I’ve been working on my personal essay and I can’t beat the nerves. Writing it makes me feel nauseous and gives me a pounding headache. I don’t understand why, because I’m usually great at them (not to toot my own horn). I thought I would have finished a couple of drafts by now but I’ve only done two paragraphs. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there anything I can do? Nothing I normally do to handle stress is working and at this rate I won’t have a draft finished until September!
I think the best advice anyone’s given me on this is not to worry about the content or quality of the essay at all when drafting (counterintuitive, I know). Don’t worry about if you’re going to be able to fit everything you want to say in or whether it will be “good enough.” Nothing will ever meet your expectations the first time around. Instead, focus initially on finishing it and then just go on write more and more drafts. You don’t even have to necessarily use the previous draft to edit. Focus on writing as many drafts as possible and from there, you can figure what you like, what you don’t like, and if you have multiple ideas for topics, which one you like best. Quantity is honestly better than quality in this first phase. Best of luck to you and your writing process!
I’ll PM you.
Essays aren’t as important as they used to be because colleges know how much coaching is going on.
Is your topic okay?
My kids did their essays in late December just before the Jan, 1 deadline and did fine with admissions. I have no idea why people feel they need to do them in the summer or, for that matter, why they are such a subject for angst.
Take a break.
Look at photo albums and spend a month just thinking about your life up to now.
An essay is NOT going to make or break an application in most cases, unless extraordinarily bad or good.
Focus on other things for awhile.
If, in a few months, you are truly stuck, try dictating an essay and having someone write it down.
Good luck and try not to worry so much.
This is an assignment. It’s due by the time you want to send your first applications. You need a rough outline before you start just writing it down. Find a classic five paragraph essay template and fill it in. There are dozens online. Come up with a rough draft after the outline. Let it sit overnIght, or for a couple of days. Detach yourself from it, and view it almost as acreative writing piece, based on fact. Once you’ve written the whole thing, let it sit again, and make more revisions, then let a trusted person read it. Not a parent, or teenage friend.
If you message the two completed paragraphs, I may be able to offer some suggestions.@MostlyWell