<p>How much time should a student spend on a college application essay? I'm starting now and I my top two application essays will for the UC's and USC so I have two whole months to complete them. So how much time do you guys think I should spent on them? Should I just treat it like a school project or something and spend like 20-30 minutes everyday on it?</p>
<p>How bad do you want to go to the UC you want or USC?</p>
<p>If you want it bad enough then spend all the time you can spare and edit and re-edit, proof and re-proof until it is a masterpiece.</p>
<p>If you don't really care a lot then do it only when you have extra time.</p>
<p>Obviously you want to spend a lot of time, as this is what distinguishes you from a bunch of numbers (SAT and GPA) from the the other similar students.</p>
<p>I spent about 3 hours for 2 days and got a fine essay. =D</p>
<p>agree with GoldenBear.</p>
<p>I will sit in front of my computer for a few hours and wait for ideas to come. When a good one comes about any of my essay topics I will just write until I cannot write any more. Usually this equates to 3/4 of an essay in 3 hours. If I have a good idea I can just write and edit it later. If I dont have a good idea that I am passionate about either my essay is really bad or I dont have more than a few lines written.</p>
<p>I spent days on my early decision, college-specific essay (not common app or UC's) last year. I edited it multiple times, made like 10 copies and had like 10 different qualified people read them. I rewrote a couple times</p>