Seriously. This is stupid. We're at winter break already. Work harder.
I started in SEPTEMBER of my senior year. I took 7 classes, 1 of which was weight training which involved waking up EARLY 30 minutes to show up for class because it was required. While most seniors didn't have a first period, I had a first period that required showing up early, at 7:05 AM instead of 7:35 AM. Since second period was at 8:25, most people got to sleep in an hour and a half compared to me basically.
In addition to that, I took a junior college class for multivariable calculus that ran from 6 - 8 PM.
I had MIT's EARLY ACTION to worry about due at November 1st. I also had UC apps due at November 30th, USC due on 12/10, StanFUrd due on 12/15, etc etc...
Man, I worked on my essay DAY after DAY after DAY. In the last 2 weeks before my MIT app was due, I was sending in a copy to a friend everyday so I could get revisions back. During the last 2 weeks of UC apps and USC app, I was sending in to that same friend for revisions EVERYDAY as well. I had like 30 word documents of revisions and I had ironed out a flawless application by the time I turned in my StanFUrd crap. So by the time I had to turn in my Georgia Tech and other private school apps in January, I was resting.
Yes I was resting during my break. All I remember doing was copying and pasting in stuff from Word into the "common app" pdf file and getting ready to hit the submit button.