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riverripper
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 17:15
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I seem to do my best work by just firing ideas on to the paper and rewriting over and over as I do it. My 2nd draft of my Kellogg career/goals essay has probably been rewritten 20 times over as I take parts out and add more and just edit as I go and get ideas while I am writing.
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 17:21
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same here river... I think I'm great at just "dumping" ideas in outline form on paper, and then coming back a few hours later and adding or tweaking the messages. Then I read Bodine, Montauk, Game Plan and other books and realize I forgot to talk about "impacts" of certain events, and go back and add that, then realize I'm over the word limit, and have to cut things out...

But I guess I call something a "draft" when I'm happy with it, save it, and do a full on revision by reading the whole thing. The "adding and subtracting" stuff while completing a draft is generally done ad hoc...
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 17:43
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I am at revision number 150+ on my 1st HBS essay. I have spent around..dont faint...35 hours...on this one essay.

But it still only sounds OK. I am worried if I am spending way too much on an app that is almost certain to bring home a ding.

:cry:
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 17:46
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wow! You're not exaggerating at all, ncprasad? That's a LOT of time to spend on ONE essay... Are you stuck on what to say, how to say it, or trying to trim things down?
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? Updated on: 19 Aug 2007, 21:20
Originally posted by ncp on 19 Aug 2007, 17:56.
Last edited by ncp on 19 Aug 2007, 21:20, edited 1 time in total.
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kryzak
wow! You're not exaggerating at all, ncprasad? That's a LOT of time to spend on ONE essay... Are you stuck on what to say, how to say it, or trying to trim things down?
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I am not exaggerating at all. You can see that the 1st version was last modified on July 29th. Thats when I copied over to a new version.

I am done with the essay. It's about 15 words over the word limit.

It's just that I still dont like it. Any 2007 ers willing to do some essay reviews?

Thanks!
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essay nightmare.doc [198 KiB]
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 18:08
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aviroop
kryzak,
dude you need some sleep. You been posting on forums at 2 am, 2 pm... man when do u catch a wink.
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modafinil/provigil?
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 20:10
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Viagra!!!!!
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kryzak
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 20:16
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adc_away

modafinil/provigil?
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eh? sorry?
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 20:24
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil

it's a stay awake drug.... always wondered about it :)
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kryzak
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 21:03
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as for reviews, that's something I'm wondering what everyone else thinks about it...

I read in one of rhyme's old posts (I can't find it to save my life, spent the last 45 minutes searching) where he said he doesn't trade essays with current applicants that he's competing against, not because he doesn't trust them, but because either of them might accidentally say something in a similar way and risk accusations of plagiarism.

What do you all think about this? While I would like to have other GMATClub folks read my essays and vice versa, I don't want to put my own and everyone else's chances at risk if something like this happens unwittingly.
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 21:12
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adc_away
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil

it's a stay awake drug.... always wondered about it :)
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ahh, ok... thanks for the link ;)
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 21:17
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kryzak
as for reviews, that's something I'm wondering what everyone else thinks about it...

I read in one of rhyme's old posts (I can't find it to save my life, spent the last 45 minutes searching) where he said he doesn't trade essays with current applicants that he's competing against, not because he doesn't trust them, but because either of them might accidentally say something in a similar way and risk accusations of plagiarism.

What do you all think about this? While I would like to have other GMATClub folks read my essays and vice versa, I don't want to put my own and everyone else's chances at risk if something like this happens unwittingly.
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I will not trade essays with anyone from this year's applicant pool precisely for the same reasons that rhyme mentioned.

However, I will be very grateful if someone from the last year's admitted group can look over them.
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 21:17
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kryzak
as for reviews, that's something I'm wondering what everyone else thinks about it...

I read in one of rhyme's old posts (I can't find it to save my life, spent the last 45 minutes searching) where he said he doesn't trade essays with current applicants that he's competing against, not because he doesn't trust them, but because either of them might accidentally say something in a similar way and risk accusations of plagiarism.

What do you all think about this? While I would like to have other GMATClub folks read my essays and vice versa, I don't want to put my own and everyone else's chances at risk if something like this happens unwittingly.
Show more


I think rhyme has a valid reason there. I would exchange essays with somebody applying to a different school. Just to give insight, although the essays might not be directly applicable. But the problem might be what happens if the person you traded essays with decides to apply for the same school in the next round?

I would trade essays, but only after I've sent in my application. In fact, I'm thinking about putting my essays up online especially if I get accepted so others may see how they were.
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 21:31
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ok, I'm glad we all agree on this issue. as for putting my essays up, I might edit out a few very personal things and do that for the benefit of future GMATClubbers, but right now I just want to get through the process of writing them.

On the career progression part of my Haas goals essay... have about 400-500 words to work with that and my "Why Berkeley" section... yikes!
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 22:09
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First I thought - what the heck, lemme ask some of our gmat clubbers and see if I can trade essays and get some reviews. Then kryzak pointed out this issue to me and I realized that its soo true..

and now ncprasad and adc_away said the same stuff.. I agree...

I did have one question in mind - other than the 07 applicants, who else are you asking to review your essays - friends, family members, MBA students???

I am a little skeptical of asking my friends to review my essay, because they know me - so the review will be biased, and they will try to be polite even when they see some stuff that should not be in the essay in the first place.

Definitely not my mom coz her idea of a nessay is kindergarten school stuff - "Write an essay on your favorite animal"

Not my gf (relationship still in limbo) - she is a good critic and what not, but she cant keep a secret.

So long live Rhyme.
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 22:31
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well, I have the same issue with friends and sig others... they seem to say "oh you'll get in" or "wow, you're experience is impressive!" and things like that..

I do have two friends who are very good writers who can help me express my points better and edit...

I have 2-3 friends who just got into b-school at Haas and HBS, and one friend from NYU (graduated last year)... they should be able to help as they don't know me that well.

and of course, I'll have to bribe rhyme to read my essays... he'll be sooo swamped...
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 19 Aug 2007, 22:52
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I'm a bit fortunate, I've got my sister who's doing a Phd to help me out. She's got friends that do the admission consultant thing so she knows what to look out for, and her English is excellent. The main purpose of asking her is to help determine whether I'm presenting myself in the best light.

I've got some friends, other applicants that I've met through my blog that I may ask to review. The main intention of asking them is to determine the clarity of my essays and whether they make sense to them.

And of course, I'll present my essays to rhyme for his overall advice :)
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How many essay edits do I have to do????? 20 Aug 2007, 05:01
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ack........double whammy in this thread.

First I find that word doc thinking its my lucky day an that I've actually landed someones essay. KaBoom

Next up someone initiates the essay exchange topic......an I think now I'll get lucky.........

But better sense prevails ;( An i am again left with no nothing.
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