<p>I've just finished my sophomore year and i'll be participating in many activities this summer for which i have a true passion (i.e math research internship) and i think a lot of the stuff that i will be doing could potentially be great essay material. </p>
<p>My question is, should i start keeping a notebook of thoughts, perhaps even writing a few essays? My gpa and test scores are fine, and i'm very committed to quite a few ECs which are math/science related, but i know that Ivies and other top colleges place the essay as a priority. I want them to know that i am sincerely passionate about what i like to do, but i really don't want to sound like i wrote the essay to "meet their requirements". </p>
<p>Also, where can i find prompts for typical college app essay questions?</p>
<p>I just finished my Junior year, I am just starting to think about essays now, so I don’t think you should be in any rush. It is very hard for me to try to start any essays, so definitely if you have any ideas now, it will be so much help for you when you are in my position when you need to write them. Essay is a big part of your admittance for many schools, especially Ivies. It depends on the school, but some schools allow you to do any topic that you want to and others give you set prompt(s), which can be even more difficult to write.</p>
<p>So I say yes keep a notebook of thoughts and practicing is great too, but don’t worry too much about it right now.</p>
<p>This is the common app from this year, and near the end of the app it includes actual essay prompts. Many colleges (including Ivies) accept this app and its essays:</p>
<p>A notebook or a journal is a good idea. But you seem to be missing the point for these types of essays. You can’t just find a topic on some site and talk about it, it has to be genuinely about you. It has to be as unique and stand out. Ivies receive thousands of essays, and admissions officers read possibly hundreds per day. you said your passion was math research, so try and ponder that. Keep ideas in mind but you should start writing the summer before your senior year, that would give you plenty of time to write and think. Don’t put it off!</p>