Is it safe to start writing essays now?

Applying to College
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I was advised some time ago (probably more than once, too) by a recent survivor of the college admissions process to start working on the apps now, because working on them when they’re due is exceedingly unfun. I’ve downloaded a few applications, but they’re either for the class of 2005, or I can’t tell.

How much do the essay questions generally vary from year to year? Are there certain parts of the application - such as when they pose a question and give you a few lines to answer - that aren’t classified as essays and don’t change? When will the new '06 applications roll out, in all their splendour?

(reposted, originally in the wrong forum - sorry =p)

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<p>Mostly in July-August. UCs are usually in October. Common application comes out in July. Very few private universities have their application out for the fall 2006 already- Georgetown is the only one I know of.
Make sure you're applying for fall 2006.</p>

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<p>The common app rarely varies. I think it's a great idea to start working on them when you have the enthusiam for it and while you may not have a lot of schoolwork. You can always revise later when the new ones come out, but you'll be ahead if you've already given it some thought. I wish my son were so inclined!!</p>

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<p>I just got my Harvard app inthe mail</p>

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<p>common app essays don't change, i think...so theoretically you can start working on those right now...just look at last (AKA: this year's) common app.</p>

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<p>It's not difficult for Harvard to produce one of its own applications, esp. common app.</p>

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<p>I was curious about this myself, but the schools that I'm applying to: BC, BU, GWU, American, Chicago, don't have them up yet....</p>

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<p>If I recall correctly the UC app's came out on October 1st. Personally I think it'd be a good idea to start earily. I ended up devoting an entire weekend to doing the apps last year. The essays do require a lot of revision often.</p>

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<p>A lot of apps require the "Why University of Podunk" essays. Those would be a good choice to start soon so they don't all run together. </p>

<p>Just remember - the time to initially write the essay is only a small part of it. Most of us need time for thought and many revisions to produce our best work. Congrats to you all who statrting to work on this now!</p>

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<p>If the college has next year's application ready, start working on the essays now. It will save you lots of heart ache in the long run because all you'll have to do is revise instead of have to write the actual content of the essays when the new application time crunch actually begins. However, make sure that the essays that you're working on are for colleges that do not change their essay questions each year. It would be upsetting for you if you got a great essay ready for a college application and then found out that you couldn't use it.</p>

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<p>definitely do it early, it gives you more time to reflect and improve them.</p>

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<p>It depends on how you work. I know people who tend to write better essays when they're almost due. I, for one, enjoy taking my grand old time editing essays as well as having friends and teachers read them, and teachers will be more willing to read essays at the beginning of the year.</p>

<p>Most college apps will begin to roll in in August/early September. The no-fee apps will come in about October.</p>

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<p>Do many schools use the common app? I know that MIT doesn't...</p>

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<p>I would think most colleges change their essay questions every year...correct me if I'm wrong.</p>

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<p>This is true for me (at least sometimes); I do it best when I write out a lot of stuff in one sitting. However, it's usually better to have plenty of time to review and correct afterwards.</p>

<p>Thank you for all the responses, and hopefully I wasn't the only one wondering. I would be much obliged if anyone here could tell me if the Deep Springs app they currently have is for 2006 - it appears to be, as it accounts for the New SAT.</p>

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<p>I believe UChicago changes its essay questions often -- to inspire creativity or such. Other than that, most applications don't change for two to three years.</p>

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<p><a href="http://www.commonapp.org/commlist.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.commonapp.org/commlist.htm&lt;/a>
This link has a list of all the colleges that accept or recommend the Common App.</p>

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<p>Those are just colleges that accept the Common Application. Some, like Harvard, have no choice, for their institutional application ** is ** the Common Application. Others, like NYU, have their own side institutional application.</p>

<p>Now, there's no bias when reading the Common App over Institutional App. Technically...</p>

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<p>My daughter spent most of last summer working on hers.</p>

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<p>The essays rarely change from year to year, so go for it. For example, I have a Upenn app from 2000 (when my sister applied), and it has the same essay questions as 2005.</p>

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<p>over the years, the common app keeps one of its essay choices as "a topic of your choice" which means that if you write an essay based on one of last year's topics and that topic is gone next year...you can just use the "topic of your choice" option...</p>

<p>...i think i just made things more confusing. my bad.</p>

<p>anyway, i'd definitely recommend at least brainstorming ideas for your essays during the summer...activities that were meaningful to you, things (talents, interesting experiences, quirks) that make you unique, personal anecdotes, ideas for introduction "hooks" to start off your essays...stuff like that...</p>

<p>a big part of this process (for me, anyway...i dont know about others) wasn't sitting down and actually writing my essays, but actually figuring out what the heck i was going to write about...so if you can do that, you're in good shape.</p>

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<p>Zoogies,
call or e-mail Deep Springs to be sure, but it certainly looks like the 2006 application. Good one to start over the summer!</p>