How Long Does it Take to Write College Essay | Full Guide

You’re running out of time. College admissions are ongoing, and you haven’t even started your application process. 

You’ve heard that one of the requirements for a college admission is an application essay. 

You’ve never written a college admission essay before, and considering your limited time, you’re wondering how long it will take you to write one. 

Well, in this article we’ll answer the question, “How long does it take to write a college essay?” If you’re also wondering how to structure your essay, we’ve got you covered, as we will also cover how to write a college application essay. So if you’re ready, let’s kickstart! 

Table of Content

What is a College Application Essay?  

A college application essay is a personal statement written by a college applicant as part of the admissions process.

Most colleges and universities require an application essay alongside academic records, tests, proof of identity, and other supporting documents.

It is like a cover letter that details your motivation for applying to the course and university, your experiences, and your future aspirations. This gives the admission committee an insight into your personality, values, and goals. It is your opportunity to show the reviewers how you stand out from other applicants and why they should select you.

Also read: IELTS Exam 2025 | Requirements, Dates, Syllabus

How Long Does it Take to Write a College Essay?

There is no specific time frame for writing your college application essay—it differs based on speed, access to resources, and even differing deadlines. 

If you’re working with a close deadline, you can speed up your essay in one or two days. However, if you have a gracious timeframe within which to submit, spend at least 2 to 4 weeks on your essay. This interval will give you enough time to draft, redraft, edit, revise, send to family and friends for review, and implement their corrections. 

How to Write a College Application Essay 

A college application essay can determine whether or not you are selected for admission. And that’s why writing it feels overwhelming for most applicants. Where do you start? What do you say? And how do you stand out without sounding like you’re trying too hard? 

This section will answer all your questions about how to write a college application essay, breaking down the process step by step. 

Pro Tip: Before you start writing your college application essay, read the prompt multiple times until you’re 100% certain that you understand its intent. If possible, ask people for their interpretations and compare their responses. This precaution is necessary because your essay must CLEARLY respond to the prompt. If you missed the direction of the question, you would have greatly lowered your chances of being selected. 

Also read: How Much is IELTS Exam Fee in Nigeria?

How to Write a College Essay Introduction 

The introduction of an essay is the most vital part—it determines whether or not the reviewers will continue reading. Therefore, it is important to draft a compelling essay that will get the admission committee hooked. 

Here are some simple steps to follow in learning how to write a college essay introduction that grasps the attention of your reviewers:  

1. Start with a compelling story, quote, or ideology. Don’t start with something mundane, such as your name or how you were raised. Rather, grab their attention with something captivating but closely related to the course you’re applying for. Below is a sample: 

Throughout his years on earth, Martin Luther King Jr. believed that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Growing up in a remote community, I witnessed firsthand how vulnerable people are marginalized and oppressed. The situation worsened when we realized that justice is out of our reach—only the rich could afford standard legal representation, and if you saved up your money to pay for a good lawyer, your case would most likely be manipulated, delayed, or dismissed. This situation fueled my passion for studying law as a tool for advocacy and systemic change…

2. Introduce yourself briefly and connect the story with your statement of who you are.
3. Briefly give an overview of what you’ll be discussing in the rest of the essay. 

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How to Write a College Essay About Yourself 

“Tell us about yourself.” 

That question seems straightforward, but it really is complex in its own tactical way. This complexity is why many people search for guidance on “how to write a college essay about themselves.

Writing about yourself—particularly for school —doesn’t necessarily mean stating all your hobbies, likes and dislikes. Rather, it’s an opportunity to highlight some personal Include Include experiences that relate to your chosen course, as well as your academic achievements and skills. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to write a college essay about yourself:

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Step 1 – Step 3: Outline, Heading, and Introduction

1. Create an outline. In order not to deviate from the application question, it is important to outline the aspects of your story that you’ll cover in the essay. This will not be part of the main essay; rather, it should be drafted on a rough sheet. A clear outline might look like this: 

• Introduction: state who I am, and the course I’m applying for 
• Connect the introduction with the body of the essay using a compelling transition 
• State my motivation for applying for Engineering course 
• State my experience working with Cocoon Constructions in the summer, and how the experience relates to the course I am applying for 
• State how I employed my leadership skills to organise a community construction project, gaining attention and support from the mayor 
• Highlight my academic achievements in high school 

2. Start with a captivating heading for the essay
3. Your introduction should also be compelling. Refer to the previous section on how to write a college essay introduction 

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Step 4: Drafting the Body, Leveraging STAR

4. Draft the body of the essay, highlighting the following: 

• your educational background 
• your academic achievements 
• your relevant experiences 

Leverage the STAR approach for a better output in this step on how to write a college essay about yourself. The STAR approach is a common strategy employed to write college essays. STAR is an acronym for: 

S – Situation 

T – Task 

A – Action 

R – Result 

It is most useful when describing your experiences and achievements. For instance, rather than just stating that you enrolled 500 students in school, use the STAR methodology to demonstrate the problem, how you took action, and the end result. This approach is more compelling. Below is an example:

Situation: In my final year of secondary school, I noticed that dozens of children in my neighborhood roamed the streets during school hours. 

Task: I felt a deep empathy for these kids. I wondered what they could learn in school and who they could become. I set a goal to champion efforts to enroll as many of these children as possible in nearby schools. 

Action: I began by conducting informal surveys and speaking with parents to understand their challenges. I then partnered with a local NGO focused on child welfare to raise funds for school fees, basic school supplies and after-hours tutoring/counseling. 

Result: Within six months, we successfully enrolled 500 children into various schools in the area. More importantly, we witnessed a mindset shift—parents who once saw education as optional began attending PTA meetings and supporting their children’s learning.

Step 5 – Step 6: Connecting relevant Stories and Closing

5. Next up, connect your backstory and your chosen course to your future goals or aspirations. Explain how your studies will help you attain your future goals, and demonstrate how those goals will contribute vitally to society. 
6. Finally, craft an unforgettable closing by summarizing all your points and tying them back to one key point.  

Pro Tip: The best college essays tell a story. Instead of simply listing achievements, create a vivid picture. A good rule of thumb: show, don’t just tell. For example, instead of writing, “I’m a determined person,” describe a moment when your determination made a difference—like organising a fundraiser, or teaching yourself a language in a foreign country, etc. 

How to Write a College Application Essay—Common Pitfalls 

Here are some things to watch out for when writing your essay: 

• Clichés: Avoid overused essay topics, sentences and words. Be unique. Let your essay be a breath of fresh air.
• Confidence is good; arrogance isn’t. Thus, in highlighting your achievements, be careful not to sound boastful. 
• Avoid using big words just for the sake of sounding smart: write in plain, clear terms. 
• Don’t just rewrite your résumé in your essay. Channel your energy into convincing the admission officers that you’re a good fit for their school  

Pro Tip: Admission officers read thousands of essays—what cuts through the noise is your genuine voice. So don’t just write what you think they want to read; rather, write what’s true and what reflects your personality. If you’re funny, apply it strategically to your essay. If you’re introspective, let them see how deep your thoughts are. Your honesty and personality are what make your essay memorable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: Write an Excellent College Application Essay 

You’re so close to getting into college and studying your dream course. You just have to cross this bridge, and you’ll be there! 

So take some time out to write an excellent college application essay using the steps and tips from this article. Because now you know very well how to write a college application essay—so go get it!

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References

• www.scribbr.com – How long does it take to write a college essay?
• www.goingmerry.com – 9 Tips for Writing an Essay About Yourself