Our All-Time Best Tips to Finally Getting Started on that College Essay
It’s the time of year when rising seniors are starting to think about college application essays. Many, if not all, feel blocked at some point. That’s why we’ve compiled our top tips to get over the hump and start writing. These tips have helped literally hundreds of kids in the past. Let us know if any work for you!
Read sample college essays online or from books to see how others have approached their essays. Remind yourself that these writers likely started with imperfect drafts, just like yours. This is a great resource: 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays
Read great writing. Really great writing can inspire you to write. Fiction, non-fiction, and poetry all work -- you just have to like the writing. Do you have a favorite author? Start there. If not, try any of these: The 10 Best Essay Collections of the Decade
Talk it out: Discuss your ideas with a friend, family member, or even a pet. As soon as it starts to get interesting, get out a notebook.
Speaking of... use a notebook. Sometimes screens can feel extra daunting. Writing by hand feels more casual, connects you more directly to your thoughts, and makes it harder to edit or be self-critical. (If you can't do this, cover your screen with a sheet of printer paper and write that way for as long as you can.)
Have a rule that you will not revise a single sentence or paragraph until a draft is complete.
Freewrite: Using a laptop or notebook, set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write whatever comes to mind about your essay topic. Don't worry about structure or grammar at this point.
Tell yourself you are writing a "bad" draft. Make it terrible. Writing is 100 times easier when you are already starting with words on a page, even if you think they’re shamefully bad.
Draw, or more specifically, create a mind map: Draw a visual diagram with your main essay topic in the center and branch out with related ideas and keywords. Embrace the idea that this initial mind map can be messy and imperfect.
Change your environment: If you're feeling stuck, try writing in a different location. Tell yourself that this change of scenery is a chance to relax and write without pressure.
Start in the middle: Don't feel pressured to begin with the perfect introduction. Start writing a section that feels easier to you, reminding yourself that it's okay if it's not polished yet.
Use prompts or quotes: Read over the college essay prompts, inspirational quotes, or questions related to your essay topic. Remind yourself that the goal is simply to get something written, even if it's not great.
Set small goals: Break down the writing process into manageable tasks. Set a goal to write a certain number of sentences or a paragraph each day, and reassure yourself that it's okay if it's just a rough draft. Don’t read over what you have written until the next day.
Watch stand-up comedy: good comedy is good writing. Not only will it inspire you, but it will also make you laugh and give you some stress relief. The best writing happens when you are not stressed out.
When in the process of writing, notice that each sentence you write asks an implicit question. Go back to the previous sentence. What question do you feel the next sentence needs to answer? Write in this way until you have a complete draft. (Example: My mother always loved the mountains. Question: What did she love about them? OR What does that have to do with you? Next sentence: She loved the way they scraped the sky and interrupted the horizon. OR I, on the other hand, found them oppressive. Question: Why did you find them oppressive?... You get the idea.)
Get out of your head by getting physical: go for a run, do jumping jacks. Before you shower or change, sit down to write. Undoubtedly, you will have had some thoughts you need to get down.
Use Jerry Seinfeld’s technique: Tell yourself you are sitting at your desk for one hour. You don’t need to write, but you are not allowed to do anything else. No phone, no internet. Bring only a notebook and a pen.
Do a combination of several of these: read some very good writing, do some exercise, sit down for an hour with only a pen and a pad of paper, write a bad draft… you get the idea.
Looking for more guidance? College essays are our absolute favorite. We love helping student construct narratives that let colleges see the very best in them. We also find they can help students better understand their own lives. Sign up for a consultation and we can get you started.
