Get feedback on a college essay paragraph without a rewrite

About this exercise

You're drafting your college personal essay and want feedback on one paragraph, but the words must stay yours. Get exactly 3 numbered comments, each starting with a short quote of your own words in quotation marks, each under 25 words, plain text, with no rewritten sentences. Your counselor's notes say to cut clichés and show instead of tell, so the comments should use her checklist.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Asking to make it better. The AI rewrites the paragraph, and then the essay isn't in your voice anymore. Try: Say: "Don't rewrite anything. Only point out what to fix."
• Not saying how many comments. The AI picks its own number, and it usually picks more comments than you need. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 3 numbered comments."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total and it often lands 20% over. Try: Cap each comment: "each comment under 20 words."
• Vague comments. Without a quote, "tighten the opening" leaves you guessing which words they mean. Try: Add: "Start each comment with the exact words you mean, in quotes."
• Ignoring your counselor. The AI uses its own taste instead of the checklist your counselor gave you. Try: Add: "Judge it against my counselor's notes: clichés and show-don't-tell."

What a strong prompt includes

• Says not to rewrite it
• Says how many comments
• Asks for quotes of your words
• Uses the counselor's checklist
• Sets a length limit

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