<p>I am a junior and will be a senior this coming school year which means I apply for colleges in October. I know absolutly NOTHING about college essays at the moment. I obviously should do research, but I am not sure where to begin. I have a few good idea for the essay floating around in my head. I wanted to write it over the summer, but before I do, I have some questions for you fellow CCers:</p>
<li><p>Should I write it over the summer?</p></li>
<li><p>Does the essay have to be different per college? (Do the colleges give topics to write on?)</p></li>
<li><p>How long is the average essay?</p></li>
<li><p>Are these “essays coaches” that I have heard of necesary or are they glorified english teachers?</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>yes</li>
<li>it depends on the college (ie whether they take the common app alongside a supplemental app with another essay or their own specific application)</li>
<li>500 words</li>
<li>no idea</li>
</ol>
<p>Well I wrote the main essay in September and made a couple revisions because my English teacher made it an assignment. The rest of the EA essays were written somewhat at the last minute in the last 2 weeks of October, because I was a lazy slacker, including one that was put together the weekend the app was due. And you don't need to do research. Just write about yourself.</p>
<p>the thing is I know I have a ton to say about my self, but I have this big problem of not being able to say it correctly, its the reason why I really never did too hot when it came to writing essays in English class</p>
<p>Thoughts get jumbled and it comes out weird</p>
<p>Wow, it's really normally only 500 words? I think my essay is 500 words already and it's only the first 2 paragraphs. Then again the school i'm applying to focuses on the essay the most so maybe they want it long.</p>
<p>Don't worry about thoughts being jumbled or weird when you are starting out.</p>
<p>Here is one way to put an essay together.</p>
<p>The main thing is to figure out a basic idea of what you want to say. Something that is an authentic, genuine expression of your own voice.</p>
<p>Given that, you can first use a brief outline, or even just a few words, to get that basic plan on paper.</p>
<p>Then, over a period of time, modify the outline as you think it over in your head.</p>
<p>Then gradually flesh it out with text.</p>
<p>Only worry about exact wording, grammar, saying it correctly at the end, when you are satisfied with the ideas, the substance of the essay.</p>
<p>You have a lot of time to write college essays, so you have plenty of time to fix anything that seems weird or jumbled. Plan on multiple drafts over a period of weeks. Not working every day, but gradually getting closer to your target as ideas come to you.</p>
<p>I did lots and lots of drafts for all of mine. Around seven to eight for each. I applied to eight schools, I ended up getting sick of my essays. =P But the key is revision. Revision will really help you to say what you want to say. </p>
<p>I started mine at the end of junior year, with just a list of what I could talk about. Generally start as soon as possible and don't forget about them. But don't keep working on them every day, give a week or so between drafts, time to let your brain recharge.</p>
<p>understand what you want to express from beginning to end before you start writing. Organize your thoughts and feelings into a collection that makes sense. Then write. Find some criticism.</p>
<p>really good essay ideas can also come spontaneously, so i wouldn't worry if you had to suddenly redraft or start anew. write about something that seems relevant, is biographical, or says somethings unique about your character. there really isn't anything specific unless there is a specific prompt that the college asks you to address. have someone read it and ask them for their impression, but remember, it's YOUR essay :)</p>
<p>thanks tons for all this help, much appreciated here :)</p>
<p>How do colleges look at the theme of overcoming struggles, I've had a lot of that in both the academic and athletic parts of my life, but I'm afraid it may be too cliche to write about that</p>
<p>for some reason i find my best writing comes when i'm at starbucks drinking coffee and listening to mellow music at 8pm... try writing throughout different times at the day, sometimes for different people, it comes best at a certain time</p>
<p>If you inject some humor in an essay about overcoming a struggle, or make it unique/interesting in some way, it could work nicely. But if you write about that, you have to make sure it really is different. So what I'm saying is that the topic itself doesn't automatically make it cliche...</p>