College essay season is upon us! Which means you're more than likely to see zombie seniors, sleep deprived and bitter about everything. So take it from one of the zombies: you'll need all the advice and help you can get — I sure wish I had some insight on how to avoid the current stress I'm feeling. As someone who's getting through doing her college applications and has learned a thing or two along the way, here are seven things you should know before writing your college essays.
1. Don't procrastinate!
I feel like this is the easiest, most sensible piece of advice, yet the hardest one to follow. Start working on your college essays during the summer before senior year. I know it seems early, but the time passes way faster than you'd expect, so you'll be thanking yourself later. Find friends to work with so you can motivate each other and keep each other on track. And if your friends are bound to get off task, make deadlines to meet and keep incentives to motivate yourself to keep working.
2. Look at other essays!
Don't plagiarize or steal ideas, but reading older college essays helps you get an idea of what colleges are looking for. Look at good examples, bad examples, essays that got students into your dream school. It helps you get an idea of the large variety of writing styles and topics that you can write on, and this can broaden your perspectives so you won't be afraid of writing out of your comfort zone.
Use this website to find examples for essays from specific colleges!
3. Brainstorm Topics
The hardest part of writing my essays was hands down thinking of a topic. Once you do that, it's just about perfecting your piece, but how do you start? Those first few words are the hardest to get down on paper, so start thinking of topics as soon as you can.
Look at the prompts and brainstorm a list of ideas. Sometimes the first one that comes to you isn't the best, and sometimes it is. It all depends on what you can do with the topic you choose, so make sure you come up with something you can work with easily.
4. Don't disqualify yourself.
I know it seems ridiculous, but don't tell stories you'll regret saying later. A lot of the times, the prompts ask for interesting stories, and your mind immediately goes to crazy things you've done. They asked for interesting, so that's what you want to give, right?
Just make sure you don't tell the story of how you skipped school to go to Six Flags, regardless of how well it's written.
5. Focus on the writing.
While topics are important, focus more on how and why something is written, not what. Even the most boring topic, if written correctly, can sound impressive. People focus on the way your story is told and how talented you are in capturing the audience in the story of your life. Make them understand your goals and intentions for writing through your story so they can get to know you — that's what they're looking for.
6. Opinions
Ask for opinions! After you've written your essay, don't be afraid to ask people what they think of your piece. Ask tutors, teachers, family or friends. Use all the resources you can to get different perspectives on your writing. You don't have to follow what everyone says, but it helps to give you an idea of the different ways your essay can be interpreted.
7. Most Importantly: Relax!
I know that's HILARIOUS to hear, but I mean it. Try not to stress out too much. Take it slow. You'll have other things to deal with at the same time, like homework and spending your last year with your friends. So make sure to enjoy your senior year and take care of yourself. It may not seem too important now, but it will reflect in your essay.
