How Many Times Should You Revise a College Essay?

Short answer: Until it sounds like you and says what you mean.

Longer answer: There’s no magic number. Two revisions on a strong first draft beats ten revisions on a draft that started in the wrong direction.

What you’re listening for: does it sound like you? Does every sentence earn its place? Is anything there just to fill space?

When you read it and nothing jumps out as wrong — and someone you trust reads it and says the same — you’re done. Chasing perfection past that point is just Blinking Cursor Syndrome at the back end of the process.

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