<p>I finished mine a few days ago…exactly 587 words long. Hopefully it’s pretty good.</p>
<p>@noimagination:</p>
<p>3 seems to be the best option, since that seems like it will come across the most as “you”. Unless you play poker or something, I would not do 2. 1 is not good either because most schools will ask you that in the supplement. Ergo, don’t do it. </p>
<p>Good luck with your essays everybody!!!</p>
<p>^ Thanks. I have a few other ideas too.</p>
<p>I had to finish a draft for school a couple months ago, and that was 784 words. I haven’t touched it again since then…</p>
<p>ahaha thing is i’m probably going to write at least three essays and select the best one.</p>
<p>i love writing :]</p>
<p>Ahh I most definitely fall into this category!! I think I’m set with my topics, but now it is just a matter of writing them (I think I want to have two “Common App essays” so that I can have some flexibility as the supplements are released). Unfortunately, I have managed to convince myself that, since the main “event” of my second topic has yet to happen, it is IMPOSSIBLE to begin my essay on it :)</p>
<p>On the other hand, the “event” will happen exactly 8 days before school begins and I have to go back with a draft of my essay. Let’s hope some motivation strikes soon…</p>
<p>Good luck to all of you!!</p>
<p>Just finished the most unconventional essay ever haha, but I think it works. Now I just have to get some people to look at it and redraft it a few times. Fun :(</p>
<p>I am! 
I think I’m going to finish my AP assignments for the rest of July and then start agonizing over the essay for August.</p>
<p>Oh man… I feel like everyone else is at starting to write!
I have no idea what to write about >.<
I feel like everything that I want to write about, that would give off a sense of where I’ve come from and who I am, will sound like a pity me story.</p>
<p>I have no inspiration! It takes me a while to write something that has the right voice and style. But I think I have a few ideas floating around</p>
<p>Hey guys, this is going to sound lame and rather stupid: how many essays, by the end of my application, should I have? Is it only the common app essay, and I read that we will only know the ‘essay question’ in August, is that right?
What is the ‘standard’ essay that I should be preparing right now if I am going to apply for fall?
Thanks and sorry for my…ignorance. :)</p>
<p>I’m doing alternate versions of the common app, and sending different essays to different colleges. I finished with my first common app essay in May (class assignment) and it needs a bit of tweaking. I just wrote my second common app essay in early July, and am about to start editing today!</p>
<p>I’m feeling stuck; I can’t seem to get anything satisfactory out of the topics I’m bouncing around in my head:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How, among other things, a family tragedy changed my outlook on life, was a learning experience, and sort of steered me in the direction of what to study.</p></li>
<li><p>How my very Alaskan sport, and its high propensity for minor injury, has taught me endurance.</p></li>
<li><p>My collection of airline magazines and love of flight, exploring, and maps</p></li>
</ol>
<p>^I like the sound of the second essay, personally.</p>
<p>HADC10, I think you should do essay number 1, because it will show them more of ‘yourself’, although all of them seem really good. If you are really ‘stuck’ you should write a first draft of all three and then ask personal advice on which one people think is better and then work with that one until you have the final draft. Good luck. </p>
<p>Btw, I am doing the essay on a person that inspired me and how she changed my perspective on life, ect. I think the idea of this essay is quite ‘cliche’, do you think that if I mention that she moulded my mind into seeing that there is always ‘light in the end of the tunnel’ it will seem way too cliche?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The 2010-2011 version of the common application does not allow for this.</p>
<p>@ importantindeed</p>
<p>Well, it depends on the school. Most schools look at the common app essay, along with a supplement essay of their own. Some schools have two supplement essays, and other schools have an additional essay on why one wants to attend that school. Other schools also have optional additional essays. But, don’t let me freak you out, the max number of essays for one application would be 4. And that is an absolute most number. </p>
<p>The typical number of essays for one application is 2 to 3. The standard essay you should be preparing right now would be the common app essay. You should also probably be thinking about the supplement essays of your top choice colleges, the ones you are sure you are going to apply to.</p>
<p>Most people opt to do the ‘topic of your choice’ prompt from the common app essay. So you really don’t need to wait for the essay questions. Topic of your choice is you write about anything you want, 500 word limit. As for the supplement essays, most colleges have already put up their prompts on their websites, so you just have to go look for them. Might be on the home page, or might be under ‘prospective students’ somewhere.</p>
<p>Sorry that ran long, hope it helped clear some things up!</p>
<p>Wait, hold up, I thought the common app wasn’t up yet?!</p>
<p>Is procrastination a good topic? :0</p>
<p>I just opened up M.S. Word and fell asleep. Gradually, as I rested, I contemplated writing. Then, all of a sudden, I started writing a stream of conscience essay while in sleep-mode. After cleaning it up, it’s not half bad.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>They released the preview online, Harvard sent out the Common Application in the mail to certain people, and the Common Application has also released new policies regarding the 2010-2011 admissions cycle.</p>