<p>Hey everybody, I'm pretty far from applying to colleges still, but I'd like to get a head start. When should I start writing an essay so I have time to make it really good? (editing, etc...) And what is the topic usually on? Thanks, and HOW important is it exactlY?? thanks for the feedback ahead of time</p>
<p>essays as of what i'v got to know ARE the most important part obvously you need an optimum SAT score</p>
<p>let the essay be yourself , this would also help you find the correct college for you </p>
<p>for the best info on this part you better go to studylink.com ,, the free counsellor there might really be helpful<br>
OR try finding a few college SENIORS budddddddddd</p>
<p>Like the earliest you should be working on essays is the tail end of the summer before your senior year. You can start them a year early, but it will just get so butchered down in the end, it won't be in your voice, and will most likely sound awkwardly constructed. General essays cover "why do you want to go to xxx school?" "tell us about adversity you've had to over come" "tell us about your favorite activity". Check out the Common App for some topics too, generally they reuse those every year.</p>
<p>I started mine in december. I felt really rushed.</p>
<p>hmm..i would think probably around september/october?</p>
<p>I started mine at the end of October. Wait a while, don't send application too early. For example in the beggining of November I didn't have any awards, after 3 weeks I had Student of the moth, Frank. E. Humpey award, Most Improved 2005 water polo player, Tribal Pride and so on</p>
<p>Um... I actually started it 2 days before the Nov. 15th ED deadline. </p>
<p>I think with the personal statement the more time you spend on it doesn't necessarily mean the better it is. Just write honestly and about something that reveals something unique about you, and it really shouldn't take that long. Besides, isn't it only suppose to be like 250-400 words?</p>
<p>I finished my essay in about 2-3 hours, so the whole application really wasn't that bad.</p>
<p>you should start once the questions are out, which is usually in august of your application year.</p>
<p>dhsiao, if you seriously want to get a "headstart", go for it. (I hope you are a junior though) Although application questions may change, I think you could think and write about a few topics that you will later be able to modify for college and scholarship applications. Here are a few questions that I bet you will be asked to ponder somewhere in this process:</p>
<ol>
<li>List and discuss the factors in your life that have shaped you.</li>
<li>Which of your extracurricular activities means the most to you and why?</li>
<li>Tell about an event or experience in your life that has had an impact on you and why it is meaningful to you.</li>
<li> What is your favorite book and why is it meaningful to you?</li>
</ol>
<p>Nothing bad can come from you thinking about and articulating who you are and what is important to you. This process is not really mysterious. Who are you? what's important to you? and how will you contribute?</p>
<p>thank you guys that was really some help</p>
<p>thanks all for the input. i'm only a sophomore actually. so thanks though i'll be ready. i think</p>
<p>I am a junior and the advice I've been getting is to start summer before senior year. Which is sound advice esp. if you have a tough course load senior year.</p>