and the new environment was daunting. I felt like an outsider, overwhelmed by unfamiliar faces. Making friends was difficult, but I persevered, eventually forming friendships. Then, the pandemic hit, isolating me and causing my grades to plummet. Adjusting to high school post-lockdown felt like navigating a maze, with social anxiety making every interaction formidable.

Despite these challenges, I pulled through, significantly improving my grades with the support of my resource room teacher. She became a source of encouragement, helping me tackle difficult subjects. I committed to extra help sessions, gradually becoming more accustomed to the environment and making friends despite my social anxiety. These obstacles taught me resilience, shaping who I am today.

Looking back, I miss childhood’s simplicity. Standing at the crossroads of the past and future, I see how many experiences have shaped me. Despite life’s changes, I’m determined and energized for the adventures ahead in college. I plan to immerse myself in campus activities and use support resources to refine my social skills and overcome anxiety, paving the way for strong personal and professional relationships.

Feel free to adjust any sections to better fit your voice or add any specific details you feel are important! Let me know if you need further adjustments or have other questions.