Application burn-out

Question

I feel totally drained of writing energy. I am applying to 4 schools this round and I was totally on a roll for a good couple weeks. I had great ideas, felt pumped to revise and edit, and have incorporated others' feedback.

Now I'm just tired of the whole thing! In particular, I don't want to write anymore of the "Why our school?" essays. Even though I'm not applying to Harvard, I love how they don't even ask that question. The mentality seems to be, "Ummm, why not Harvard?...is there even anywhere else worth going?" Why can't the rest of the schools be less insecure! Haha. On a serious note though, I am curious how others are faring these days. Did anyone else go through a funk and how long did it last?

Or how is everyone feeling? Is anyone even out there!?

highwyre237 · Answer

Same here! I have working drafts for 2 schools, but now when I'm trying to answer the "why us" question, I find myself hanging out on that schools website trying to find info, and then somehow find myself on youtube an hour later watching videos like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_mVb-G1v1I and laughing uncontrollably... I think I'm delirious.

EmBeeAy23 · Answer

Absolutely on the same ship. Maybe if it weren't for work at the full-time job ramping up or a summer class getting in the way of essay time or making up excuses like the ones I just mentioned, but I definitely have a "writer's block" if there ever was one. Since my essay writing (the real meat of the application) has slowed to a crawl, I've been getting everything else in order that doesn't require as much introspective thinking and time: really cleaning up that resume, filling out the basics in the application forms, sending recommendation forms/links to my recommenders, scheduling campus visits, etc.

We'll get there eventually...!!

We'll get there eventually...!!

ebonn101 · Answer

This is why I personally recommend applying to your dream schools in R1 despite many saying you should do so in R2. Any edge you gain by having your second round applications "get better" as you get more experience with essay questions is, in my opinion, vastly outweighed by the fact that you're burned out, less motivated, and just ready for the whole process to end.

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machichi · Answer

That's a really good point. I can't imagine how unmotivated I'd be to apply round 2 after all this!

highwyre237 · Answer

I'm focusing on my R1 october deadline schools right now... I dont even know how I'll be able to focus on NYU's Nov deadline, forget about R2...

prorsum · Answer

I'm applying to six schools and when I do feel the burn out I do this:

1. I take a week off, completely forget about apps. Stop going onto gmatclub, stop talking about it among friends, etc. 
2. Then I realize that i might be behind. The fear then motivates me to come out with new ideas
3. Repeat
4. ....?
5. Profit

RoyHalladay · Answer

I just wrote a first draft of one of the 4 essays for the first school. I hate it already. This is going to be a longgg few months.

ss87 · Answer

Totally feel it! I started in beginning July and I feel that all the times I have spent cooped up at home just doing this is chipping away at me - When I am working, I cant stop thinking of this, when I go out, I feel so guilty afterwards, and when I actually spend time on this I get so tired!

And now I have barely completed 1 school essay for R1 - still 4 more to go

And now I have barely completed 1 school essay for R1 - still 4 more to go

ak2012 · Answer

I am in the same boat. Even worse, it's beginning to affect my wife too. I took this past weekend completely off, no apps, no work, nothing. It felt really good! My strategy earlier was to spend more time on weekends on apps than weekdays. I just might do all my essay writing on weekdays now and go to weekends as we get closer to the deadlines.

RoyHalladay · Answer

I dont think its that bad. If its causing you that much trouble for only 1 school, youre doing something wrong. 6 weeks should be enough time to prep quality essays, theyre not novels.

I think you should take a break for a couple days and not touch the essays.

Application burn-out

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