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Find the biggest gap in your scholarship essay first
Practice: Asking for a format you can use. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
You want feedback on your scholarship essay before you submit it, not a rewrite. Ask for a first line that starts 'Biggest fix:' and names the most important problem, then exactly 3 numbered notes, each quoting a phrase from your essay. Plain text, no praise intro, and no rewritten sentences. Write a prompt that gets that feedback.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Asking for general feedback. The AI gives a long list under headings, starting with what's great. Try: Set it: "First line: Biggest fix:, then exactly 3 numbered notes."
- Missing the prompt's second half. The AI polishes the story and doesn't notice the essay skips 'how you'll give back'. Try: Add: "Check the draft against both parts of the prompt."
- Notes you can't find. The AI says "the ending is vague" without pointing at the words. Try: Add: "Each note quotes a phrase from my draft."
- Getting a rewrite and a pep talk. AI opens with "Great draft!" and ends with a rewritten version you didn't ask for. Try: Add: "Output only the notes. No praise, no rewrite. Plain text."
What a strong prompt includes
- Asks for the biggest fix first
- Checks against the prompt
- Asks for quotes
- Bans a rewrite
- Asks for plain text
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