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5 Positive Effects of Daydreaming

Barbara is a writer and speaker who is passionate about mental health, overall wellness, and women's issues.

Margaret Seide, MS, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of depression, addiction, and eating disorders. 

Thomas Barwick

When we daydream, our mind wanders to faraway places, putting us in a dream-like state even when fully awake. Research suggests that as much as 50% of our waking hours are spent daydreaming. This may leave you concerned that you are wasting time or not as productive as you'd like .

Certainly, daydreaming isn't always a good idea—such as when you're driving or in another situation where attention is required. However, as long as it's safe to do so, giving yourself permission to get lost in a daydream can provide several positive effects, such as these.

Daydreaming Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Daydreaming breaks are not just fun; they are necessary. Our brains cannot maintain focus and productivity nonstop. Good brain health requires regular periods of relaxation. When these periods involve letting our mind wander, it helps reduce our anxiety.

By tuning out the noisy “outside” world, you allow your thoughts to flow freely. This fosters mental relaxation and exploration by putting us in an alpha wave state. While in the alpha zone, we are calm and don't think of anything with forced vigor.

After a long day at work or a disagreement with a friend, let your mind float away to something completely unrelated and pleasurable. This can help you distance yourself from worrisome circumstances .

Having a tool like daydreaming at our disposal is useful especially when we deal with perceived threats or overly busy environments. It’s another tool in your mental health toolkit to evade stress and anxiety.

If you feel yourself getting more and more anxious , take these steps to help you get into a more relaxed daydreaming state:

• Look away from your desk, work, or any distractions.
• Next, breathe in deeply. Then breathe out slowly. Repeat.
• Lastly, think of something pleasant that has meaning to you.

Mindful Moment

Need a breather? Take this free  9-minute meditation for enjoying the little moments in your day —or choose from our  guided meditation library  to find another one that will help you feel your best.

You might imagine yourself at your favorite spot where you like to hike in the woods. Or you might think about that new car you’d like to buy. What color would it be? What features would it have? Can you imagine yourself feeling great in the driver’s seat?

Daydreaming Helps Us Solve Problems

Daydreams aren’t merely mini-escapes. Allowing your thoughts to roam around revitalizes you. Most of us can benefit from approaching our problems with a fresh perspective. You're able to return to them more refreshed. 

Besides having a fresh perspective, daydreaming seems to work better than trying to force a solution. In a study that tracked different patterns of internal thought, researchers concluded that mind-wandering is important and good for us. It seems that this cognitive process leads to new ideas.

By just hammering away at something steadfastly, you may be overlooking all sorts of information. But freely associating can enable your mind to flit from memories to something you read and then back to something you imagine.

In other words, daydreaming can lead you down a sort of magical yellow brick road to insights. These insights may help you solve your problems . So, if you’re stumped by a problem, instead of trying harder to solve it, try the opposite. Daydream and then daydream even more.

While it might sound unusual, letting our thoughts drift can help us solve problems when focusing on them does not work.

Daydreaming Uses Diverse Parts of the Brain

If you’ve ever noticed, children’s minds wander constantly. It’s no secret that the young daydream a lot. Yet, having your "head in the clouds" as some people describe daydreaming, turns out to be more than a simple or diversionary pastime.

What’s happening in your brain while daydreaming is pretty sophisticated. As your mind wanders, you are using diverse aspects of your brain. Both the brain's executive problem-solving network and creativity network are working simultaneously.

As we activate these different brain areas , we can access information that might have previously been out of reach or dormant. Therefore, boredom or idleness serves a great purpose. It inspires us to daydream, which forges important connections across our brains.

Daydreaming Helps Us Reach Goals

How can meandering thoughts help you reach your goals ? These stray thoughts are indeed unguided, but research reveals they are often motivated by the goals we have.

Athletes and performers sometimes use purposeful daydreaming to practice before a game or performance. This method pre-wires their brains for success. It’s like practicing mentally rather than physically for an outcome you desire. This kind of structured daydreaming or imagining is popular in sports psychology .

While a fantasy-based daydream like morphing into a superhero might end up disappointing or frustrating you because it’s too far-fetched, a structured daydream is more realistic. It invites you to think through steps you’d take, ways to stay motivated , and how to overcome obstacles .

Daydreaming Expands Our Creativity

Daydreaming is correlated with higher levels of creativity. This is due, at least in part, to both using similar cognitive processes and sharing common brain functions.

Daydreaming is especially helpful for boosting creativity when it is problem-oriented. That said, relentlessly drilling down on a complex problem doesn’t result in the discovery of new solutions. So, take a break. The mind will still incubate on the issue at hand.

Bianca L. Rodriguez , Ed.M, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist says, “That's why most of us have aha moments while doing mundane things, like washing the dishes where we don't have to focus too hard on the task at hand, which allows space in our psyche to receive and reveal new information.” 

When your mind doesn’t have to ride on a narrow track, it reorganizes all the tidbits of information and forms new and unexpected connections. Being distracted and allowing your mind to wander is powerfully positive.  

Rodriguez adds that daydreaming is “exercise for your mind.” She elaborated further, saying, “We are rarely taught to allow our minds to wander. It's like only tending to one tree in a gigantic forest. Daydreaming allows your mind to zoom out and see the whole forest, which creates a different perspective and invites creativity.”

Daydreaming has gotten a bad rap, yet it affords us many benefits. If you are frustrated by a situation or problem, or you simply want to expand your imagination or creativity, give daydreaming a try and see what mental pathways might open up for you.

Poerio GL, Totterdell P, Emerson LM, Miles E. Social daydreaming and adjustment: An experience-sampling study of socio-emotional adaptation during a life transition . Front Psychol . 2016;7:13. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00013

Pillay S. Brain science suggests "mind wandering" can help manage anxiety . Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.

Kam JWY, Irving ZC, Mills C, Patel S, Gopnik A, Knight RT. Distinct electrophysiological signatures of task-unrelated and dynamic thoughts .  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA . 2021;118(4):e2011796118. doi:10.1073/pnas.2011796118

Poerio GL, Smallwood J. Daydreaming to navigate the social world: What we know, what we don't know, and why it matters . Soc Personal Psychol Compass . 2016;10(11):605-618. doi:10.1111/spc3.12288

Ridderinkhof KR, Brass M. How kinesthetic motor imagery works: A predictive-processing theory of visualization in sports and motor expertise . J Physiol Paris . 2015;109(1-3):53-63. doi:10.1016/j.jphysparis.2015.02.003

Sun J, He L, Chen Q, Yang W, Wei D, Qiu J. The bright side and dark side of daydreaming predict creativity together through brain functional connectivity . Human Brain Map . 2021;43(3):902-914. doi:10.1002/hbm.25693

Baer M, Dane E, Madrid HP. Zoning out or breaking through? Linking daydreaming to creativity in the workplace . Acad Manage J . 2021;64(5):1553-1577. doi:10.5465/amj.2017.1283

By Barbara Field Barbara is a writer and speaker who is passionate about mental health, overall wellness, and women's issues.

Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay

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College admissions essays are an important part of your college application and gives you the chance to show colleges and universities your character and experiences. This guide will give you tips to write an effective college essay.

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How formal should the tone of your college essay be?

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Taking your college essay to the next level

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Student Stories

Student Story: Admissions essay about a formative experience

Get the perspective of a current college student on how he approached the admissions essay.

Student Story: Admissions essay about personal identity

Get the perspective of a current college student on how she approached the admissions essay.

Student Story: Admissions essay about community impact

Student story: admissions essay about a past mistake, how to write a college application essay, tips for writing an effective application essay, sample college essay 1 with feedback, sample college essay 2 with feedback.

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How to Write Your College Essay: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

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Become a stronger writer by reviewing your peers’ essays and get your essay reviewed as well for free.

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College Essay Basics

Just getting started on college essays? This section will guide you through how you should think about your college essays before you start.

• Why do essays matter in the college application process?
• What is a college application theme and how do you come up with one?
• How to format and structure your college essay

Before you move to the next section, make sure you understand:

How a college essay fits into your application

What a strong essay does for your chances

How to create an application theme

Learn the Types of College Essays

Next, let’s make sure you understand the different types of college essays. You’ll most likely be writing a Common App or Coalition App essay, and you can also be asked to write supplemental essays for each school. Each essay has a prompt asking a specific question. Each of these prompts falls into one of a few different types. Understanding the types will help you better answer the prompt and structure your essay.

• How to Write a Personal Statement That Wows Colleges
• Personal Statement Essay Examples
• How to Write a Stellar Extracurricular Activity Essay
• Extracurricular Essay Examples
• Tips for Writing a Diversity College Essay
• Diversity Essay Examples
• Tips for Writing a Standout Community Service Essay
• How to Write the “Why This Major” Essay
• How to Write a “Why This Major” Essay if You’re Undecided
• How to write the “Why This College” Essay
• How to Research a College to Write the “Why This College” Essay
• Why This College Essay Examples
• How to Write The Overcoming Challenges Essay
• Overcoming Challenges Essay Examples

Identify how each prompt fits into an essay type

What each type of essay is really asking of you

How to write each essay effectively

The Common App essay

Almost every student will write a Common App essay, which is why it’s important you get this right.

• How to Write the Common App Essay
• Successful Common App Essay Examples
• 5 Awesome College Essay Topics + Sample Essays
• 11 Cliché College Essay Topics + How to Fix Them

How to choose which Common App prompts to answer

How to write a successful Common App essay

What to avoid to stand out to admissions officers

Supplemental Essay Guides

Many schools, especially competitive ones, will ask you to write one or more supplemental essays. This allows a school to learn more about you and how you might fit into their culture.

These essays are extremely important in standing out. We’ve written guides for all the top schools. Follow the link below to find your school and read last year’s essay guides to give you a sense of the essay prompts. We’ll update these in August when schools release their prompts.

See last year’s supplemental essay guides to get a sense of the prompts for your schools.

Essay brainstorming and composition

Now that you’re starting to write your essay, let’s dive into the writing process. Below you’ll find our top articles on the craft of writing an amazing college essay.

• Where to Begin? 3 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises
• Creating the First Draft of Your College Application Essay
• How to Get the Perfect Hook for Your College Essay
• What If I Don’t Have Anything Interesting To Write About In My College Essay?
• 8 Do’s and Don’t for Crafting Your College Essay
• Stuck on Your College Essay? 8 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

Understand how to write a great hook for your essay

Complete the first drafts of your essay

Editing and polishing your essay

Have a first draft ready? See our top editing tips below. Also, you may want to submit your essay to our free Essay Peer Review to get quick feedback and join a community of other students working on their essays.

• 11 Tips for Proofreading and Editing Your College Essay
• Getting Help with Your College Essay
• 5 DIY Tips for Editing Your College Essay
• How Long Should Your College Essay Be?
• Essential Grammar Rules for Your College Apps
• College Essay Checklist: Are You Ready to Submit?

Proofread and edited your essay.

Had someone else look through your essay — we recommend submitting it for a peer review.

Make sure your essay meets all requirements — consider signing up for a free account to view our per-prompt checklists to help you understand when you’re really ready to submit.

Advanced College Essay Techniques

Let’s take it one step further and see how we can make your college essay really stand out! We recommend reading through these posts when you have a draft to work with.

• 10 Guidelines for Highly Readable College Essays
• How to Use Literary Devices to Enhance Your Essay
• How to Develop a Personalized Metaphor for Your College Applications

Should I mention previous mental health issues on college essays?

Hello I’m currently doing college apps and I had previously dealt with maladaptive daydreaming up until sophomore year of high school and this issue greatly influenced me in wanting to become a psychiatrist. I’m applying to many ivy leagues and want to major in biochem with a minor in psychology. Dealing with/ defeating that issue was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do and was able to keep a 4.0 gpa through this. Do you think It would be wise to mention this in essays since I’ve defeated it and is a huge factor into the person I am today and what I want to do with my life ( I am hoping to get into Harvard as my main choice)?

This has been addressed MANY times here on CC and the answer doesn’t change. Read the pinned post Essay Tips to consider. Telling people about your mental health issues won’t make them want to accept you.

Alright thank you! I had seen the other posts/ questions but I just created a new one since those were mainly specific to anxiety and depression and didn’t really affect their majors or what they wanted to do . Thank you for responding!

In your case, the mental illness issue is relevant to your educational & professional interests so it is fine to discuss it in your applications. Plus, your former illness presented no issues regarding self harm or harm to others.

Also, it should help distinguish your application from the many thousands of other apps.

Have a guidance counselor mention it in his/her LOR, and leave it out of the essay. You don’t know how the reader will react. It doesn’t take much to get rejected from tippy top colleges.

But you need to distinguish yourself & your application from thousands of others in order to get accepted to an elite school such as an Ivy.

Do not rely on a counselor to justify your educational & professional interests, or to describe your former illness (medical condition).

Admissions officers are completely capable of distinguishing between mental illness involving depression & potential harm to self versus a resolved daydreaming issue that has opened up areas of interest to an applicant.

If you like, although not necessary, refer to it as “a former medical condition” rather than as a “mental illness”.

How you handle this matter will could well have an impact on any admissions’ decision. Readers appreciate the ability to deal with difficult issues in a mature, thoughtful & productive fashion. This is who you are and why you have become this person.

P.S. I suspect that some may have an knee-jerk reaction to the term “mental illness”. Such a reaction is unwarranted in your case.

It is essentially the well-worn path of students who have had medical crises (for themselves or family members) who now want to be doctors. AdComms read many, many essays like this every.single.year. So, if you are thinking that this is what will make you stand out / seem unique / impress an AO, think again (fwiw, it is passing rare to find a truly unique topic).

Even if it wasn’t such a frequent topic, it is really, really really hard to write that essay in a way that is fresh, avoids clichés, and is more focused on where you are going than telling the story of where you have been, especially when you are still so close to it. If you feel truly compelled, go ahead and write it- and then write a completely different one about something that shows a part of you that the rest of your application doesn’t. Give both to somebody who does not love you and ask which is the better essay for the purpose (remember the role of the essay is to add something about you that isn’t someplace and the purpose is to have the AOs who read it think that you would be a great addition to the class that they are building).

This is not the way to “distinguish” yourself. That should come from your efforts around you, your impact and achievements. And more.

It’s not that it’s a common topic.Nor about their worries about self harm. It’s whether you present a picture of your match, in all ways they look for. Whether a kid even seems to get what that is.

OP said nothing about the rest of his/her record. It does beg the question whether she knows what does matter. If this is just personal drive, for personal reasons, if she hasn’t extended herself, it won’t help.

And “selling” your interest in a tippy top based on post college career goals is risky. They want to want you for your 4 years, see the obvious contributions you’ll make while there, part of the community.

The essay is not where you explain career goals.

I disagree @Publisher . Sure, OP could mention daydreaming perhaps as part of a wider topic, but to write about it as she is planning to, IMO, raises a red flag for no good reason. I do actually think day dreaming could be a really interesting topic, but not the approach she suggests.

It isn’t likely that a Harvard AO, reading thousands of apps, is going to take the time to look up this person’s disorder. And like it or not, fair or not, it was a mental health issue and mental health issues can crop up again. Transitioning into college, especially a college like Harvard, is a very challenging time. They know this.

If the essay is written as suggested, this poster is going to discuss overcoming a disruptive mental health issue. Does she have nothing more interesting to say about herself, especially given that she is applying to tippy tops? Why give them a reason to say no?

I don’t think it’s that the OP isn’t writing about self harm. It’s just mental illness in general. There are better topics.

I agree with posts #6 and #7 . Writing about one’s inspiration to pursue medicine can of course be an excellent topic, but it’s hardly original. The essay isn’t for discussing future career plans, though that may come into it.

That said, there are probably people who write about overcoming mental health issues who do get into top colleges, but I will always suggest to a student that there is some other aspect of their life or personality that would make for a better personal statement. It’s about giving them a reason to say yes, rather than maybe or no.

To be a likely candidate for the super selectives, the answer should be yes…

Different opinions are fine.

OP’s post caused me to look up the condition which I found intriguing.

OP: It really depends upon how you present this condition & its impact on your life & goals in the essay. That is my opinion; clearly, others have different thoughts on this subject.

As for it being a “frequent topic”, I would like to know of some topics which are not frequent. They probably do not exist.

Regardless, your essay depends upon the execution. Write it & have a non-family member critique your writing.

I was only wondering if i should mention it because it did influence my major and my hope to become a psychiatrist, and I was going to furthermore elaborate on how I would hope to use my major and education to break mental health stigmas in Arab countries, specifically Lebanon (I immigrated from there in 4th grade) since I noticed that many people close to me who had suffered with anxiety or depression did not seem to deal or even identify their issues and simple had a “just deal with it” approach to their issues instead of looking for help, because of the harsh stigma there.

I love your topic & your reasons for writing about it. If you complete a draft, I will proofread it & offer a brief critique. Has to be done via PM (private message) so you need to make at least 15 posts on this website before you can PM another member.

I am an adult poster with a graduate degree & a lot of writing & editing experience.

Can you make it about you? This isn’t like a graded school assignment. You want the AO to read it and think “admit” because they can see you at their college.

It’s a bit like a painting. The picture should be a portrait of you. The frame can be whatever you want, but it should make the picture look great.

As you can see from the responses here, mental health issues have huge stigma in the US too, it is everywhere. It is unfortunate and I would advise you not to write about it as well. It is one of the “taboo” subjects, difficult to handle the fine line well since you are writing to total strangers who only have about 5-15 minutes of time to “judge” you, to see whether you could be a valuable contributor to a large community. Write about your immigrant experience? Congratulations on your achievements and Good luck.

It’s not about stigma. It’s about your college application and what that needs to show.

This isn’t about ordinary good writing. It’s an application.

“because it did influence my major and my hope to become a psychiatrist”

Again, the personal statement essay is not meant to explain this. Maybe some supp asking why this major.

As this thread has progressed, I find two concerns.

First, your focus on Ivy League schools. You need to find additional colleges & universities with strong programs in your area of interest which are attractive to you for other reasons as well. You could compose the greatest essay the world has ever read and still be rejected by all of the Ivies.

Second, you want to write about this topic for very solid reasons. Forcing yourself to find another topic may result in a less passionate & less sincere essay.

Admissions officers are not afraid of applicants who have overcome hardship in their young lives. This is not depression, suicide attempt, or violence. This is an interesting, captivating mental condition which has been successfully overcome. Admissions officers live in the real world and you have successfully dealt with a real world problem that never presented any risk of harm to you or to anyone else.

Nevertheless, regardless of the topic, your essay must be well written & sincere.

Its not about passion. It needs to be relevant to an admit review.

“Why I want to be a psychiatrist” is not it. Especially not when they look for kids who see college as more than career prep. Seriously. They’re looking for traits they want.

OP, what have you done in this arena? Vol work, activism, etc? That could show a lot more.

I’m concerned about the “I’m applying to many ivy leagues”… why many??? They are all unique and offer different things - you should spend time figuring out which one or two might be the best fit for you.

I don’t think applying to an undergrad program with details about how you intend to use a degree from a grad program will help you much. What activities are you involved in now that show your interest and commitment to this field? I think the essays are a place to describe things you’re doing that show some of your positive traits, not a place to describe things you think you may want to do 8 or more years from now.

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3 Things To Consider When Hiring A Top Ivy League College Consultant

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College consultant

Navigating the college admissions process can be overwhelming for both students and parents—particularly for those who aspire to attend Ivy League and other top schools. While well-meaning parents try their best to guide their students through the process, many are shocked to discover how much the admissions landscape has changed since they themselves applied. For instance, Harvard’s already minute acceptance rate dropped by more than half in just over two decades—while the Class of 2000 had an admissions rate of 10.9% , a meager 3.59% of students were admitted to the Class of 2028. Even schools outside of the Ivy League have seen similar plunges—NYU’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2002 was 34% , compared to 8% for the Class of 2028; Northwestern’s acceptance rate for the 2001 admissions cycle was 34.2% and plummeted to 7.5% in the 2023-24 cycle; and in 1999, Vanderbilt saw an admissions rate of over 61% , compared to today’s 5.1% . These declines are due in large part to dramatically swelling applicant pools. Regardless of the cause, these seismic shifts have left parents feeling incapable of helping their students navigate today’s cutthroat and complex college admissions landscape.

This is where private college admissions consultants come in. College consultants offer specialized knowledge and experience in the admissions process, particularly when it comes to applying to prestigious institutions. They can provide personalized guidance tailored to each student’s strengths, interests, and goals—and they are becoming increasingly popular. In 2022, a top private school in New York City, Horace Mann’s student newspaper reported that 33% of upper division students who answered their survey self-reported using a private consultant (a number that is likely higher than reported due to the stigma around college consultants.) Additionally, one in five surveyed incoming freshmen in Harvard’s Class of 2022 reported working with a private admissions consultant.

Despite their rising popularity, it is important for parents to recognize that not all college admissions consultants are created equal. A college admissions consultant is a significant investment in your child’s future, and as such, it is critical to find a consultant whose methods are ethical, results-proven, and aligned with your child’s needs and goals.

As you search for the right consultant to fit your needs, here are three core factors to take into consideration:

1. Credentials

College admissions consultants have an array of backgrounds and expertise, and it is important to think critically about how consultants’ experiences shape their ability to coach your student. While it may be tempting to assume that a consultancy that hires former admissions officers is implicitly capable of preparing your student for the rigors of the admissions process, this is not necessarily the case. The admissions landscape has changed dramatically over the last five years, meaning that a consultant who served on an admissions committee a decade ago will likely not possess special insights about what Ivy League and other top schools are looking for now .

Finally, The Internet Found ‘The Backrooms’

Nsa warns iphone and android users to turn it off and on again, will trump go to prison here s what happens now that he s been found guilty in hush money case.

Additionally, the Supreme Court case concerning affirmative action rendered more information about the admissions process publicly available than ever before. We now know how Harvard ranks applicants, what factors are most important in their admissions considerations, and how these factors have changed over time. While more information is now known about what Harvard looks for in its admissions process, a strong admissions consultant’s unique expertise lies in helping an applicant develop such qualities. If a consultancy promises insider information on the admissions process but fails to articulate specific strategies for helping your student boost their admissions profile, they are likely all bark and no bite.

2. Payment Structure

While hiring a college consultant is undoubtedly a financial investment, it should not be a financial surprise . Parents should seek a consultancy that is transparent about cost and that doesn’t nickel-and-dime clients for additional services. Consultants bill in a variety of ways—some are hourly, others charge by the number of schools to which a student wishes to apply, and others offer unlimited, flat-fee packages. Parents should go into consultations with a sense of their student’s needs and goals and pose detailed questions about the costs of additional or non-included services that may be required. Parents should be particularly wary of hourly packages, as the process of applying to college will likely take more time than parents initially assume, leading to unexpected additional fees and ballooning overall costs.

3. Methodology

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, college admissions consultants offer vastly different structures of support for students, and it is critical to understand their strengths and weaknesses before committing to a particular consultancy. A cookie-cutter approach doesn’t work in the competitive landscape of college admissions. Each student has unique strengths, interests, and aspirations, and a top-notch consultant will take the time to understand these individual qualities and craft a tailored strategy that highlights the student’s best attributes. This includes selecting a mix of courses, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and summer programs that align with the student's goals. They also help students identify and develop their passions, which serves to differentiate students in the eyes of admissions committees.

While some consultancies pair students with one mentor, others take a more team-based approach, assigning multiple team members to work with each student on different aspects of their applications. The latter model can easily become confusing, and communication between students, parents, and members of the consultancy can quickly devolve. Those considering a consultancy that assigns more than one team member to a student should ask detailed questions about the lines of communication and how students will receive a cohesive and centralized plan for boosting their applicant profile. Finally, parents should seek out a consultancy that employs full-time consultants. Many firms hire part-time consultants with other impressive credentials or professional networks—however, these consultants are often stretched thin and struggle to provide the comprehensive support that students need to excel in the process. As a rule of thumb, parents should assume that the process will take more time, energy, and attention than they anticipate, and seek out a consultant who can accommodate their student’s busy schedule as much as possible

Choosing the right college consultant is a significant decision that can impact your student’s future. Take your time to research, ask questions, and evaluate your options carefully. The right consultant will not only help your student craft a strong application but also empower them to present their authentic self in the best possible light and provide them with the tools they will need to excel in college and beyond.

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What to Read for Pride Month

To celebrate Pride Month, we’ve curated a vibrant reading list that captures the diverse experiences and profound contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. This selection delves into themes of love, identity, activism, and resilience, offering a rich tapestry of perspectives. Join us in embracing these powerful stories that illuminate the richness of LGBTQ+ lives and histories—spanning poetic meditations, metafictional narratives, and critical examinations—and provide both enlightenment and inspiration during Pride Month.

Take 30% off the books below with code PRIDEMONTH30 on our website throughout June.

By Cyril Wong

From Seagull Books

A profound poem on the mystical and the ecstatic and about our connection with nature.

The Worst Thing of All Is the Light

By José Luis Serrano (Translated by Lawrence Schimel)

A metafictional novel about two intertwined stories of love that seek to perpetuate themselves in history.

Born This Way: Science, Citizenship, and Inequality in the American LGBTQ+ Movement

By Joanna Wuest

“Addressing crucial questions that are both timely and timeless, this powerful, persuasive, nuanced book is a conversation-changing account of the sources and consequences of scientific authority in the struggles over LGBTQ+ rights and politics in the United States.”—Dara Strolovitch, Yale University

The Last Syrian

By Omar Youssef Souleimane (Translated by Ghada Mourad)

A rare narrative of gay love in the Arab world that travels into the lives of a group of spirited youth during the Syrian Revolution.

Pathologies: The Downfall of Johan van Vere de With

By Jacob Isräel de Haan (With an Afterword by Wim J. Simons; Translated by Brian Doyle–Du Breuil)

One of the first novels to openly explore gay love and eroticism,  Pathologies  is a lost classic that is now translated into English for the first time.

The Curve of Things

By Kathy Kremins (With a Foreword by Ysabel Y. Gonzalez)

From CavanKerry Press

“Kathy Kremins’ debut full-length poetry collection leaves me wet. Wet in my longing to discover all the places and things—’a new moon, an old wooden barrel, your hands cupped,’ wet for what we didn’t know before we knew ‘the sculptor’s fingers’ and ‘the spotted salamander,’ wet for all the geographies the speaker crosses and caresses with unabashed gratitude and grace, wet in my daydreaming of all the ways lovers and family and friends break and bloom in each other’s company like a ‘blue morning off the foothills/before the sun rises.’ Never linear and always loud in its wanderlust, The Curve of Thing s is a manual for living truth. an unapologetic how-to on loving humanity in all its delicate, delicious, and dissettled forms.”—Marina Carreira, author of Tanto Tanto and Desgraçada

Queer for Fear: Horror Film and the Queer Spectator

By Heather O. Petrocelli

From University of Wales Press

“ Queer for Fear is the first major empirical study of queer horror spectators, their diversity and lived experiences. It offers a new understanding of camp, queer community, queer trauma, queer live cinema, the importance of drag and camp laughter. Queer for Fear is an original, intelligent, and thought-provoking study of the complex relationship between queerness, horror, and the cinema. A must-have book for queer lovers of horror—and everyone else!”—Barbara Creed, author of Return of the Monstrous-Feminine: Feminist New Wave Cinema

Gay Aliens and Queer Folk: How Russell T Davies Changed TV

By Emily Garside

“A thoughtful, loving look at Davies’s landscape-altering career. Garside brings a sharp critical eye to this appraisal, but it’s her impassioned understanding of how queer depiction works as both a personal tool for self-acceptance and a public tool for social change that makes this an empowering, joyful read.”—Cody Daigle-Orians, creator of Ace Dad Advice

The Regulation of Desire: Queer Histories, Queer Struggles (Third Edition, Revised)

By Gary Kinsman

From Concordia University Press

The third edition of this revolutionary text includes new chapters and an introduction from the author himself that contextualizes the work within today’s fight for liberation and equality in Canada.

Fighting Feelings: Lessons in Gendered Racism and Queer Life

By Gulzar R. Charania

From the University of British Columbia Press

“This enlightening and affirming text investigates the memories women of color have of racialized violence and how differing narratives and emotions about white supremacy should be seen and encouraged instead of dismissed. On page 6, Charania literally says it’s ‘a book about race for the rest of us.’ It will provide deep relief and brilliant insights for many.”— Ms. Magazine

By Tracy Fuad

“In these precise, measured poems, Fuad brushes up against the (imagined, imposed) limitations of a life that is lived, and observed, and exhausted—and a conduit for more life still. . . .  Evocative and probing, Portal is a collection I will return to for its music and wisdom.”— Electric Lit

Nest of Matches

By Amie Whittemore

From Autumn House Press

“Hypnagogic and thirsty, Whittemore’s poems ache with desire particular to the queer body, which is to say that, yes, her lines are erotically charged, but what they seek is not always the arms of another but something more difficult to hold, such as an understanding of what it means to be good or the unstoppable slippage of time. As such, the poems orbit the moon and her many cycles, conjure ancestors now gone, and they are always rooted in language that is creaturely, pulsing with crows and foxes, minnows and green corn, allowing entrance to ‘the unabashed / territories of longing—violets, / mornings, meadows, tongues— / and the world is delicious again.’ As the title implies, Nest of Matches is home for the body of an animal but a highly flammable one. A sensuous and sumptuous read.”—Nickole Brown, author of The Donkey Elegies

You Bury the Birds in My Pelvis

By Kelly Weber

From Omnidawn Publishing, Inc.

“Weber’s extraordinary work is a remarkable testament to the power of language and of vulnerability. Lush and sensual, You Bury the Birds in My Pelvis is an essential addition to aspec literature. Weber presents asexuality and queerness as a continual journey of exploration both of the self and of the self’s relationships to the body and to the wider community. It is particularly illuminating that this is a journey with ‘no easy articulation;’ rather, it is ‘always a poem in the gap between leap and arrival, exhale.’ In these luminous poems, Weber leads the reader to seek ‘permission for a more honest language’ to know themselves, celebrating the beauty of those who know themselves best in ‘a language made of everything that doesn’t fit.’”—Emma Bolden, author of The Tiger and the Cage: A Memoir of a Body in Crisis

Taking to Water

By Jennifer Conlon

“Conlon’s Taking to Water is the most transformative collection of poems I’ve read. When Conlon’s speaker says ‘let there be life in me / in my own beginning’ we are given a home in this affirmation of queer resilience, where self-fulfillment can stretch the landscape until the landscape agrees. Taking to Water captures the search for the ways the world could make room for us, ‘make room / for my body & all / that comes with it.’ Conlon has given us a sharper, better lyric to inhabit and demand the world with.”—C.T. Salazar, author of Headless John the Baptist Hitchhiking

Indigiqueerness: A Conversation about Storytelling

By Joshua Whitehead (With Contributions by Angie Abdou)

From Athabasca University Press

“This is a short book (under 100 pages), and yet somehow, Whitehead packs in about 20 different genres. At times it feels like a mini-biography of his own books and publishing history. At other times, it’s more like an expansive lecture on creative writing. But, it’s also a book about Indigenous language, translation, and storytelling. Blending interview, memoir, photography, collage, and the words of other writers and thinkers, it’s a little book that will leave you with a lot to think about.”— Book Riot

Queer TV China: Televisual and Fannish Imaginaries of Gender, Sexuality, and Chineseness

Edited by Jamie J. Zhao

From Hong Kong University Press

“This cornucopia of fresh and original essays opens our eyes to the burgeoning queer television culture thriving beneath official media crackdowns in China. As diverse as the phenomenon it analyses, Queer TV China is the spark that will ignite a prairie fire of future scholarship.”—Chris Berry, Professor of Film Studies, King’s College London

Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects

Edited by David Evans Frantz, Christina Linden, and Chris E. Vargas

From Hirmer Publishers

“This star-studded collection of essays is quite simply the best work of transgender art history in the history of art history to date.”—Susan Stryker, Dornsife Dean’s Professor in Residence of Gender and Sexuality Studies, University of Southern California

Crafted With Pride: Queer Craft and Activism in Contemporary Britain

Edited by Daniel Fountain

From Intellect Ltd

“Fountain’s book fills a gap that has been left unfilled for far too long. Through sharing previously unheard histories of activism – given from a wide range of perspectives— Crafted with Pride is sure to spark debate, discussion and, well, pride. . . . This book shows how LGBTQ+ activists have long harnessed the power of craft to protest and tell their stories, creating objects that come alive through collective making and use.”— Crafts Magazine

Country Songs for Alice

By Emma Binder

From Tupelo Press

“In Country Songs for Alice , the author has woven a collection that marries music and love poems. These pieces are ferocious with love, ablaze with it, invoking a world of deserts and horses, rodeos and sunsets, lizards and open roads. With no one around / you can be anything: animal, mineral, / cloud pattern, blade. The same can be said of these poems: whittled with love, transforming from song to stanza to memory across the page. If you want to come to my house, I’ll let you in, the chapbook begins. I’m glad to have been invited.”—from the Judge’s Citation by Hala Alyan

A Little Queer Natural History

By Josh L. Davis

“A very welcome slap on the wrist for those who so ignorantly claim that same-sex love, intimacy, and bonding are ‘unnatural.’ Davis’s splendid book is a most useful settler of arguments and silencer of bigots.”—Stephen Fry

In the Shadow of Diagnosis: Psychiatric Power and Queer Life

By Regina Kunzel

“In this fascinating book, Kunzel shows us not only how psychiatry shaped queer and trans identities in fundamental ways, but how queer activism adapted itself to resist psychiatric power by imagining new subjectivities and developing new forms of knowledge. This book challenges us to think about queer history and disability history together and to reexamine psychiatry’s relation to non-normative sexualities in a refreshingly new light.”—Camille Robcis, Columbia University

On Christopher Street: Life, Sex, and Death after Stonewall

By Michael Denneny

“If you love reading about gay life, you owe a debt to Michael Denneny.”— Passport

Queer Objects to the Rescue: Intimacy and Citizenship in Kenya

By George Paul Meiu

“ Queer Objects to the Rescue is brilliantly written, and it provides us with a resilient scaffolding for theorizing queer valance in Africa.”—Charles Piot, Duke University

Coming Out Republican: A History of the Gay Right

By Neil J. Young Publication

“Coming Out Republican is an incredible achievement: an astonishing work of history that makes a deeply compelling argument for the ways in which ‘gay Republicans’ have wielded power to serve white male interests. If you’ve ever wondered why, or how, a gay person could be a Republican—this book has the complicated answers.”—Anne Helen Petersen, author of Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation

These books and more on LGBTQ+ topics are available on our website.

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What’s on TV This Week: ‘Abbott Elementary’ and ‘The Good Doctor’

The ABC comedy wraps up its third season. The medical show airs its series finale.

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By Shivani Gonzalez

For those who still enjoy a cable subscription, here is a selection of cable and network TV shows, movies and specials that broadcast this week, May 20-26. Details and times are subject to change.

STAX: SOULSVILLE, U.S.A. 9 p.m. on HBO. Satellite Records in Memphis (now Stax Records), which opened its doors in 1957, helped start the careers of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Sam & Dave and more. This documentary series uses archival footage and interviews to look back on the relationships shared by musicians, songwriters and producers and highlights the work they all did in pushing the racial barriers of the time.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE 9 p.m. on Fox. All season the judges Allison Holker, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and JoJo Siwa have been sharing feedback with the dancers in this competition show with episode themes including Broadway, music videos and movies — and now it is time to crown a winner.

THE ROOKIE 9 p.m. on ABC. This show, staring Nathan Fillion as the oldest rookie in the Los Angeles Police Department, is wrapping up its 6th season this week. The penultimate episode left things on a cliffhanger, with Dr. London on the run, potentially endangering her immunity deal. Will we have to wait a year for loose ends to be tied up?

THE GOOD DOCTOR 10 p.m. on ABC. Over the seven seasons of this show, we have really seen Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) go on a full journey. He started as a nervous young surgeon and has blossomed into a top guy in his field, a husband and a father. Highmore told Deadline that he hadn’t expected the show to run seven seasons, “but one of the things that I have always appreciated about the show — and saw as potential from the very beginning — is the opportunity for Shaun to evolve and learn and grow and change,” he said.

GORDON RAMSAY’S FOOD STARS 9 p.m. on Fox. When the chef Gordon Ramsay is not running his restaurant empire (Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips, Gotham Restaurant), he is teaming up with another restaurateur, Lisa Vanderpump (TomTom, Vanderpump á Paris, Wolf by Vanderpump) to find the next food entrepreneur. People will pitch their business ideas to Ramsay and Vanderpump and then compete to win the $250,000 prize money.

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY 9 p.m. on ABC. After the school trip the staff took to Smith Playground last episode, there is no doubt they are ready for their summer vacation. In the finale airing this week, Janine (Quinta Brunson) throws her colleagues an end-of-year party to celebrate and things naturally go awry.

GROWN-ISH 10 p.m. on Freeform. This week we are saying goodbye to the “-ish” universe. The original show, “Black-ish,” ended in 2022, and now the spinoff “Grown-ish,” which chronicled the college and post-grad life of Zoey Johnson (Yara Shahidi), is ending after six seasons.

HARRY POTTER MARATHON starting at 4:30 p.m. on USA. My mother recently offended me by saying I was a Hufflepuff when I know that I am Slytherin (I look great in green!). And if you too daydream about which house the sorting hat would pick for you, tune into this magical marathon. Get ready to board the Hogwarts Express at platform 9¾, pour yourself a butterbeer and summon your Acromantula to take you on a ride.

LINGO 8 p.m. on CBS. RuPaul Charles is back to hosting duty, but this time he isn’t judging drag queens but helping teams guess letters to a word in this game that is reminiscent of Wordle. This one features cash prizes, though.

GAGA CHROMATICA BALL 8 p.m. on HBO. At Los Angeles Dodgers stadium in 2022, Lady Gaga performed some of her memorable songs (“Shallow,” “Just Dance,” and “Poker Face,” among them). This HBO special lets you relive the concert, which was also a fire show, a light show and a runway show — all wrapped in one.

INDIANAPOLIS 500 12:30 p.m. on NBC. This seminal race is back for the 108th time this weekend, and in the countdown to the race, a number of events are planned for spectators at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On race day, Jordin Sparks will sing the national anthem, and then it will be time to start those engines.

Shivani Gonzalez is a news assistant at The Times who writes a weekly TV column and contributes to a variety of sections. More about Shivani Gonzalez

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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College Student's Academic Results May Benefit From Essay Writing Service

If you ask a person what he/she thinks about academic writing services and about students who turn to such companies for assistance, you may hear that these companies are targeted at lazy students. For these people, students who are looking for the easiest states to get RN license by endorsement are also lazy because they choose not to suffer.

Unfortunately, many people do not want to see the profound reasons why students may need such help and how this kind of assistance may be helpful. Let's dive into this particular question and figure out whether these companies are assistance for lazy students or if they are something more beneficial.

Burnout prevention

Do you know that student burnout is one of the most frequently occurring issues? College learners have to spend a lot of time, effort, and resources to handle all the academic duties and responsibilities and meet all the requirements at the same time.

Do you also know that most psychologists claim that for students, it is very important to have some time for themselves? It is not really okay when your life is overwhelmed with duties, assignments, and other college musts; having some free time for yourself is essential for mental health. Of course, some people may say that this is the same as laziness, but that is not really so. We do not say that a student does not want to complete his/her writing assignments; we just say that they balance between writing duties and leisure time thanks to writing services that they can turn to for help.

Professional assistance with tricky assignments

When a student enters a college or university, they may not be aware of all the academic writing standards as well as college disciplines they have never worked with before. There are a lot of tricky assignments every student faces during college years. In this case, he/she has two options: sacrifice his/her sleep and handle a college assignment on his/her own or ask a professional writing service for help. There is nothing shaming with the second option at all.

Effort to work on other academic duties

When you are overwhelmed with academic assignments, you may need to prioritize. Some academic disciplines and their assignments are secondary, and some are major. When a student enters a college or university to study IT, you may not be interested or even ready to spend a lot of time on history papers because they are irrelevant to you. Thus, you are more likely to prioritize and entrust your history paper to a professional service and pay closer attention to a programming project. It seems that such prioritization does not need any clarification, right?

Some students have to work in order to meet ends and pay rentals, for example. When a foreign student enters a college or university to get a degree, they have to change a lot in their lives. First, he/she has to move to a new country, which may be a bit more expensive than their native one; he/she may need to rent an apartment because their college does not offer campus placements, and thus, a part-time job is merely the only way out.

When you are a college student, you can correctly assess all your life intentions and prioritize your duties. When you need to earn money in order to get a degree in the college you have entered, and you have some time-consuming writing assignments to handle, you are more likely to entrust writing duties to a professional company that offers help with academic papers and earn money that is essential to meet ends at such difficult times.

Some faculties require students to practice in their fields before getting diplomas. For example, when you are studying surgery at college, you can't get a diploma until you get your practical skills. What does it mean? Again, we are talking about prioritizing. When you have your practical classes on one bowl of scales and have tens of writing papers on the other bowl, you are more likely to give preference to academic practice that directly influences your skills and future opportunities. Especially when you are dealing with some papers for elective courses that do not even make any contribution to your primary field of study.

People are often very skilled in blaming others not even having enough knowledge about a particular situation. Thus, many students feel that hawkish outlook when they say that they have turned to a professional service for help with college papers and often make excuses for such deals as well as find themselves insufficiently smart and 'good' learners.

If you are a student and you need help with your academic tasks, no matter whether you are going to spend some time resting or you need this time to work on other tasks, do not mind others' opinions because this is your life and your responsibility to feel yourself okay. Come and get it!