<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I'm going to write my Common App essay in advance, since it has little to no guidelines or requirements (it's basically an open essay). Now, I looked at Harvard's supplement, and the "optional" essay has little to no guidelines either! So, I'm considering starting this one early too.</p>
<p>By doing this, I could have more time to write/improve/proofread the essay, get more people's opinions, and therefore craft out a much better essay.</p>
<p>So, would writing Harvard's essay in advance be a good idea?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>What do you mean by “writing in advance”? Like start writing now for next year?</p>
<p>If you need a full year to write an essay, that is a fairly severe problem… Also, if you spend too long looking over an essay re writing, it becomes forced.</p>
<p>I would maybe think about it a bit now, then come September or so start writing. Spending a year writing 1 essay would drive me crazy…</p>
<p>I don’t think it would be a bad idea to start brainstorming and trying out different topics. But I wouldn’t limit yourself to one and start writing your final essay until at least summer. (Assuming you’re class of 2016)</p>
<p>You will be more mature in the late summer. Write it then. No sense in prematurely writing now.</p>