<p>My question deals with general trends. Some of my colleges use the common app and some do not.
If possible, I would love to have most of my college applications--minus recommendations--finished the summer before my senior year. Is this a realistic possibility? How early do most college applications (or common app supplements) become available for download?</p>
<p>I believe the Common App goes live the first day of August. Most schools release their supplements subsequently.</p>
<p>That’s perfect. Thank you</p>
<p>Its always the first of August at 12:01 am. Most schools submit their supplements a week later. I had that issue with a few schools.</p>
<p>I fail to understand why you would want to rush this process. If you can write some sick essays before the year starts, kudos to you. I doubt this though.</p>
<p>^It’s entirely possible, and probably preferable. Handling college applications on top of a senior year courseload can be pretty stressful and demanding.</p>
<p>Admirable! My daughter planned to do the same. But, did not follow through, so here we are, end of december, and she is still slogging away.</p>
<p>The common app essays have not changed in years. Also, although they release the application on August 1st, they publish a preview well before. Some supplements keep the same essays, but most change them, so you do not want to get too far ahead on that one. I think, if you were really organized, you could have your CA essays done before the application goes online, and then start looking at the supplements as they come on line.</p>
<p>anotherparent, that’s a good idea: I’ll definitely have to look into doing my CA essays before the application is released. It looks like the essay has been the same for at least 3 years. cornetking222, the goal is not to rush my essays. My high school has a particularly busy 1st semester for seniors, so I’d prefer to have some rough drafts ready before the semester starts so I can sit on them and edit for the next 4 months instead of writing them amidst the coursework.</p>
<p>Yeah I’d recommend working on the Common App, not the supplements for the most part.</p>
<p>The Common App essay pretty much lets you write whatever you want. It’s great to get a head start over the summer, but honestly, it’s easier said than done. My Honors English teacher made us all write college essays over the summer for a grade, and we all turned in essays on the first day of school…but I don’t think anyone actually ended up using that essay.
But it’s good to at least get started on the process, if anything, to realize how formidable it is. Then at least you won’t blow it off until December, lol.
I’d suggest writing two essays over the summer. Do lots of brainstorming, because you’ll need lots of ideas for your supplements. Especially if you apply to quirky schools like Chicago. Oh, you could also work on your “Why X” essays. Those aren’t too bad to write…at least you have a concrete topic! Umm, you could also start your activities essay, where you write 250 words about an activity or hobby etc. </p>
<p>Oh! also compile a list of awards, if you do it last minute, it’s so easy to forget to include an award. If you’re adding a supplemental resume, you could format that too. And if you plan on submitting like a science paper, or something like that too then you could get that put together–write a layman’s summay of it to include with the paper, format a cover letter. </p>
<p>Ummm, other things to do…format a template to print out stuff on envelopes. I don’t know if you already have a template saved to print out addresses onto envelopes, but I mailed out so many letters last year to colleges, it definitely saved me time to be able to just copy and paste the addresses into a word document rather than write them out. It also looks a lot more professional. </p>
<p>Anyway, good luck with your apps!</p>
<p>I think you could create a cc account right now, and fill out the forms, then print them out, so you have the to refer to next year. They will be wiped off the system some time in july.</p>
<p>Like anotherparent’s D, I had <em>planned</em> to do the apps over the summer. However, life and jobs got in the way, and I’m actually happy that I waited. I was able to put NMSF on my resume, put some extra EC’s that became opportunities to me at the beginning of the school year, and still got everything submitted by October 15th. I think it’s a good idea to get started, but don’t rush your essays just to get your apps in. In my opinion, it’s best to perfect the essays than to submit quite early.</p>
<p>I dont think he is rushing to get them in, just get them done. I agree, do not send them in much before the actual due date.</p>