Fall means different things for different people. For most of us, this season is all about breaking out the sweaters and pumpkin-flavored everything. But for high school seniors, autumn is the start of the college applications mad dash.
Checking off boxes and making drop-down selections on the Common Application is the easy part. However, the essay component is far less friendly. That’s why EditRevise – a Cambridge-based startup that hooks people up with expert feedback on various types of written content – is lending an online hand to help to students in essay distress.
“It’s crunch time for applications, and we’re committed to democratizing access to experts for everyone.”
Jordan Haines, a final-semester MIT student and one of EditRevise’s founders, emphasized that the platform can be used for a broader purpose beyond college admissions. Though, this is still one of their primary starting points, especially because of the meaningful impact it promises.
“We’re focused on college admissions right now. It’s crunch time for applications, and we’re committed to democratizing access to experts for everyone,” Haines said.
For EditRevise, that means giving all students – not just people who can afford to splurge on college admissions coaches or who have personal connections – the chance to have feedback into perfecting their app essays.
“Professional college advisors can cost thousands of dollars to help students with their essays, and not everybody can do that,” Haines told me.
About a year ago, the EditRevise team – which also includes another current MIT student, John Parsons, and alumnus, Brad Schiller – kicked off their online service that makes more economical sense. Users are able to submit their admissions essays – or any other written piece they’re doing for classes or even their job – and within six hours, they’ll receive feedback from experts on what changes should be made.
“Obviously, they’ll get back edits on their grammar and rhetoric,” Haines said. “But the experts will also give feedback on the effectiveness of their writing – things like how they’re addressing their audience and how they’re executing on the prompt.”
All of the pluses
The attractiveness of EditRevise seems to be threefold.
Firstly, the turnaround of edits is clutch, especially for students who have waited until the last minute to tackle their essays and need to make multiple revisions in a short period of time.
Also, the cost is minimal. Haines said that the service fees depend on the length of each writing piece submitted, but the average cost of a college admissions essay is $28. They also offer discounts for multiple revisions and for students who are a part of organizations like BUILD Boston.
And last and probably most apparent, direct access to expert feedback is invaluable to many people who wouldn’t have it otherwise. The editors’ backgrounds range, but most of them are professors, college admissions professionals and writers. EditRevise recognizes that different documents should be scrutinized by people who can handle the content. Haines pointed out that a college app essay isn’t the same as a PhD-level paper, so the startup has a bank of editors with more specific subject matter expertise.
Ramping up and branching out
Haines expressed that last year was more of a beta phase for their platform so they weren’t trying to start off with a sprint. Now, though, the company is in full-swing and is already ramping up for the upcoming round of apps, particularly in the past couple of weeks.
It’s important to point out that students aren’t the only folks flocking to EditRevise; a lot of professionals are reaching out to the startup, expressing interest in becoming expert editors. If anything, this is an indication of how open and willing people are to offer their assistance and share their knowledge.
“We have about 100 people who have signed up to be editors on a waiting list,” Haines told me. “There’s a vetting process we put them through, which involves interviews and sending us writing samples. But we’re bringing a bunch of new ones now, and they’re actually starting their training right now. We’re getting ready to scale’”
Additionally, the EditRevise team is dedicated to nurturing other uses of their platform, most notably within the workforce. Haines explained that while Schiller was working at McKinsey and Co, the MIT alumnus was immersed in a culture of feedback – whether it was from clients or from within his firm. That experience was translated to the startup, and they’re all hoping to help professionals access expert feedback on their work so they can grow within their field.
Images provided via Jordan Haines.
