Editing and Revising Your

College Essay Rough Draft

You will need a highlighter and Pen/Pencil

CONTRACTIONS
1. There must be no contractions in your essay
2. Highlight all contractions
Examples: cant / dont / wont / didnt / Im ETC
Also couldnt / wouldnt ETC
3. Above the highlighted contractions, write the words out
Examles: can not / do not / will not / did not / I am
Also : could not / would not / ETC
2nd Person Point Of View

1. There must be no instances of you / your / youre in your

essay (UNLESS it is included in dialogue that someone from
your story said to you.
2. Highlight any instances of you / your / youre (PLUS no
contractions!)
3. Re-write any sentences that contain the word you on the
lines above the incorrect sentences. Sometimes it is difficult to
re-write 2nd person POV sentences.
4. Try to use I or People etc.
NO SLANG / INFORMAL LANGUAGE

1.You must not have any slang/informal language in

this essay.
Examples: gonna / kinda / fixin to ETC
2.Highlight any informal language and revise for
more academic words on the lines above the
mistakes.
COLLEGE CONNECTION

Your conclusion must tie in to future plans.

Highlight the sentence that directly connects to your
goals or your rationale for wanting to go to college.
If you do not have one, write one!