Want to get started on your personal statement?
We're here to help!
Sheltering-in-place at home, you may find yourself with a little extra free time on your hands. Instead of binging another Netflix dating show, consider using this time to start thinking about (drumroll, please…) your personal statements!
Luckily, the prompts for the Common Application and Coalition Application have both been confirmed for quite some time now — which means we already know what the questions are and their respective word counts. (Woohoo!). We know the thought of starting the essay writing process can be intimidating. However, getting an early start is bound to help alleviate future stress.
Here are our top tips to help you get started on your essay, ASAP.
1. Schedule Time to Day Dream
This may sound silly, but schedule 10 minutes a day, three times a week to literally sit on the couch and let your mind wander. Write it down in your calendar or planner so that you*have* to commit to it. During your daydream session, crack open a box of Milano cookies and take some time to think about what you’re passionate about, what admissions may not know about you based on your other application materials, what your goals are and what makes you tick.
2. Write Everything Down
Repeat after us: All ideas are valuable. And no idea is too silly or crazy to consider. Ultimately, you never know how your ideas will play off of one another — so be sure to write down every random idea that comes into your brain during your daydream sessions. We recommend keeping a brainstorming journal so you can keep track of your thoughts and later utilize them to pull together a compelling essay topic.
3. Take Advantage of Free Resources
The Internet is chock-full of free resources — so use this to your advantage. We’re a bit biased, but our 11-part, 3.5-hour-long College Essay Academy is one of the most valuable resources out there right now. The course — which is posted on YouTube — will guide you through the entire essay process, from the brainstorming sessions to the final polish. Even if you watch the series casually over the course of a week or two, we’re confident that it will help you better understand what you need to accomplish in the essay writing process and help you set up a game plane.
