Do colleges actually read every college essay?

Yes, they really do. And not just the first few sentences—they read the whole thing. College admissions officers spend weeks (sometimes months) combing through applications, and the essay is the one part where they get to hear your actual voice. It’s your shot to be memorable, to be more than a GPA or a list of extracurriculars. They’re not skimming for grammar mistakes (though spellcheck is still your friend). They’re reading to understand who you are and how you think. So yes, pour your heart into it. Your essay might just be what tips the scales in your favor—and trust us, they’d much rather read something real than something robotic.