Thank you for your thoughtful comments, aquapt and all.
Yes, I should be able to read his essays. His mom is a Phd candidate (which is part of the reason she is broke). She can do the fine tune editing. But he will make it his own, I am sure. I got the part about making the whole application a part of his picture, his story. I can suggest and tell him about the ‘story’ part when it comes time.
As for timeline, for him, I expect it will start for real the last half of October. He’ll be taking a class in the application process. Good that he will be applying to UCs and get his feet wet (if not soaked!) as the app process must be completed by Nov. 30. More time to apply RD (or EDII) because those apps are due in Jan or so.
Right now he has 3AP classes and a class at CC. Just took the only SAT he will take. Scores should come out in 2-3 wks.
One other thing: he did a great term paper entitled Generational Trauma for a CC psychology class in which he discussed his father’s PTSD. Prof liked it so much he asked A if he could share it (anonymously) with other classes. Would this be a good way for him to get the story of family situation into his app?
I see a few things that could work on the essay ‘story’. But he will, of course, end up doing it his own way.