In a previous blog post we analyzed ten randomly selected colleges and universities and found that to apply to just ten schools, students need to write an average of 31 essays! And that includes the Common App and UC Personal Insight Questions which can be shared between multiple schools. Most students vastly underestimate the number of essays they will have to write for their college applications as well as the time required to write a great essays.
Although the challenge seems daunting, creating a structured plan for writing your college application essays can transform what seems like an overwhelming task into a manageable process. Here’s a sample timelines with concrete goals, incorporating multiple drafts, revisions, adjustments based on college visits or changes in preferences, and efficient reuse of essay topics:
Summer Before Senior Year (June - August)
June:
Week 1-2: Self-Reflection and Brainstorming
Reflect on your experiences, values, and goals.
Make a list of potential essay topics and themes.
Review essay prompts from the Common App and your top target schools.
Week 3-4: Research and Outline
Research each college’s specific essay requirements.
Start outlining your main Common App essay.
Create outlines for the first set of supplemental essays (e.g., top 3-4 schools).
Investigate schools in great detail through YouTube videos, blogs, faculty research, and virtual tours.
July:
Week 1-2: First Drafts (Common App and Top Schools)
Write the first draft of your Common App essay. Try different topics. Don't necessarily go with the first topic that comes to mind. Keep your options open at this stage.
Begin drafting supplemental essays for your top choice schools.
Week 3: Feedback and Revision (Common App)
Share your Common App essay draft with teachers, mentors, or a pre-college consultant for initial feedback.
Revise your Common App essay based on the feedback received.
Week 4: Second Drafts (Top Schools)
Write the second drafts of supplemental essays for your top choice schools.
Seek feedback on these drafts.
August:
Week 1: Third Drafts (Common App and Top Schools)
Revise your Common App essay again, focusing on clarity and narrative flow.
Write the third drafts of your top schools’ supplemental essays.
Seek additional feedback if needed.
Week 2: Reuse and Customize Essays
Identify themes and topics from completed essays that can be reused or adapted for other schools.
Customize essays for additional schools using these themes.
Week 3: Finalize Drafts for Early Applications
Continue refining supplemental essays for early application schools.
Visit colleges (in-person or virtually) and have conversations with admissions counselors or current students to gather insights and adjust essays based on these experiences.
Week 4: Prep for Additional Schools
Begin drafting supplemental essays for additional schools.
Continue revising essays for top schools based on any new feedback.
Fall of Senior Year (September - November)
September:
Week 1-2: Make a plan; First Revisions (Early Action Applications)
Create a spreadsheet containing all the schools your plan to apply to, their admissions deadlines, required essays, and any other information (such as preference or rankings) that might help you prioritize work as your work on your applications.
Revise early action essays based on feedback from the summer.
Proofread all essays for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Ensure each essay meets the word limit and adheres to the prompt.
Seek final feedback from a trusted advisor.
Incorporate insights from college visits or conversations with admissions counselors and students into your essays.
Week 3-4: Drafting and Revising (Regular Decision)
Continue drafting and revising essays for additional schools.
Adjust essays based on any changes in college preferences or majors.
Seek feedback and make necessary revisions.
October:
Week 1: Finalize Early Action Essays
Finalize essays for early action applications.
Proofread all essays again to ensure they are polished and error-free.
Begin uploading essays to the application portals for early action applications.
Week 2: Submit Early Action Applications
Submit early action applications (typically due by November 1st).
Confirm submission of all materials, including essays and other required documents.
Week 3-4: Continue Work on Regular Decision Essays
Review and revise essays for regular decision applications.
Seek feedback and make necessary revisions.
Proofread all essays again to ensure they are polished and error-free.
November:
Week 1-2: Finalize Regular Decision Essays
Finalize and proofread essays for regular decision applications.
Ensure each essay meets the word limit and adheres to the prompt.
Seek final feedback from a trusted advisor.
Week 3-4: Submit Regular Decision Applications
Begin uploading essays to the application portals for regular decision applications.
Confirm submission of all materials, including essays and other required documents.
December and January:
Prioritize and triage
Some schools accept applications throughout December and into January as well. If you still have further applications you're working on into the new year, it's important to start to prioritize. At this stage, assume you may not have time to polish every application as much as you would like to, so prioritize the schools that you really like and schools that you haver a good chance of being accepted to.
Conclusion
By following a week-by-week plan with multiple drafts and revisions, you can tackle the college application essay process with confidence and clarity. Starting early, setting clear goals, and adhering to a structured timeline ensures that each essay is polished and representative of your unique story. Adjusting your plan based on college visits, virtual visits, and conversations with admissions counselors or students ensures your essays stay relevant and targeted.
Remember, a well-crafted essay takes time, reflection, and multiple drafts, so give yourself the gift of time by starting early and staying organized. Sign up for a free intro session with us to get to know us in person and learn more about our teaching philosophy.
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