<p>Until today I have always thought that the common app essay would just come to me.</p>
<p>I tried to write something today and I have no idea where to start.</p>
<p>Anyways, is there a word limit for the essay?
I know the min. is 250 words.</p>
<p>well, I guess ur not alone. I’m on the same boat as you. I can’t think of anything, can’t sound witty/smart/creative like some samples I read, and probably can’t get in anywhere.</p>
<p>Most essays I’ve seen are around 500 words, maybe 75 more or less. For the common app, there’s nothing stopping you from submitting a 1000 word essay, but people have told me that tends to annoy application readers rather than help them.</p>
<p>Alex, do some brain storming exercises. Write down any ideas that come into your head, stupid or not. Sometimes seeing something on paper starts you going.</p>
<p>Write for 10 minutes. If nothing comes to you immediately, know you can’t lift your pencil for 9.5 more minutes. </p>
<p>Another idea: take a shower, and just talk to yourself about some ideas. </p>
<p>Write down all your activities, and think of specific anecdotes related to them.</p>
<p>Write about somethings that make you unique. My S twirls pens. I think he was thinking of writing about that. But that pen twirling bit is just the introduction. Then he gets into where it’s taken him (teaching his teachers). His real message is about getting to know his teachers beyond just his classes.</p>
<p>So, figure out your message and work backwards. That seems to help a lot. In fact, some people don’t add their introductory paragraph until the rest of the essay is completed. Good luck!</p>