Supplemental essay prompts have not been released.

[Anonymous]

Just checked colleges' website, many schools (Penn, Emory for example) have not released/updated the supplemental essay prompts at this time. Can we assume the essay prompts stay the same? Or is it better to wait until the schools officially update the essay prompts? DC would like to start working on essay during the rest of the summer. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Wait a few weeks and they'll be released. I would not assume they are the same.

[Anonymous]

Many change. Don’t start on them until the new ones are released.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just checked colleges' website, many schools (Penn, Emory for example) have not released/updated the supplemental essay prompts at this time. Can we assume the essay prompts stay the same? Or is it better to wait until the schools officially update the essay prompts? DC would like to start working on essay during the rest of the summer. Thanks.

I am a basket case over this and I would like to continue to nag my DC to work on essays during the rest of the summer.

FTFY.

[Anonymous]

Wait until August 1. This was asked on a few of our college tours this summer and at least one school said they would be changing their prompts. Past prompts can give you an idea of what the school has valued and can be a good tool for brainstorming ideas, but I'd hold off on drafting whole essays until you have the correct prompts.

[Anonymous]

Pretty meaningless

[Anonymous]

A good way to use this time:

Keep a Google doc (or even a Notes file) and do some specific research on each school you're applying to. Write down salient points that you might be able to use in essays like the "why us" essay.

[Anonymous]

Has he already completed his common app essay and list of activities? If yes, he's far ahead and it's ok that he needs to wait until August 1 before starting the supplements. If not, he should focus on that.

[Anonymous]

Do the research now for each school. Use the website, social media and school newspaper.

Create a new google doc for each school, and links to on campus ECs, events, classes, professors. Research on major should be listed too. Research what each school’s mission is and what their AO says they look for in applications. For each school, include school traditions, and location specific amenities that align with your profile.

Believe me it will come in handy to know what Stanford’s Symbolic Systems major entails in one place. Plus having a document that helps you show your alignment to the school’s ethos will be like an outline or roadmap and make writing a breeze.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has he already completed his common app essay and list of activities? If yes, he's far ahead and it's ok that he needs to wait until August 1 before starting the supplements. If not, he should focus on that.

Yes, the common app essay is done. Junior year English class second semester had that as a class project.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the research now for each school. Use the website, social media and school newspaper.

Create a new google doc for each school, and links to on campus ECs, events, classes, professors. Research on major should be listed too. Research what each school’s mission is and what their AO says they look for in applications. For each school, include school traditions, and location specific amenities that align with your profile.

Believe me it will come in handy to know what Stanford’s Symbolic Systems major entails in one place. Plus having a document that helps you show your alignment to the school’s ethos will be like an outline or roadmap and make writing a breeze.

This is a really good idea. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Lots of good ideas here.if your kid really wants to start essays, try having them brainstorm or write essays about -an EC, a community they belong to, and leadership. As well as Why Major. Pre-work on these might help later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has he already completed his common app essay and list of activities? If yes, he's far ahead and it's ok that he needs to wait until August 1 before starting the supplements. If not, he should focus on that.

Yes, the common app essay is done. Junior year English class second semester had that as a class project.

Have him look at it again. DC grew a lot as a writer and was in a different mindset on college apps from end of jr year to when the first app was due.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the research now for each school. Use the website, social media and school newspaper.

Create a new google doc for each school, and links to on campus ECs, events, classes, professors. Research on major should be listed too. Research what each school’s mission is and what their AO says they look for in applications. For each school, include school traditions, and location specific amenities that align with your profile.

Believe me it will come in handy to know what Stanford’s Symbolic Systems major entails in one place. Plus having a document that helps you show your alignment to the school’s ethos will be like an outline or roadmap and make writing a breeze.

Is this something kids are actually doing? Or parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the research now for each school. Use the website, social media and school newspaper.

Create a new google doc for each school, and links to on campus ECs, events, classes, professors. Research on major should be listed too. Research what each school’s mission is and what their AO says they look for in applications. For each school, include school traditions, and location specific amenities that align with your profile.

Believe me it will come in handy to know what Stanford’s Symbolic Systems major entails in one place. Plus having a document that helps you show your alignment to the school’s ethos will be like an outline or roadmap and make writing a breeze.

Is this something kids are actually doing? Or parents?

Our counselor did it with the kids - a template.

But yes my kids did something similar. For each school.