The Common App opens for the new application season every August 1st. That’s the date students entering their senior year in high school can begin to create their college applications, but by August 1st, you should really be toward the END of the college application process, which should have begun the summer going into junior year. (Juniors, are you listening?)
Sometimes I find it’s more effective to explain the schedule to students when I work backwards, like this:
The vast majority of the students I work with apply to most of their schools early action. (Unlike early decision, early action isn’t binding. It merely says to the college, “I’m showing you my application early so that you can give me a decision early.”) Early action deadlines are generally November 1st.
That means EVERYTHING needs to be in by November 1st at the latest — your recommendations, your essays (yes, more than one if the college has a supplemental essay), your list of activities, your transcript, your SAT or ACT scores (which have to be ordered from either the College Board or the ACT and sent to each college directly by that organization -IF you decide to send any of the tests you’ve taken), any college credits you’ve earned by taking college-level classes. EVERYTHING.
So realistically, you should have EVERYTHING in, done, and sent by October 7th at the latest because (1) you want to look eager to the colleges and (2) you don’t want to chance having the Common App website crash as you feverishly work to get everything in the last week in October (and it DOES crash – nearly every year!). Most importantly, you want to apply by October 7th because the acceptance rate at nearly every college is higher for students who apply early action than for students who apply regular decision. That’s not to say you won’t get into a college if you wait until the regular deadline between December and February depending on the school, but why not give yourself every advantage? This article from last year explains that early action acceptance rates are getting higher every year (meaning colleges are taking more students who apply early and fewer students who wait until the regular deadline), and this year is certain to follow that trend.
Even if you’re not applying to a particular school early decision or early action, you still can and should apply by October 7th. Applying well before the deadline is one way to demonstrate your interest to the college. Colleges also tend to distribute financial aid on a first come, first served basis, so the earlier you apply, the more money the college can offer you.
To get your applications finished by October 7th, you need to have:
- taken your SATs and/or ACTs as often as you think practical or possible to show your best self
- asked two teachers for recommendations (ideally, teachers you’ve had junior year in a subject area related to your intended major)
- written your Common App essay (if you Google “Common App Essay topics 2020,” the list of possible topics comes up) and had your essay reviewed by a teacher or tutor or parent (as long as you don’t let your parents edit your paper for anything other than spelling or grammar – I can always tell when a parent has been too hands-on with an essay)
- written your supplement essays (many schools require an additional essay or two or three!)
- created a list of colleges to which you plan to apply, with at least three good-match schools, three safety schools (they’re almost guaranteed to take you unless you commit a felony between when you apply and when they get your application), and three reach schools, which are unlikely to say yes, but hey, you never know
- visited several schools on your list (at least virtually)
- filled out your guidance department’s forms so your counselor knows which schools to send transcripts to (some high schools substitute Naviance for this step, and some schools ask you to fill out information on Naviance AND fill out forms for your guidance department)
- created a resume, or at least written down all of your extracurricular activities, including paid work, volunteer work, academic honors, and athletics grouped into those categories and in reverse chronological order (a resume makes it MUCH easier to complete the Common App and is useful when you go on interviews)
Look at the calendar. October 7th is less than two months away. What are you waiting for?
If you need help with your application or essay, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with me through my website. I’ve been helping kids get into college for over 30 years, so the process doesn’t intimidate me at all, but it can be very daunting the first time.
Good luck!
Wendy Segal
http://www.wendysegaltutoring.com
High School 2 College 