50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays

Write When You’re Fed, Warm, and Loquacious
“Write when you are in a good mood. Don’t write when it’s 11:30 PM, 
and the essay is due in 30 minutes at 12 midnight. Don’t write when you just 
failed a test. Don’t write when you just had a fight with your parents (presum-
ably about why you haven’t finished your college applications yet).
“Write when you are feeling fed, warm, and loquacious. Write when a sud-
den idea makes you go Ooooohhh!! This may mean you have to resort to my 
dorky method of carrying a notebook around for a week or so (Yes, I know 
it’s weird; I’ve been told many times it is weird) but it is definitely worth the 
effort.”
—Susan Sun, University of Pennsylvania