Here’s the scene: it’s late December, college deadlines are creeping closer, and you’re this close to finally submitting your RD college applications. And then it happens. Out of nowhere, the essay you once felt confident about suddenly feels … sort of weak. Maybe you saw a TikTok titled “The Essay That Got Me Into Harvard” and your brain spiraled. Maybe a teacher or friend gave feedback that knocked the wind out of you. Or maybe you experienced something cool this fall and