Too Much Detail in College Admission Essays :
The director of admissions at Gettysburg College explains why it is possible to reveal too much.
The essay can bring out the best and worst in all of us. When we sat down to write our essays it was the first time that we really had a chance to reflect on who we were and what we had done with our lives. While this type of deep thinking should lead to an essay that surprises even you, for some students it becomes an opportunity for confession, for an outpouring of fears, disappointments and anger.
Gail Sweezey, director of admissions at Gettysburg College, has seen more than her share of such essays. According to Sweezey, “Sometimes students can get way too personal in their essays. We want to hear what students have to say and sometimes students have things happening in their lives that are difficult such as an illness or parents’ divorce. It’s totally fine to talk about these kinds of things. However, what don’t work well are essays that go into way more detail than necessary.”
As you are writing, be sensitive about topics that are close to you. Remember to take a step back to gain some perspective. Sometimes too much detail can obscure the overall message of your essay.
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