STAGE 3: Rough Draft

IN THIS STAGE YOU WILL:

Write an initial rough draft of your college admissions essay
Review your draft with an essay coach and create a revision plan

This is the STAGE you’ve been building toward: your first rough draft, the foundation for two deeper revisions.

Using your STAGE 2: Blueprint, you’ll write a complete draft of your essay. We emphasize the word “rough” because this draft is not meant to be polished. The goal is simple: get your ideas out of your head and onto the page so we can see how your story is taking shape.

Think of this as your starting point. Strong college essays aren’t written in one attempt. They’re written through revision. In later STAGEs, you’ll return to this draft to reshape sections, sharpen your focus, improve organization, and refine your voice. Each version will be clearer and stronger than the last.

For now, focus on content, not perfection. Don’t worry about grammar, transitions, or whether every sentence sounds “good.” Treat this draft like a rehearsal. You may write too much in one section and not enough in another. You may wander off topic or uncover details you didn’t remember until you started writing. That’s normal – and useful!

Let your STAGE 2: Blueprint guide you, but don’t be afraid to see where the writing takes you.

A Note on Word Count

Do not stress about word count at this STAGE. It’s better to write too much than too little. Even if your draft ends up close to 1,000 words, that’s fine. As you revise, the essay will naturally move toward the Common App’s 650-word limit. In later STAGEs, we will trim and refine your draft so it fits within the 650-word Common App limit.

Reviewing Your Draft

In Meeting #3, you and your essay coach will review your rough draft together. This is a working session, not a judgment. You’ll identify what’s working, what needs development, and what should be cut or reshaped. You and your coach will complete the “Revision Goals” section inside your STAGE 3 document. These goals will guide your Intermission Feedback Draft.

Your Assignment:

In your personal Google Drive folder, navigate to the “STAGE Essay Program Materials” subfolder and open the STAGE 3: Rough Draft document.
Write your rough draft in the document and be sure to paste your Common App prompt at the top.
Submit your work using the Multi-Purpose Submission Form (no less than 48 hours before your next meeting). Open the Multi-Purpose Submission Form and enter your Student Name and Student Email Address. Then select:
> Submission Type: Essays and Written Work
> Submitted By: Student Alone
> Essay/Written Work Type: STAGE Program (Main Common App Essays)
> STAGE of the process: STAGE 3: Rough Draft
> Next, copy and paste the Google Doc link to your completed STAGE 3: Rough Draft document into the link box and click SUBMIT at the bottom of the form. (If your 48-hour deadline falls on a weekend, please submit by Friday to allow time for review)

The STAGE Program

RETURN TO STAGE HOMEPAGE