How much time did you spend on your application?

Derivate · 10-24-2009, 08:07 PM

For those who were accepted to MIT, how long did you spend writing your essays and filling out the application?

For those applying, how many days did it take you to write your essays?

The essays seem straightforward, but yet I hear people spend a lot of time. Should I be spending more time to answer the short essays?

T-bird · 10-24-2009, 08:09 PM

I'm also a 2014 prospective, and I can tell you that while I'm spending quite a bit of time on the essays, over 50% of the time is just trying to figure out what to write about. I'm bad with coming up with ideas. If you find them straightforward, I don't think it's a big issue - an essay takes me about 10 minutes to write once I figure out what I want to write about.

TheDude2491 · 10-24-2009, 08:35 PM

I'm the same as T-Bird.

The hardest part is to find a good topic. Once I found one, I can get those 250 words done in like 15 minutes.

So ya, basically the brainstorming and maybe editing takes the longest time

Respectfully · 10-25-2009, 02:34 AM

I agree. The actual writing part doesn't me too long. The brainstorming and editing typically is the bulk of time for me. The rest is filling it out and double-checking. I mean I've put plenty of thought and time into the whole process and I'm pretty much done. Just some double-checking fine-tuning.

Djokovic · 10-25-2009, 01:19 PM

yea.. I've read my essays so many times, I am sick of looking at my app X(

Derivate · 10-25-2009, 10:33 PM

I think I am doing something wrong. It seems hard to get a lot of information through without doing a laundry list, yet at the same time, it seems hard not to wax flowery and ramble on and one with filler words.

T-bird · 10-26-2009, 05:01 PM

I'm not sure what you think you're doing wrong from your statement, but I don't really have a problem with rambling. I ramble a lot. It's just who I am.

proace360 · 10-27-2009, 06:31 PM

aggh my app has me so nervous. I've finished everything but two essays and the awards and distinctions part, but I can't find the energy to finish it. Every time I look at my app I notice errors in my previous essays. And then, I have to rewrite them. I've rewritten the essays I finished at least 3 times now, and they are still no where near perfect. meh =/

eisensteinprime · 10-27-2009, 10:59 PM

I spent maybe 10 hours total on my essays, spread out over a couple of days.

PiperXP · 10-28-2009, 10:23 AM

Take as much time as you need. I seemed to be a little quicker at essay-writing than my friends (and applications overall - it took no time aside from the essays, and the essays took a couple of hours), and I was worried about not spending as much time as was usual. Write a good application, whether it takes a short or long time

I do recommend getting a teacher or someone else to edit your essays, though.

cgar514 · 10-28-2009, 05:19 PM

So I am an MIT 2013 (meaning I'm at MIT...) and I spent a good amount of time too. Guys, this is MIT. It's not the Friday test that you study the night before. It'll take time. The thing is you should spread your time out. I spent maybe an hour or two a few days a week on my essay. I'd write/think a bit. Jot down what I had. Proof read. Then go do something else. Each time you come back to the table, you'll be fresh. It's much better than looking at an essay and realizing you haven't really improved it in 3 hours. I don't think you should be looking at a time limit either. It's done when it's done. Also one last thing, you can always keep revising and essay. But there IS a point when the amount of time you're spending on the essay isn't changing it enough to make any significant change. Know when that point is, and stop there, finish the other parts of app, apply, and don't look back.