<p>I followed everyone's advice. I started writing essays in the summer, like around august. But I just kept discarding idea after idea until nothing really mattered to me anymore.</p>
<p>I still have over 15 drafts of completely different topics sitting on my computer that seems like total garbage to me right now. even my counselor and english teachers who have read through some of them have encouraged me to take a different angle on my topics or pick a different topic altogether.</p>
<p>so after hours of soul-searching and agonizing and really REALLY thinking about who I am, I found two perfect essay topics for me. one short, simple, and absolutely humiliating for me to think about writing about it, but i'm going to go for it. haha lol. the other topic is actually highly personal, but i feel would really serve to "humanize" my application.</p>
<p>but now I'm just really worried. i have not yet actually started writing. But I hope to tonight. I'm just worried I don't have enough time. Many of my peers who are applying to the same competitive schools as me are already done or nearly done with their apps. I have not yet started any of my regular apps, and I can tell you now, I have like 7 regular schools. most of these schools require one personal statement, and one supplemental essay, if not more. i am applying to my top choice school(s) regular, so this really matters to me.</p>
<p>so what do you think? any advice/suggestions for me on getting everything together on time? do i have enough time? or is nov 10th already cutting it close when i have deadlines coming up on nov 30th and jan 1st. are there any pitfalls i should avoid given that i'm starting so late?</p>
<p>Don't worry. I'm starting to be relieved after hearing so many people destroying draft after draft like I have within the past few months. I started mid July, so I have had problems and panic/stress worrying that I've wasted all this time doing absolutely nothing and going with 0% improvement since I started months ago.</p>
<p>I still think you have time. I suddenly thought of a brilliant topic yesterday and have hammered at it away 24/7 and just finished it an hour ago. Now I'm starting on the scholarship essay (about 2 destroyed drafts for this one though) that is also due this saturday and I'm hoping it will satisfy my own harsh judgment before then.</p>
<p>Don't worry about your friends though. I have many friends who've turned in early apps, so they're relaxed and everything, and I'm also supposed to be "on top with them" but I apparently am not even though I am applying to Ivies and all that. Don't lose hope :P many of us here on CC are on the same boat you are.</p>
<p>Don't worry, you'll be perfectly fine. When the words come, they come. I've barely scratched the surface of my college app essays. And for those who have submitted theirs already, poop on you. :)</p>
<p>thanks so much for the encouraging words! they really give me hope=)</p>
<p>lately i just see all those other overachievers around me who are already done or nearly done with regular apps and i just get really depressed and start feeling really incompetent. but lol yes, poop on them.</p>
<p>I hope this doesn't make you feel bad or anything, but for most essays, I only need to write one draft plus editing.
my style is to wait until I have inspiration before I write anything. alternately, I'd have a goal in mind to write an essay, and then do random things until I think of something (with the essay in the back of my mind of course). I dunno if that would work for anyone else, but it's worth a try.</p>