When to stop reviewing essays?

I'd say stop looking at them for a day or two then so the next time you'll see them with fresh eyes. Then one last review and be done with them.

I'd say about the time you start posting threads asking when to stop reviewing them...

Just kidding of course. I think this is a pretty valid question, as I kept reviewing mine right up until the deadline for my schools.

Here is how I made the decision to stop -

1. Do I have other essays I need to be working on? Essays that need more work? If yes, then I stop spending time reviewing and move onto those essays.

2. When I read my essays am I making extremely small trivial changes? If yes, then I usually allow myself one read through to make small small changes, and then put it aside. Reading it over and over and making very small changes each time doesn't really lead to a better essay (in my opinion). Your essays are going to be judged on a larger scale than that, and these small changes often don't add or subtract anything at all substantial from the essay.

Best of luck!

~Sam

Above point is valid. However, just like diminishing return curve in micro-econ, there's only so much one can do by themselves.

It helps when you ask someone else with fresh unbiased perspective to review your essays.

For example, all my essays were read/edited/critiqued by my poor girlfriend....

Like Sam said, if you've reached the point where you're doing just minor tweaky edits, move on.

For me, I stopped working on my essays about three days before they were due. Then the day before they were due, I did one last read through. During that I checked for grammar/spelling, right school name, right professor names, formatting. It was helpful because for a couple of the essays, I found some awkward sentences and transitions that I was able to correct before I submitted.

I agree, if you're only making minor tweaks move on to the next school, you might get some more ideas. The other applications might give you other ideas that you can incorporate. Take a last edit two days before and you should be in good shape.

Here are three indicators I use:

1. If you're just changing a word here and there, stop and move on.
2. Always leave the essay alone for 2-3 days before you submit, and do a final look through before you submit. Fresh eyes help a lot!
3. If you have time, work on other schools before you submit your original one, then come back and look at the essays. You'd be amazed at how much you can change then.

Good luck!