<p>The common app is keeping their essay prompts from this past year. Obviously, you do your writing on your own computer. Don’t attempt to fill out the actual common app until August or September. You might consider writing out some “diary style” stories and significant situations of your life. It’s lower stress and it can be great material to pull from as you sit down to write your more formal essays later.</p>
<p>Individual colleges can start releasing their writing supplements in Spring/early summer even before the common app releases them. Keep a look out on the schools on your list for that info. </p>
<p>Put together your resume. Put EVERYTHING on it… every activity, volunteer slot, dates, contacts, description. You may have to drop some activities for your college app due to space, but it’s easy to forget that one time you did mock trial in freshman year but didn’t love it. However, some scholarship, some interview, that experience might come in handy and it’s good to have a solid reference to all that you did prior to filling out applications.</p>
<p>Look into scholarships. Some institutional scholarships require applicants to apply prior to the regular date. Local scholarship deadlines can already be published in some cases. It can be overwhelming to manage multiple college applications, multiple scholarship applications AND school/activities so as much work you can do prior, the better.</p>
<p>I recommend finding an EA or rolling admissions safety. A school you like and can afford. It’s really, really nice to have a school “in-the-bag” as you head into heavy application season.</p>