I am currently an incoming high school senior and am starting my college application to be submitted by November 1 for Harvard’s Restrictive Early Action. I am looking any advice that would help me in my application, essay (possible essay topics and topics to avoid), interview, and etc…
I have not yet filled out the Common App because I am waiting for all accounts to be wiped on July 23. I’m currently reading 10 Steps to Writing a College Essay and have a book on real college essays that I will be referring to when writing my essay.
Basic advice is to NOT refer to other people’s essays when writing your own. Try to tell your own story in your own way. If you spend time reading this site and the Harvard forum first, you will see many of your questions and concerns have been discussed many times.
Start your essay today. Take a look at the prompts and do stream-of-consciousness. Set a timer for 7 or 8 minutes (that’s a LOT of time) and just jot down anything that occurs to you, no matter how off the wall. Get a drink of water and tackle the next topic.
Tomorrow take a look at what you’ve written, and see what seems to intrigue you the most.