<p>Imagine taking the SATs without a time limit. You can quadruple check all your answers. You can walk away if you are not in the mood and just come back later when you feel more mentally sharp.</p>
<p>Imagine having access to the internet while you are taking the SATs. You can look up all the formulas on every question. You can ask other people for the answers. There should be no excuse to get anything other than a perfect score. Sadly, it doesn’t work that way for SATs. However…</p>
<p>It does work that way for essays.</p>
<p>No time limit. Open access to anyone for assistance (including me). You can craft, refine, redefine, and perfect. Yes, it is a little more complicated than an SAT question in that no single correct answer exists. But you know what? In life, answers are complicated and ambiguous. Might as well get started now.</p>
<p>So many times I see people coming to me near deadlines (UC essay applicants, that means you) and so many of them have yet to finish their essays. It’s one thing to not feel secure over a draft, and it’s another to not have written it until the final moment.</p>
<p>This is the most important piece of writing you’ve ever penned in your life up to this point. These few words hold an asymmetrical balance on the impact it creates for next 4 years, if not your entire life. It matters far more than any writing prompt for an IB, class, or AP essay. By that reasoning, it should stand that this should command the attention of more time than anything else you’ve written before right? </p>
<p>From scratch, let’s break down an essay construction schedule:
1) Brainstorming essay topics over the course of at least a week (5 hours).
2) Write recklessly, regardless how long it is. Just throw stuff against the wall (2 hours).
3) Evaluate your essay and what you find most interesting about it (30 minutes).
4) Rewrite the essay to focus on the areas resonating most for you (1 hour).
5) Show your essay to different people with a focus on certain essay elements (read my previous post on essay editors)
6) Finish it (1-2 hours)</p>
<p>Broken apart over the course of at least 2 weeks, it’s realistic and reasonable to pour 10 hours worth of work into an essay. </p>
<p>You can control quality by investing a minimum amount of time into it. That’s it. Just…time. Also, if any of these steps feel too long for you, then good. It’s supposed to feel long. It’s supposed to make you uncomfortable. It’s supposed to challenge you to look beyond surface level and think deeply, think meaningfully.</p>
<p>Now, imagine layering that time with research into college admission essays, reading examples of great essays, thinking deeper into figuring out the strategy of your overall applicant positioning, etc. </p>
<p>In isolation none of these steps seem earth shattering. Together? It’s a powerful combination. It’s cheating.</p>
<p>There is no time limit for writing a great essay, and the right essay can help change the rest of your life.</p>
<p>I can’t guarantee you success; I can only give you your best chance.</p>
<p>Other parts to the series:</p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1696127-ultimate-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-1-finding-the-perfect-topic.html#latest">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1696127-ultimate-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-1-finding-the-perfect-topic.html#latest</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1696716-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-2-making-your-essay-the-1-in-1000.html#latest">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1696716-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-2-making-your-essay-the-1-in-1000.html#latest</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1698956-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-3-the-perfect-essay-corrector.html#latest">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1698956-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-3-the-perfect-essay-corrector.html#latest</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1700343-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-4-10-tests-every-essay-must-pass.html#latest">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1700343-guide-to-crafting-differentiated-powerful-essays-part-4-10-tests-every-essay-must-pass.html#latest</a></p>