This week, with deadlines looming for so many candidates, we thought we would share a piece of advice that might help remove some deadline stress. When you complete your application(s), it is always a good idea to find one individual (two at the most) you trust – whether this person is a professional consultant or an individual who has insight into the application process – to read your essays one last time and give you feedback. However, when you do so, we strongly suggest that you limit your feedback to one or two individuals.
Because the application process is subjective, you will discover that as you add readers, you will also add new and different opinions. Soon, a multitude of alternatives might appear, and while these ideas will not necessarily be “right” or “wrong,” as there are countless ways to market a single candidate’s stories, they can create unnecessary uncertainty.
So, we are not suggesting that you ignore critical feedback, but we are suggesting that you not complicate your final days and create doubt where it may not be due. If one or two readers support your ideas and emphasize that your application needs minimal work, you are probably best off ending your feedback loop there and pressing submit.