<p>Most of the advice in the “going ivy” column is pretty good; I think, though, that the suggestion that the Common App essay requires 20 drafts is silly. There is no minimum or maximum number of revisions that can guarantee a good essay. But yes, you should start early, and I agree with her advice to have others read your drafts. Friends/peers are not usually the best at giving feedback. Parents can be OK, but not always. I think the most valuable help comes from teachers or other mentors who actually know something about what constitutes good writing, but aren’t likely to be either too hard OR too easy on you… you want constructive criticism, but you don’t want to lose your essay’s personal “voice.”</p>
<p>@Interficio: It really depends on what schools you’re applying to and what their supplements are like! Many of the top ranked schools have no supplemental essays at all; many others, including Stanford and most of the Ivies, have supplements that are so long that one wonders how the admissions officers can possibly find time to read them. So, take a long hard look at your list of schools, their supplements (or non-Common App essay topics), and start early. I would suggest drafting 4 or 5 short essays on several different topics or themes - whatever you’re interested in, or whatever best defines you - and then setting them aside until you have a firm list of schools and their essay prompts. Usually, many of the essay prompts are similar, and you can “recycle” your best essays to fit the topics. Good luck!</p>