<p>Okay... I'm fixing to start on my essay to Vanderbilt that is due in Nov. for the ED deadline. I'm going to start now to make sure that everything with it is as perfect as I can get it. However, I'm stuck. I must say in the hundreds of essays I've done in my life I've never been stuck before. Perhaps it's because I want to get in so bad. More to the point, I know what the overall topic is going to be for the current essay I'm fixing to work on but not how to get the first couple of sentences started. I want it to be unique... not so 'run-of-the-mill'. Can anyone be of assistance?! I would be happy to explain what the essay is going to be about etc, but a little jump start to help get me going would be phenomenal. If anyone can help please IM me on AIM at: VandyHopeful</p>
<p>My advice is to stop thinking about it until the very end of summer or the beginning of the school year. You don't need 6 months to write a 500 word essay. Do keep a journal of some sort to record your experiences this summer.</p>
<p>Six months to write an essay? I wrote my essays (University of Michigan, Fordham University, and a recycled version for Seton Hall University) the night before they were due. You're worrying about this way too soon. Enjoy your summer. The earliest you should start worrying about your essay (and even this is too early in my opinion) is in September.</p>
<p>Well the three (3!) essays are due on Nov. 1st at the latest, and it is my dream school. Hence why I am applying ED. I just want to be prepared. Atleast this way, a million people can proof read it first so if for some reason I don't get accepted I won't have to think, "What if I had just done better on my essays," etc. Anyone know what I mean? </p>
<p>And no, I don't keep a journal, but I am thinking of taking on w/ me to Gov. School b/c I was thinking of writing my "Personal Essay" on my experiences there.</p>
<p>It took me a long time to start my main "personal statement" essay for college as well... it is hard to avoid the cliche or cheesy and be able to toe the line in a way that allows for something original that isnt a put off.</p>
<p>One thing that helped me was to go online and look at quotes relevant to topics I was considering... obviously don't plagiarize or anything... I started my essay with a quote though... and even if you dont it can jump start your thinkin juices.</p>
<p>"Well the three (3!) essays are due on Nov. 1st at the latest."</p>
<p>UMich asked for 3, as well. Fordham and Seton Hall only wanted 1. I wrote 4 essays that night. Fun :)</p>
<p>I understand that you really want to go to Vanderbilt, but I'd still advise against starting so early. You've still got 6 months of life to live and experieces to experience before your essays are due. A lot of stuff can happen in those 6 months... a lot of stuff you can write about.</p>
<p>Didn't even see Chris's post, your are right.. a lot of experiences can happen up until then, but on the one I'm starting on now it will stay the same. However, even this essay is just a rough draft at this point.</p>
<p>whenever i start writing essays, i start with a few sentences for each paragraph and then go back and improve and expand each a number of times -- the first sentence or two is usually hardest to pick and i end up doing it more towards the end of the process -- for me it is easier when i have the body more or less done -- sometimes you're writing the body and you think you're going nowhere with it, or you change the subject somewhat, so you have to change your first introductory paragraph which took you so much time to compose in the first place -- that is why i leave it for later, and once almost finished with the body go over various combinations for some time</p>
<p>online you can get a sense of how your first sentence/paragraph can be effective -- but i do not recommend applying the very same strategies -- these strategies may be seem effective but then think of how many other people also looked online and would also like to incorporate the same strategy in their essays -- i think the best thing to do is to establish your own voice in the 1st paragraph which may take weeks of composing and perfecting, so it is a good thing you're starting so early</p>
<p>Not to a...burst your bubble or anything here...but I'm fairly certain Vanderbilt hasn't released the application for freshman admission of 2007. You may want to check and make sure you aren't filling out the application for Fall 2006.</p>
<p>You can start the bigger essay (generic topic) as soon as you like. The short essays (most have these, not sure about Vanderbilt) may change from year to year, so you'll want to be careful with those, that is, if you are looking at an older application.</p>
<p>Best advice I could give you is to just write drafts. I did and my essays changed a lot from my first draft to the one I sent in. The first time you write, take some pressure off by saying this draft is just for you to get your ideas down, and you have lots of time to refine it and make changes. I like to make outlines, just so I know where I'm going with it. Also, be careful with getting too many people to go over it with you--everyone has different styles and it can start to show up if you take too many of their changes. Other peoples opinions are a good tool, but make sure the essay represents YOU: that's who they want to get to know.</p>
<p>Anyways, don't worry about starting early, I think it's very responsible of you. However, if you finish early, I would give them some time, and read over them , editing where necessary, before you send them out. It can be helpful to get your mind off of them, and then kind of get a fresh perspective after some time.</p>
<p>Well, I'm tired so sorry if this was a bit disjointed. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Definitely DON'T start on those essays just yet - they will probably wind up mixing up the topics on you in the middle of the summer...and then you'll have a rough time changing your 'perfect' essay to meet the new specs. Go ahead and write down stuff as it comes to you, but in note form, not in 500 word essay form. Just jot down little things that you want to touch on.</p>
<p>I feel for the person who wrote all those essays the night before they were due...I did that, but only to the local college I didn't want to go to anyway.</p>
<p>The summer before my senior year I just periodically wrote down possible ideas for my essays as they came to me, so I would have somewhere to start from when it was time to begin writing nearer the beginning of the school year.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all of the adivce. I truely appreciate it. I think I will definitely do that stuff. As far as starting early, I'm fairly sure that the Vandy essays stay the same from yr to yr, don't they? If I recall the appl. essays from 2005-2006 stayed the same on the essays, so I did assume they would stay the same again. Their very generic. One is: "Why Vandy, another "Personal essay" (anything you want) and one "Which college and what major?" (Like Blair, College of Arts and Science etc.)</p>