<p>I realize this differs school-to-school and requires a visit to each school's website, but *in general * when would prompts for essays come out? I have been told repeatedly to get my current juniors writing their essays over this upcoming summer so that by the time school starts, the essays are essentially done and may just need some refinement.</p>
<p>Also, I don't have a good sense -- once the senior school year starts, seriously, how much time does it take to put a given app together? The reason I'm concerned is that I have twins and we all have a lot of interest in doing ED and / or EA. Thanks!</p>
<p>the common app essays are usually pretty similar year to year but they come out about july 1… but you can always use “topic of your choice” to have one ready. For my son the essays when needed…(he had quite a few that he got preferred apps to that didnt require essays… or the school didnt want essays)… were available as soon as the app was online for the particular school. selective scholarship essays are different and some have very fast turn around times ones invited to apply</p>
<p>My friend’s son took a college essay writing course at Williams this summer. They didn’t write the essay(s) for him, but they did help him focus on what he should include and what to leave out. He didn’t come back with completed essays, but had pretty good ideas what he should write. They had real adcoms come on to read those students’ essays. I hear this particular program is harder to get into because of size.</p>
<p>S1 did not START his essays until well into Oct for his U Chicago EA application (he is a freshman there). Finished required essays for his RD application 5 minutes before the deadline (yes, he deserved to be rejected by his top Ivy RD schools). He has friends who did not do any RD essays etc until they learned that they were not accepted by the Yale SCEA - they are all in top 10 schools any way. It almost feels like there was some kind of competitive “who can get in by doing everything absolutely at the last minute” contest.</p>
<p>Certainly, not to encourage others to follow this example - these are TERRIBLE examples. But to show that it can be done.</p>
<p>As for S2, we are going to encourage him to finish the first batch of essays by June - he will be applying to the ROTC scholarship, which should be done by June to maximize his odds. I assume that the main essay he will have to write for the ROTC application will be highly recyclable for his college applications - it will be all about his desire to “serve”, and I believe this will be a highly unusual essay - the kind the adcoms don’t see often. Since common app and most colleges allow “topic of your choice”, this will be the main stay for him.</p>
<p>Most of the prompts are pretty generic and remain unchanged from year to year. The only college (among the one’s I’m applying to) that changed their essays is UChicago - and UChicago is famous for having new prompts every year. But even they announce the new prompts around July on their website.</p>
<p>As others said, most prompts are available some time in the summer and most prompts don’t change much from year to year. Many apps are available in the summer also.</p>
<p>The first app usually takes a little longer mostly due to gathering all the info and how to present them like where to list an activity, how to describe it, how many weeks, how many hours per week. After the first app, the additional apps don’t take very long. Some apps have short answers/quick takes but majority of the info asked are pretty much the same. </p>
<p>Depending on the writer and number of essays, that can take some time.</p>
<p>Also keeping track of all the details, which colleges require what when. Dealing with high school administrators/teachers to make sure they are sending out stuff on time.</p>
<p>Starting in the summer certainly can save some stress. Get most apps/essays done before school starts. Once school starts, there is school, homework, study, activites in addition to college app.</p>
<p>the main thing is to try to get that common app essay done. i tried to get the kids to do it, but to no avail! getting the activity stuff, etc. done ahead is probably a good idea, although I have to say that didn’t really take us that long. That common app essay is a killer, not because of the prompts, but I think the kids find the idea of putting themselves on the line so overwhelming.</p>
<p>Typically early July. It is a great idea to get at least rough drafts done of some essays over the summer. But it IS the summer after all, and it’s nice for the kids to have a break after a junior year spring packed with tests. The compromise we reached in our household that worked for my kids was to start working on the essays in early August; they were both really glad that they put in some time over the summer.</p>
<p>Even before the prompts are online, your student can get a feel for what they’ll be based on current year’s prompts. Some (like U of Chicago) will change from year to year but in general most could be tweaked by a basic essay.</p>
<p>I know you didn’t ask this, but if your twins want to get a jump on something while waiting for the essay prompt, they should start narrowing down the teachers they’ll ask for recs. They should be thinking about whom they’ll ask, when they’ll ask, how they’ll ask, and sure, where they’ll ask.</p>
<p>The essays are under their control; the recommendation process is not, and therefore timing is more critical.</p>