<p>Should/can I write the essays beforehand so I won't be rushed when fall comes around?<br>
(Do the colleges change the essay prompts every year? If so, are the new ones out yet?)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>most colleges that aren't common app and have their own funky prompts usually do change them every year (i think northwestern put theirs out in the summer), but if you plan on applying to at least one common app college, i suggest you start working on your personal statement in the summer. right now just focus on doing well on your AP/IB exams and finals.</p>
<p>Definitely start during the summer though. I waited until fall to work on my essays, and it was a huge mistake. I essentially didn't leave the house except for school for around a month because I was racing against deadlines. I could have saved myself so much time and stress if I had only started earlier.</p>
<p>I believe next year's Common App will be available mid-summer. I don't know if they'll be changing their essay prompts. It's possible they will, because they did not change them from 2003-04 to 2004-05. Plus, they'll need to change the SAT info format now that there are three parts.</p>
<p>I wrote random essays during my sophomore, junior, and senior years, and after all was said and done, I realized that on most college applications I used the essays I started in 10th grade. They were the least contrived (and thus the most appealling) because I was under no pressure to "impress" when I wrote them.</p>
<p>Just throw around ideas; you don't need a polished essay yet. It's much easier to work from an old prompt than to make up something fresh two weeks before the deadline.</p>
<p>WRITE YOUR HEART OUT!!!! JUST WRITE AND WRITE AND WRITE ABOUT THINGS THAT INTEREST YOU. wait and let me help you. So you will be applying for scholarships i am guessing. here are some college things and some scholarship things
-what are your career/life aspirations
-why this college
-issue of most importance to you
-write one about philosophical stuff, like connect playing the viola to mowing the lawn, something creative</p>
<p>do things that are creative, but not over the top. START WRITING AND MAKE YOUR SENIOR YEAR AS STRESSFUL AS POSSIBLE, DO EVERYTHING EARLY AND EVEN CONSIDER COLLEGE VISITS OVER THE SUMMER. TAKE THE STANDARDIZED TESTS BEFORE SUMMER BE READY AND ON TIME. MY LIFE WAS SO STRESSFUL MY FIRST SEMSTER SENIOR YEAR!!!!! WHY? BECAUSE I DECIDED TO START APPLYING THE NIGHT BEFORE! go and have fun! good luck</p>
<p>Start casually researching colleges and majors of interest. Look at the application requirements, especially essay and EC questions, and start thinking about who to ask for rec letters.</p>
<p>During the summer, start the serious research.</p>