How long should I realistically take on secondaries?

[I Love Cats]

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Should I scrutinizingly and painstakingly approach them like I did my personal statement, or do I need to fly through them as appropriately as I can? I'm expecting at least 20, and I just started prewriting. And at the moment, I have plenty of time, as I'm only working part time with volunteering to make room for this exact thing. What's a good maximum timeline for me to follow with these?

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Should I scrutinizingly and painstakingly approach them like I did my personal statement, or do I need to fly through them as appropriately as I can? I'm expecting at least 20, and I just started writing.

Draft. Set aside. Review once. Set aside. Review a third time (if you want). Pull the trigger.

Aim for less than 14 days.

 

[I Love Cats]

Should I draft them all before relooking at them all?

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Should I draft them all before relooking at them all?

I don't know what that means!

You have to draft them before you look at them again, or you wouldn't have anything to look at!

I don't think you need to "pre-write" them all before you get the secondary, but you might do that for the ones you want to turn around fastest!

 

[I Love Cats]

I don't know what that means!

You have to draft them before you look at them again, or you wouldn't have anything to look at!

I don't think you need to "pre-write" them all before you get the secondary, but you might do that for the ones you want to turn around fastest!

Ha, I apologize. I meant should I create a big batch and finish them all before I dare review one? Or maybe you just answered this by saying I should prioritize what I feel strongest about and find a healthy balance between completion, submission and still writing.

Also, should I feel as crazed about these as I did about my personal statement? I don't know if that's answerable, but a justified response that alludes to "no" may allow me to be able to write and move on quicker and comfortably, or else I fear spending ridiculous amounts of time on secondaries like I did the personal statement.

Any tips on how to be as efficient as possible with secondaries are more than welcome.

 

[tennisguitar]

I am not sure about others' experiences, but of eight interviews that I attended this past cycle, I can't remember a single time that one of my secondary responses was a topic of conversation with my interviewer. Perhaps the secondary essay can get you in the door for an interview, or it may be more highly regarded when the committee meets for admissions decisions (makes a lot of sense since it's an opportunity to talk about how a school is a good fit), but I always felt that the primary was more valuable in the process. So in that sense, I think its better to return secondaries quickly as opposed to losing sleep of endless editing, perfecting, etc.

 

[thisisansley]

I've been really lucky because my mom is a certified English teacher so I've been sending all my essays to her to look over for spelling/grammar/fluidity and she reads them, assures me that they are representative of me and then I submit them without a second thought. It might be helpful if you have a friend or someone going through the process to agree to proofread each other's essays or something.

 

[DaenarysDuhh]

I've been really lucky because my mom is a certified English teacher so I've been sending all my essays to her to look over for spelling/grammar/fluidity and she reads them, assures me that they are representative of me and then I submit them without a second thought. It might be helpful if you have a friend or someone going through the process to agree to proofread each other's essays or something.

I agree with this.

Also, there are some questions that are fairly consistent across several secondaries - like how you would add diversity to a school or a major challenge you have faced - so you could prioritize writing those, get theme reviewed thoroughly, and then just quickly adjust them for different schools based on word length/ additional detail, because you already have them vetted.

Unfortunately, I don't feel like anyone can let you off the hook as say don't work hard on them. Speed is key but don't let your eagerness to get it done lead to sloppy work, especially if have a high standard in you application already because of your work on your primary.

 

[starlight15]

Ah thanks for the OP for asking this question and other people for answering them. I've also recently started thinking/pre-writing but am also not sure how to balance out all the secondaries I will get with good quality and speed (I haven't been verified at this point... but when I do.. I don't think I can turn around 10+ schools in 2 weeks when I get them all the same day!!)

 

[Doctor Strange]

FWIW, I typed my secondaries, read over them once, and submitted them within twenty four hours. Didn't hold me back at all.

 

[gtbROX]

FWIW, I typed my secondaries, read over them once, and submitted them within twenty four hours. Didn't hold me back at all.

Are you a proficient writer? I'm not that good at writing so a lot of times it takes me a while to get to the point where I'm focused and organized mentally and then I have to get several people to proofread my drafts for me...lol

 

[Doctor Strange]

Are you a proficient writer? I'm not that good at writing so a lot of times it takes me a while to get to the point where I'm focused and organized mentally and then I have to get several people to proofread my drafts for me...lol

I guess I would consider myself a fairly proficient writer. I don't think secondaries require an incredible amount of effort though. I would think that one person proofreading for spelling and grammar would be fine. A lot of secondary questions don't really require that much thought... At least that was my experience.

 

[Chillbo Baggins]

I guess I would consider myself a fairly proficient writer. I don't think secondaries require an incredible amount of effort though. I would think that one person proofreading for spelling and grammar would be fine. A lot of secondary questions don't really require that much thought... At least that was my experience.

That's how I felt. I'd look at the question(s), think about it for a little while, put down the crux, take a little break, expand, break, review, submit.

A few hours or less.

 

[starlight15]

Wish I was more like you guys! Take me forever to think... and then to write

 

[gtbROX]

You're crazy! In a good way haha. Every secondary essay prompt gives me a panic attack....even the ones at i already have essays prepared for.

 

[deleted480308]

FWIW, I typed my secondaries, read over them once, and submitted them within twenty four hours. Didn't hold me back at all.

Ditto on this approach....not one of my 20+ secondaries has taken more than 48hrs

 

[funniful]

Ah thanks for the OP for asking this question and other people for answering them. I've also recently started thinking/pre-writing but am also not sure how to balance out all the secondaries I will get with good quality and speed (I haven't been verified at this point... but when I do.. I don't think I can turn around 10+ schools in 2 weeks when I get them all the same day!!)

Same!! Starting to freak out as my secondaries stopped trickling in after I initially submitted. Anticipating that the rest will just slam in after I'm verified in a week or so.

Got good advice from a friend who said that his writing efficiency and speed improved dramatically after the first 15 or so schools. He suggested staggering your top choices and safety schools so that you get some practice in.

And of course...recycle recycle recycle.

 

[starlight15]

Same!! Starting to freak out as my secondaries stopped trickling in after I initially submitted. Anticipating that the rest will just slam in after I'm verified in a week or so.

Got good advice from a friend who said that his writing efficiency and speed improved dramatically after the first 15 or so schools. He suggested staggering your top choices and safety schools so that you get some practice in.

And of course...recycle recycle recycle.

Oh fun I can look forward to an easier time afor the 16th school! But the staggering one makes sense, I think I'll try to do that, thanks!

 

[I Love Cats]

Fantastic responses thus far. Thank you.

 

[pyrrion89]

I do about 2 per day, then I let it sit for a night while I sleep. I read it with fresh eyes in the morning to make topical revisions. Then it gets sent. Granted, I have done many by now so I have already thought out many of these prompt responses.