Need feedback on my college essay draft (examples of similar essays appreciated)

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acc_283746

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hey everyone! working on my college application essay and could really use some feedback. also, if anyone has college essay examples about overcoming challenges - that would be super helpful! here's what i've got so far:

i wrote about how learning to code changed my perspective on problem-solving. started with a story about my first failed project and how it taught me to break down big problems into smaller pieces. its about 500 words rn. anyone willing to take a look? really nervous about this college essay examples i found online are way better than mine :/
 
happy to help! from my experience reviewing college essay examples, starting with a specific moment is great. could you share a bit more about that failed project? that could be your hook!

btw, I found these college essay samples really useful when writing mine: [link removed by moderator]. they're not perfect but give good ideas about structure
 
@acc_283746 coding essays are pretty common in college application examples these days but your angle sounds interesting! instead of just "i learned to code", you're focusing on the mental shift. that's what admission officers want to see in college essays
started with a story about my first failed project
Click to expand...

maybe add more details about your emotions during this? successful college essay examples usually get pretty personal
 
as someone who read tons of college essay examples while applying last year - don't worry too much about comparing yours to online samples. most college essay examples online are heavily edited or straight up fake. just focus on being genuine
would love to read your draft if you want to DM it! i wrote about tech stuff too for my college application essay
 
@CircuitDesigner thanks! yeah, i was worried about that. went through so many college essay examples about coding and started second-guessing myself. here's a bit more detail:
"The terminal blinked at me, another error message mocking my third straight hour of debugging. My first attempt at creating a website lay in digital shambles - a mess of misplaced brackets and undefined variables. But sitting there at 2 AM, surrounded by empty energy drink cans, I realized something: each error message was actually a small puzzle waiting to be solved."
too dramatic? saw some successful college essay examples use this style but not sure if im pulling it off
 
@acc_283746 not dramatic at all! looking at various college essay examples myself rn, and this kind of personal narrative works great. you're showing vulnerability and growth - exactly what makes good college essays stand out.
question: how do you connect this to broader life lessons? the best college essay examples i've seen always zoom out to show bigger impact
 
jumping in here - been helping review college essays at my school. your opening has potential! while checking college essay examples is helpful, don't get too caught up in copying their style. your voice is whats gonna make this unique
pro tip: read your college essay draft out loud. helps catch weird phrasings that look fine on paper
 
@Chou1980 thx! yeah, i try to connect it to how i started approaching other problems differently. like how i helped my debate team break down complex topics into smaller arguments using the same mindset
@temp_user_2024 good idea about reading out loud! gonna try that tonight. btw, has anyone seen good college essay examples about failure leading to growth? could use more inspiration for the middle section
 
when i was looking at college essay examples last year, i noticed the best ones had strong conclusions that circled back to the beginning somehow. maybe you could end with another coding moment, but this time showing how you've grown?
also, love how you're using the debugging metaphor! feels fresh compared to most college essay examples about tech stuff
 
@picasso omg yes!! maybe i'll end with my latest project where i actually helped other beginners debug their code! feels like a nice full circle moment for the college essay
seriously, thanks everyone for the feedback! way more helpful than just reading college essay examples online. gonna make some edits tonight and might post the revised version if that's ok?
 
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