<p>...What would it be? I would say to get started EARLY on college applications. I started mine in June and it was so nice not to have to rush getting them done. I have some friends who have 5 or 6 applications left to complete for the January 1st deadline. I don't think they're going to have a very Happy New Year...</p>
<p>ah yes, my advice would also be to start early and to have at least one early action/decision. That way, you would at least finish Common app by November and if lucky, you would have backup.</p>
<p>Realize that no matter how well prepared you THINK you are, it all goes out the window when you actually start. :) I thought I was organized...until November rolled around..</p>
<p>My advice would be to not put off the essays, they stack up. :/</p>
<p>yeah...getting started early would be #1.</p>
<p>but when you get started, I think its good if you just let yourself write several essays. Go with an idea for as long as it works for you, and then leave it once you get writers block. If you start early enough, like if you write several VERY rough drafts early in the summer, then you can leave them for a month, and do a really solid round of editing on those beofre you even get back to school. </p>
<p>then, once you have several different essays in draft form, you can decide which one is best for the common app main essay. Then you have several other drafts to use for supplements (even if you just take snippets of them) which, trust me, REALLY pile up. The sooner you look at the supplements, the better. </p>
<p>Also, EA is an AMAZING thing. Do it if you can. And, if possible, at multiple schools (its nice to do apply to a likely and a reach, or something like that, if possible.) It is really nice to have an idea of where you are by december, and then you can adjust your final list accordingly.</p>
<p>Try to find a safety with rolling admissions or early action. Then you'll be in somewhere early and you won't be stressed out about admissions to other schools as much. Just make sure you still like that school enough to want to attend there if it comes to that.</p>
<p>Don't close your mind to small colleges; they may offer you a better deal (and possibly a better education).</p>
<p>Thanks for all the wonderful advice and good luck to everyone still working on their apps!</p>
<p>Remember kids:</p>
<p>A SAFETY is a school you:</p>
<ol>
<li> can get ACCEPTED to</li>
<li> can AFFORD or get enough SCHOLARSHIPS to go to</li>
<li> LIKE</li>
</ol>
<p>All of the schools I thought were "safeties" only satisfy either 1 and 2 or 1 and 3 :-/</p>
<p>Can a senior give us a timeline of where we should be, what we should be doing, what we should be done with starting at least at the end/beginning of summer? kmj sort of did it unintentionally.</p>
<p>Also, what did you guys do to stay organized and on top of essays, interviews, scheduling things, deadlines etc.?</p>
<p>How did you prepare for colleges in your Junior year? How far along (if at all) were you in the process?</p>
<p>Sorry if I have too many questions. Reality is starting to hit.</p>
<p>Skip college, move to Hollywood, and get famous.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Can a senior give us a timeline of where we should be, what we should be doing, what we should be done with starting at least at the end/beginning of summer?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>July: Common App comes out. Think about starting it.
August: Do nothing.
September: Do nothing.
October: Do nothing.
November: Do nothing.
December: Scramble.</p>
<p>^ If becoming famous doesn't work, definitely do that.</p>
<p>Get your SAT done as soon as you can so you odn't have to worry and can start making up reasonable lists. You don't want to get a bad SAT score and have to rework your list</p>
<p>June: relax after APs/finals
July: look at essay topics and SUPPLEMENTS (take most work) and let it stir in your mind for two weeks, then begin writing
August: edit, edit, edit
September: Make sure recs are ready, and be sure to apply early to rolling schools for scholarships (this really worked for me! full tuition and made my senior year a LOT less stressful)
October: Finish all apps, submit by end of this month.</p>
<p>Thanks for all this advice!</p>
<p>This college stuff is really starting to sink in! Makes junior year a lot more stressful :)</p>
<p>How early did some of you guys start the CommonApp (especially @ saxonphonegirl)
I would like to get alot done before school starts because it'll be really busy and I'll end up getting stressed and putting it off until Nov/Dec. And I DEF want all of it done before Christmas break.</p>
<p>@kmj-c09 ---thanks so much for your advice on multiple essays! I think I'll do that! It'll get me brainstorming and keep me writing...also gives me more options to choose from. </p>
<p>How many safeties do you guys recommend? I have one definite safety (state school) and a couple of matches I think I have a good shot at getting in. But most of my list is reaches..</p>
<p>No safeties. Be a risk-taker.</p>
<p>marie03- I'm taking it that you are a junior in h.s. if not i'll just give you an outline from your junior yr.</p>
<p>Junior Yr- By now, you should be signing up to take ACT/SAT tests. I would recommend trying to take at least them 2 or 3 times your junior year depending on how often it's offered. Also, if you're school offers it, you should sign up and take the PSATS in October.</p>
<p>If you're taking AP classes this year for the first time, start studying early. I would try to start at least in February. Buy one of those AP practice books to get a jumpstart. The AP tests can be quite difficult.</p>
<p>Finally, visit colleges beginning your junior year. Plan out the ones you are interested in and prepare a list of questions to ask about anything that might concern you (tution, scholarship, intended major, etc). If you're interested in going out of state, wait until a long holiday or summer vacation to go visit.</p>
<p>By the time, the summer before your senior year begins, a lot of colleges open up applications. Start as early as possible. If you wait to long, those deadlines will past you up. I applied to LSU very early in the summer, and I got my acceptance within a wk! </p>
<p>The best advice I have to give to you about keeping up with essays, interviews, and scheduling things, etc. is to do it as soon as possible. The summer before your senior year is the best time you should do it, because school's not in session. However, if you can't start applying to colleges during the summer. Take time out of your school day (lunch, recess, w/e) and work on your essays then. Be organized!</p>
<p>The most important advice though is to remember to breathe and have fun your senior year! It's your last year before the real world and before all your friends go away to college. Make memories that will last a lifetime. : )</p>
<p>I have three pieces of advice: one for the first half of of 2009, one for the second half of 2009, and one for 2010:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Get a thick college guide, and spend some time reading it every day. Read about every school you've ever heard of, and read about lots of schools you haven't heard of.</p></li>
<li><p>Spend more time choosing your safeties than your reaches.</p></li>
<li><p>Thrive where you're planted.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Advice:
-- Apply EA (Early Action, not ED) whenever the option is available.
-- What you think is a match, is probably a reach.
--Find at least 2 Safety schools (both financially and academically) where you can envision
yourself attending. Often times, Safety schools move up to the top of your list.
--Don't choose Prestige over a good "fit"
--Choose a school that has a wide variety of Majors and Minors.<br>
--Visit colleges on a typical day rather than on a "special event" day.<br>
--Don't fall in love with the look of the campus (landscape and visual appearance of the school). Focus more on the friendliness of the students and administration as well as the Majors and Minors offered.
-- Remember that the admission's offices are trying to sell you a product. If at all possible, talk with random students while walking around the campus.
--Look for diversity in all forms--economics, ideas, race, nationalities, even in dress, etc.
--Send in your Housing Deposits ASAP.
--Last piece of advice: If you end up hating your "dream school" once you get there, it's OK to transfer. Kids do it all of the time.</p>
<p>Also, look on each colleges websites that you apply to regarding their specific application instructions. They all vary as far as how/when to submit materials, what materials to submit, what tests n such. The big thing that got me was after I submitted my school packet to Cornell I realized that the requested that I put my name/birthday on all documents going in the mail, and not to staple things together, I stapled my things and did not put my name/birthday on anything. I still got in though...</p>
<p>regardless, check out each colleges website regarding admissions specifics. </p>
<p>One last thing, instead of mailing out recs n school reports n stuff individually, please put everything in one large manila envelope (recs, SSR, counselor crap and transcript) and mail that. That will give you HUGE peace of mind when you are wondering if they have recieved your recs or not yet.</p>