As December begins, we experience a greater sense of urgency regarding school applications. For many students, campus visits and interviews are either complete or in process, teachers have been asked for recommendations, and you have a plan for testing. The big task is to complete the application essays. While they are not due until sometime in January, we recommend that you work on them in the coming weeks in order to avoid having to do them during the winter vacation. By getting organized now, you should be able to finish drafts for your counselor to review by the middle of December.
A good strategy is to look carefully at the various questions to determine if there are common themes (there usually are) that can save you from writing extra essays. Use the prompts as jumping off places for your ideas – these are personal essays that reflect who you are and help the admissions committees round out their understanding of you. The essays should sound like you, not an adult, and reflect your school experience to date.
Take your time, but don’t procrastinate – it will feel so good to have these finished so you can enjoy a well-deserved vacation. Good luck and stay in touch during your writing process.
