<p>I'm applying to 11 or 12 colleges, which include Brown, MIT, Stanford, Harvard, UT Austin, Baylor, Johns Hopkins, Caltech, Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, and Rice.
This is alot and i was wondering when is the best time to start.
I tried to start over the summer, but the applications are not ready yet. They said late summer but i don think ill have time to write all those essays if i start in late summer.
So what is it that i should do over the summer so that i won't have to cram applications during school years?
Do anyone know essay topics to any of the colleges above?
thx</p>
<p>I am in the same position. I am applying to about as many schools, less presigous, but still, that is large amount of applications. I don’t know what to do either…</p>
<p>Son will have a break for about 10 days before starting a research program that ends right before school starts. Would really like to start on college apps during that time. Are essays available then, or can you at least do the preliminary stuff online to save some time?</p>
<p>Not really doing any ivies, but some private, religious, and out of state schools, and definitely applying for any schollies available.</p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>new common app will be online start from July 1st . I think this is the time to start</p>
<p>For non-CA schools, while they don’t accept applications until later, many schools have their applications up right now. For instance, I just checked UMichigan and they have their 2010 essay questions on line.</p>
<p>OP- I applied to a similar number, and many of the same schools as you. I started late September for the early schools (UI, UMich, Stanford) which were due around late October. I then took a couple week break and started mid November for the other 7-8 schools I applied to. A lot of essays were variations off each other, so it wasn’t too bad. However, I did have to work on college apps pretty much through Thanksgiving weekend, every weekend after that, and the three days before January 1st (I was able to enjoy my nine day vacation where I didn’t do one college related thing, though). It was stressful, especially with schoolwork going on, but it was definitely doable. So don’t worry if you get started “late”. </p>
<p>If the prompts stay the same: MIT may ask about overcoming obstacles, Caltech will ask about how you demonstrate your interest in math/science, Stanford will ask “why stanford,” how you demonstrate intellectual vitality, and writing a letter to your roommate, Cornell will ask about your intended school (engineering, I’m guessing) and why you chose it, Rice asks about diversity you’d bring and “why Rice”</p>
<p>I think the majority of the applications which are all the needed information like names and addresses, courses taken, awards, and such can be completed on a “when I feel like it” basis. However, the time needed for the essay differs among individuals. Can you crank out an amazing essay a few nights before the deadline and be happy about what you turn in? Or are you someone that needs weeks of editing and criticism to produce a great essay? If you are the latter, I recommend starting before school starts since people become very busy very quickly senior year.</p>