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Duke University
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UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Having trouble writing my college essay, any advice?

Feeling stuck, I can't seem to get my college essay rolling. Whenever I start, I end up with a blinking cursor and a blank page. It's like I have a mental block. What are your tips for getting over this hump? How did you find your writing groove?

11 months ago

I completely understand the difficulty of getting started on such an important piece of writing like your college essay. It can certainly feel overwhelming at the outset. One technique I recommend is starting with a free-writing exercise. Set a timer for 15 minutes and just write whatever comes to mind when you think about the essay prompt. Don't worry about grammar, structure, or even making sense—just write. This can help get the creative juices flowing and you might find a gem in your ideas to develop further.

Another tip is to think of a specific moment in your life that has shaped you or a subject that you are incredibly passionate about—stories or themes that truly reflect who you are. Start by telling it like a story to a friend or family member and then jot down the key elements of that story afterwards. Sometimes speaking it out loud first can make it easier to write down.

And remember, your first draft doesn't have to be perfect. It's more important to get your ideas out on the page and refine from there. You've got this!

11 months ago

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