Sleep More, Stress Less: Your Summer Essay Roadmap
What to do in June, July, and August
Hey friend,
I once worked with a student named Sam.
Last fall, Sam started senior year feeling confident. She had good grades, solid extracurriculars, and ambitious target schools. "I'll start my essays in September," she thought. "I work well under pressure anyway."
Then came October:
7:00AM varsity swim practices
5 AP classes with daily homework
2 extracurricular research projects
Personal Statement still in bullet points
Supplemental essays not yet started
Early Decision deadline six weeks away
By November, Sam was surviving on just 5 hours of sleep. "I wish I’d started earlier”, she muttered while biting her nails, looking frazzled and exhausted.
I felt for her. I also heard that sentence every. single. year.
The thing is, Sam's situation had nothing to do with her abilities—it was caused by her lack of planning. So today, I'm breaking down your ideal summer PS timeline so you’ll be prepared for senior year.
June: Self-Reflection
June is about self-discovery and exploring all the layers that make you the person you are today. Peeeel the onion.
Remember our VIBE framework? (Values, Identity, Beliefs, Evolution) This is when you can gather material across all four components.
Your June Checklist:
Complete the Values Workbook from our earlier newsletter
Reflect on 5-10 meaningful experiences from your life (big or small)
Identify moments of challenge, change, or realization
Notice which ideas you’re drawn to
Capture every idea in your notes system
Pro Tip: Schedule specific reflection sessions in your calendar. Even 30 minutes each week can spark great insights after a month.
July: First Draft
July is when you move from reflection to action. The goal? Finish your first PS draft.
Your July Checklist:
Review your June reflections and identify 2-3 high-potential essay topics
Choose the topic that best showcases your VIBE
Draft a simple outline
Write a complete first draft (aim for 500-700 words)
Pro Tip: When writing your first draft, focus on getting your ideas down without self-editing. Just having your story on paper counts as a win.
August: More Drafts
August is when you transform your rough draft into a compelling personal statement.
Your August Checklist:
Strengthen your opening hook
Make sure every paragraph serves a purpose
Craft a meaningful conclusion (while avoiding clichés)
Make sure your voice comes through (aka the essay actually sounds like you)
Proofread for technical errors
Get initial feedback from 1-2 trusted readers
After reviewing hundreds of applications, I've found that students who start their personal statements during summer consistently produce stronger essays AND feel significantly less stressed in senior year.
Now, doesn’t that sound nice? 😏
Next week, I'll be diving deeper into the reflection process. Until then, enjoy the start of summer and have some fun. You deserve it!
As usual, let me know if you have any questions. I’m always happy to connect. 😀
Cheers,
May