I’m in the class of 2006, and will be applying to colleges this fall. When is a good time to begin writing my essays? When do applications usually come out? I have heard of people getting into Harvard/Stanford that didn’t have stellar stats, but spent a lot of time on their essays. They are really that important in the admissions process?
Thanks for your help.
<p>I always did them a few days before the applications were due because I work well under pressure. ;) It worked for me and I got accepted to some pretty good schools, but I wouldn't recommend it. Essay questions come out pretty early, but if you're at all like me...you'll say to yourself "why the hell am I starting these today when they're due months from now"</p>
<p>I attempted to start my essays early, but I couldn't get myself to do them. Essays are a pretty important factor in the admission process so try and make yours unique :)</p>
<p>I'm a junior too and was also wondering when the best time to start essays was. I thought about doing it over the summer, but I'm worried colleges may change their topics or something like that. Would anyone recommend starting "Why Us?" essays early? And has anyone heard rumors about colleges not requiring essays anymore because they can just view the one you wrote on the new SAT?</p>
<p>Start over the summer. You can fine tune your essays and it just helps to start early, especially with the common app, or UC.</p>
<p>I know the Common App for next year will be available this summer, as will most college applications. Have you been writing any essays for applications, honor societies, other programs, etc? Keep those in a file for reference; perhaps you can rework them. Jot down important memories, influential people in your life, and experiences - these could be expanded into essays. "On Writing the College Application Essay" by Harry Bauld is an excellent book to use as a reference. </p>
<p>Copy off the Common Application now and look at what will be on there. Look at your answers critically - are there any commonalities between your academics, interests, service? How can these separate elements be tied together to show depth? Or is there an aspect to your life that is not reflected in the application?</p>
<p>start on the main one you can use for a lot of colleges: a setback/challenge or opportunity in your life and how it has affected you</p>
<p>Ummm I started writing mine the weekend before it was due, and didn't finish until 11:45 PM, 15 minutes before the deadline! (Stanford) hahahah. Oh yeah, I skipped school that day to make sure I had enough time to finish.</p>
<p>For UCs, I wrote mine in one day and finished at 4 AM.</p>
<p>For Cornell, Duke, and Dartmouth, I basically sent in my Stanford essay but randomly deleted a paragraph to fit the length requirements. I finished writing my Cornell essays (why I would want to go there) 20 minutes before the post office closed, and it takes 15 minutes to get there!</p>
<p>Not to mention I only proofread them like 2 times and had nobody else read them--it was too late for that.</p>
<p>I think I am the absolute worst procrastinator ever.</p>
<p>I had to write some for my AP English class, so I just waited utnil then, and then i had my English teacher read through my first round of essays for editting. For my EA essays i started about a month out, when it was assigned in class, and was done early and didn't have to think about it. For my UC's I editted one of my previous essays to fit the long section and wrote the two shorter ones about a week out. For the common application i just took the one i wrote for the UC's changed a little bit to fit a prompt and then sent it off. </p>
<p>most of the prompts are the same, or very similar, for the long essay. I ended up using the same one and changing it about three times to fit the prompt, or elongating one of the short ones that i had written.</p>
<p>i procrastinate a lot because i think under pressure.</p>
<p>it depends on how much dedication you want to put into your essays. I started my essays week before they were due. During Christmas break, I picked a day for each college I applied and spent an entire day writing an essay, fine tuning, having people read it over once, and then fine tuning again until I feel its sendable.</p>
<p>I really hope that colleges won't be able to view the one written on the SAT I. How can an essay written in 25 minutes be a factor in college admissions? I mean, sure, they use the score that you receive, but they really shouldn't read it.</p>
<p>DiabolicTripod: The reason they would use it is because that is TRULY your writing. For college essays, many people get help from parents, friends, college counselors, etc so in the end, it may not even be their original work at all.</p>
<p>This gives the colleges and idea of your writing abilities.</p>
<p>I guess I can understand why they would do that, but are they really going to do it, or was it just a rumor?</p>