<p>So I just looked at the Princeton supplement, and it's really only one additional 500 word essay and several short answers.</p>
<p>I feel like I'm missing something here-- Why is this supposed to be so stressful? Why does it take hundreds of hours to apply to all the colleges you want to apply to?</p>
<p>If the commonap was written and edited in ten hours max, and each supplement another five hours, then it wouldn't be that long, would it?</p>
<p>Try the fact that writing all these essays is stressful, arduous, and time-consuming for many who are applying to more than a few schools especially when we have seven summer assignments and later six AP.classes to juggle. </p>
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<p>And wait until you actually get to college and have to write 20+ page papers while juggling assignments from 5 challenging classes. </p>
<p>If that sounds too stressful, there’s always beautician school.</p>
<p>I think there are a couple main reasons why some students find it stressful …</p>
<p>1) If someone procrastinates until the end and has to complete 12-15 applications in one week while keeping up with their schoolwork and their ECs they have set them up for a week from **** (as well as essays that might not be too compelling)</p>
<p>2) For some it is not the workload level itself but impossing additional pressure on themselves due to the importance of the event. Somewaht ironically I believe one of the best ways to perform ones’ best is to try to ignore the signifigance of the outcome and relax and do your best … and that those who commit to trying harder and longer often suboptimize the outcome and stress themselves out in the process.</p>
<p>Maybe some are applying to schools that don’t use the Common App…or think that using the school’s own app will in someway give them an edge??? So, maybe that takes longer.</p>
<p>Some schools may have more essays. Or more difficult essay prompts. Or the student isn’t that great of a writer. Or the student is trying to write the “essay of the century” to get into an ivy or to make up for some stats shortcoming. </p>
<p>Kids are told that their essays will “set them apart” and that Adcoms get tired of reading the same ole, same ole…so the kids rack their brains trying to come up with something that will spark their interest.</p>
<p>And…some kids include the time that they are also doing school scholarship apps and private scholarship apps and all the essays that go along with that.</p>
<p>BTW…sometimes a 500 word limit can actually create more work for the writer. He has to “get the best bang for his 500 words”…which can be difficult. He’ll write what he wants to say and the word count will be 800 words, then he has to pick and choose what can be eliminated without losing the story that he’s trying to tell. That process alone can take hours.</p>
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<p>And if that behavior persists into college … look out!</p>
<p>Yes Common App makes things MUCH less stessfull than before. Neither of my D’s were particularly stressed by the application process, even though D #1 applied to 6 schools & 4 did not use common app then.</p>
<p>So if you don’t procrastinate, then it’s nothing at all…</p>
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Precisely. You’d be amazed at how relieving it is to already have the essay done. I finished mine for CommonApp and only have to slightly adjust it (by emphasis to the particular institutions) for my colleges that don’t use the CommonApp.</p>
<p>All that’s really left is for me to finalize my senior schedule so I can accurately report it. Then when school starts, get my teacher recs in order and I think that covers the major things…</p>
<p>I’ve procrastinated all my life, and this is the first essay I’ve ever written that wasn’t the night (or two nights) before it’s due… it feels awesome! It lifts a heavy burden, but there’s still a hesitation for me as this is obviously a big deal; I’m not filling out forms for e-mail alerts on a blog… this is college, this is our future, and everything I enter will be read and my goal is to sell myself… pretty intimidating to know that!</p>
<p>Ugh annasdad you are such a ■■■■■. Nothing sadder than an adult who remains on this site to spread his sardonic pseudo-wit among teenagers. Get a life. </p>
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<p>Yes, sometimes the truth is very painful, isn’t it? </p>
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