College stress

I'd say, start writing when you reach the end of your junior year. That way, you can start brainstorming early and get the assistance you need to make your essay better. But throughout your junior year, just live it out and make sure to note how much you've improved. It'll be easier to come up with topics with that list.

Plus, you can apply early. Meaning that you can apply for early action and most likely get accepted more easily.

I'd start in the middle or end of Junior year.Some prefer starting Senior year but It's preferable to start earlier at least for me. You can also look for colleges closest to you If you'd like and check the stats because some colleges aren't what they seem to be.

My recommendation would be to at least start thinking about where you want to go/what you want to study at the beginning of junior year. Once you make it to the mid-year point, start touring colleges and create a draft or two of your Common App essay. You will also probably want to take the SAT as well. This may sound overwhelming at first but once you break it down it becomes more than manageable. Hope this helps, and good luck!