When should you start writing your college essays?
I'm a rising senior and I keep hearing mixed advice about when to actually start with college essays. Some people tell me summer before senior year is the best time, while others say it's fine to start during the fall. I'm worried if I wait until the school year starts, I’ll get overwhelmed with classes and other obligations.
For those who have already applied, when did you actually begin writing your essays? Did you feel like you started early enough, and was it stressful balancing essays with school? I’m hoping to make a schedule and want to avoid last-minute chaos, but I also need ideas to develop.
Is there a real advantage to starting extra early, or does it just mean you'll end up rewriting everything anyway?
For those who have already applied, when did you actually begin writing your essays? Did you feel like you started early enough, and was it stressful balancing essays with school? I’m hoping to make a schedule and want to avoid last-minute chaos, but I also need ideas to develop.
Is there a real advantage to starting extra early, or does it just mean you'll end up rewriting everything anyway?
4 months ago
•
48 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Starting your college essays over the summer before senior year is a great idea for most students. It gives you the advantage of having more free time to reflect on your life, brainstorm topics, and write without the pressure of homework, extracurriculars, and other deadlines piling up during the school year.
Many students who wait until the fall find themselves scrambling to finish essays while also applying themselves in classes, which can feel overwhelming. If you get a head start over the summer, you can spread out the process: begin with brainstorming in June or July, write a rough draft in August, and spend September and early October revising. This gradual approach lets you step away from your essays and return with fresh eyes—almost always leading to better writing.
Some people worry that starting early means their ideas will change and they’ll just rewrite everything anyway. While that's possible, it actually helps! The rewriting process is often where essays become more thoughtful and polished. Even if your story changes, your early work gets you thinking more deeply about your experiences. For example, one student I know started brainstorming in June, wrote a few personal anecdotes in July, and didn't settle on his main topic until late August. Because he began early, he had the luxury of discarding drafts that didn't feel right without feeling pressed for time.
If you’re still searching for ideas, try writing down a few memorable moments from the past two years—both positive and challenging. See if any stand out as particularly meaningful or unique to your experience. Even short vignettes can be the seed of a strong personal statement.
To sum up, starting during the summer can drastically reduce your stress later and gives you more time to revise. If you absolutely need more time for your ideas to develop, at least try to have a first draft of your main essay by the end of September. This way, you'll have plenty of space for editing and for tackling the shorter supplemental essays that many schools also require.
Many students who wait until the fall find themselves scrambling to finish essays while also applying themselves in classes, which can feel overwhelming. If you get a head start over the summer, you can spread out the process: begin with brainstorming in June or July, write a rough draft in August, and spend September and early October revising. This gradual approach lets you step away from your essays and return with fresh eyes—almost always leading to better writing.
Some people worry that starting early means their ideas will change and they’ll just rewrite everything anyway. While that's possible, it actually helps! The rewriting process is often where essays become more thoughtful and polished. Even if your story changes, your early work gets you thinking more deeply about your experiences. For example, one student I know started brainstorming in June, wrote a few personal anecdotes in July, and didn't settle on his main topic until late August. Because he began early, he had the luxury of discarding drafts that didn't feel right without feeling pressed for time.
If you’re still searching for ideas, try writing down a few memorable moments from the past two years—both positive and challenging. See if any stand out as particularly meaningful or unique to your experience. Even short vignettes can be the seed of a strong personal statement.
To sum up, starting during the summer can drastically reduce your stress later and gives you more time to revise. If you absolutely need more time for your ideas to develop, at least try to have a first draft of your main essay by the end of September. This way, you'll have plenty of space for editing and for tackling the shorter supplemental essays that many schools also require.
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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5 years
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