Is EssayEdge worth it? I desperately need proofreading help

[ThePerishers]

Hi, how are you?

After spending almost every day of the last two months working on my personal statement for a master's in social work graduate program, I am considering a service like EssayEdge. However, it costs approximately $250 and I am not sure if it is worth it.

Does anyone have experience with EssayEdge or another service? Perhaps more importantly, does anyone know of someone who can help with proofreading for free?

Thank you,
Lana

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[Qwerk]

Hi, how are you?

After spending almost every day of the last two months working on my personal statement for a master's in social work graduate program, I am considering a service like EssayEdge. However, it costs approximately $250 and I am not sure if it is worth it.

Does anyone have experience with EssayEdge or another service? Perhaps more importantly, does anyone know of someone who can help with proofreading for free?

Thank you,
Lana

If the service involves heavy-duty editing rather than simple proofreading for spelling and grammar, it could be considered plagiarism. Not that you have a particularly high chance of being caught, just that it's not a particularly ethical way to start off your degree. Your spelling, punctuation, and grammar don't strike me as particularly problematic, so I'm not sure exactly what your need is. Are you looking for structural help? Are you having trouble figuring out what to write about or organizing your ideas? (Or might you just be worrying too much over what will probably be an easier application process than you think? Most master's programs aren't terribly difficult to get into. My program is one of the most selective in the U.S. and I share classes with plenty of B+ students.)

I'm a little concerned that you've taken two months to write what I'm assuming is a short (two-page?) statement. Are you sure that you're ready for a graduate-level writing workload? I tutor at my graduate program's writing center, and I've seen a plenty of unprepared writers struggling, which is something that could have been prevented by a few undergrad writing courses or a year off to work on basic skills.

 

[VicVicVic]

If the service involves heavy-duty editing rather than simple proofreading for spelling and grammar, it could be considered plagiarism. Not that you have a particularly high chance of being caught, just that it's not a particularly ethical way to start off your degree. Your spelling, punctuation, and grammar don't strike me as particularly problematic, so I'm not sure exactly what your need is. Are you looking for structural help? Are you having trouble figuring out what to write about or organizing your ideas? (Or might you just be worrying too much over what will probably be an easier application process than you think? Most master's programs aren't terribly difficult to get into. My program is one of the most selective in the U.S. and I share classes with plenty of B+ students.)

I'm a little concerned that you've taken two months to write what I'm assuming is a short (two-page?) statement. Are you sure that you're ready for a graduate-level writing workload? I tutor at my graduate program's writing center, and I've seen a plenty of unprepared writers struggling, which is something that could have been prevented by a few undergrad writing courses or a year off to work on basic skills.

Thanks for replying, Qwerk.

It took me that many weeks because I rewrote it from scratch a couple times. This is the very first personal statement I have ever written for a graduate school.

The graduate school for which I am applying is one of the most competitive in the country; the acceptance rate is approximately 8% and the personal statement is a huge consideration for the acceptance committee.

My spelling and grammar isn't as significant of a concern as my wanting to be certain this is what graduate schools want from a personal statement. I figured any bit of improvement will be helpful, even if I have to drop a few days' worth of pay for it.

I have never considered the plagiarism piece. It could be considered plagiarism if I have someone edit my essay? During the info session, the acceptance committee and professors talked about these services and they didn't seem to have an issue with them.

Thanks,
Lana

 

[Qwerk]

Thanks for replying, Qwerk.

It took me that many weeks because I rewrote it from scratch a couple times. This is the very first personal statement I have ever written for a graduate school.

The graduate school for which I am applying is one of the most competitive in the country; the acceptance rate is approximately 8% and the personal statement is a huge consideration for the acceptance committee.

My spelling and grammar isn't as significant of a concern as my wanting to be certain this is what graduate schools want from a personal statement. I figured any bit of improvement will be helpful, even if I have to drop a few days' worth of pay for it.

I have never considered the plagiarism piece. It could be considered plagiarism if I have someone edit my essay? During the info session, the acceptance committee and professors talked about these services and they didn't seem to have an issue with them.

Thanks,
Lana

Ah, now I see where you're coming from. In that case, I wonder whether it might be better to show your essay to social workers or current M.S.W. students. I'm not sure whether the staff at EssayEdge are specifically knowledgeable about the social work profession -- they might turn out to be more helpful for general writing quality than for program-specific requirements.

You might want to contact the mods to see if it's okay to post an anonymized version of your personal statement in this forum for feedback. I have no idea whether that's against the rules here, but if it's not, I'm sure you'd get some good advice.

 

[wigflip]

when I wrote mine, i visited the NASW website and the particular program website and just tailored my statement to the materials on the site. "social justice" blah blah, "underserved communities" ya-ya, and the like. i actually believed all that stuff at the time, but i doubt if they would have caught on if i didn't and if it was just recycled rhetoric.

when grading, most profs and TAs don't even really read student papers all the way through; given that we're probably talking about hundreds of applications, i kinda doubt that the admissions committee is doing more than skimming personal statements.

in other words: try not to get too stressed or spend a million bucks on proofreading services.

 

[MBellows]

when I wrote mine, i visited the NASW website and the particular program website and just tailored my statement to the materials on the site. "social justice" blah blah, "underserved communities" ya-ya, and the like. i actually believed all that stuff at the time, but i doubt if they would have caught on if i didn't and if it was just recycled rhetoric.

when grading, most profs and TAs don't even really read student papers all the way through; given that we're probably talking about hundreds of applications, i kinda doubt that the admissions committee is doing more than skimming personal statements.

in other words: try not to get too stressed or spend a million bucks on proofreading services.

My program isn't SW, but the college that it's in is community service based. I really just gave an amusing anecdote about how my boss (a clinical psychologist) was mad at me for not applying to Ph.D. programs (and in the process explaining how I'm more interested in their program), then I went through my current career plan/academic interests and how I'll put the degree to use.

 

[JustNoticing]

What Qwerk and Wigflip said.

Try finding some social workers or SW students you trust to proof your essay. Or assuming the rest of your application is in order (GPA, relevant experience), as long as it's largely coherent essay that hits on some of the major points, you should be fine. I'd give it a quick glance over to see if it is readable if you'd like. Feel free to pm me.

 

[northpole12]

Hi, how are you?

After spending almost every day of the last two months working on my personal statement for a master's in social work graduate program, I am considering a service like EssayEdge. However, it costs approximately $250 and I am not sure if it is worth it.

Does anyone have experience with EssayEdge or another service? Perhaps more importantly, does anyone know of someone who can help with proofreading for free?

Thank you,
Lana

No, it's not worth it. I just used thier service to edit my essay and it is just a grammar check although I did not used the basic, but more expensive service. I paid over $150 for one page, double spaced essay. They barely touched my essay and I could have done a better job myself. Totally disappointed and total waste of money. There are many way better editing service available at a fraction of thier cost. Do not use them. They are terrible.

 

[Dracula5000]

Agree with northpole12.....DON'T USE ESSAYEDGE....they are totally worthless. I submitted my essay and all I got back was some grammer and punctuation checks. ARE YOU FREAKIIIIN KIDDING ME!!! For $300 that's what I got from them. If you want to waste your money go ahead....they are totally bogus. BTW my editor (not even sure if she is a true editor given the nature of stupid checks she did) was Barbara Dressel................avoid her at all cost's.

I had spend two freakiin days just rewriting and fixing the essay ...that essayedge was supposed to do. I may not be the most colorful writer, but I'm pretty good and when I hire a pro than they should be experts and really polish your work.

AGAIN.....STAY AWAY FROM ESSAYEDGE

 

[Bouley]

I always had troubles with my writing skills, and have been using editing services from Essayedge and some random people I found in Craigslist. (I heard essayrx was good too but I never had the chance to try it)

I just got back my revised essay from an editer named Brian in Gurufi and it's the best so far - I'm gonna work with him for the rest of my application. He made mine so much more vivid, clear, powerful and professional. There are other editers there too so you can choose among them, but I would definitely recommend Brian.

 

[WisNeuro]

With as crucial as writing is to graduate school in psychology, if you need professional writing services, you're better off taking some time off before applying to fix that before doing so. It only gets harder along the way.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Those are types of "services" are generally predatory, so definitely avoid them.

 

[PsyDr]

If this is a social work question, shouldn't you use the msw forum?

 

[deleted343839]

You'll probably get better feedback from peers and professors than from professional editing services. Essay services are not really known as hotbeds of editorial talent.

If you can look at some examples of other personal statements (from people who were accepted, of course) that would be helpful too.