<p>Hi all. I've been reading for about a year now. About to dive into this crazy year with my D. I've learned so much from everyone! Just thought I'd try to contribute early on.</p>
<p>Planning out and accomplishing this year will be shared between my husband, my D and myself. Since we may be any number of places while each of us is in need of the information related to applications and auditions, I was looking for something web based so we could all access it at any time, anywhere. This is what we've landed on... </p>
<p>Calendars
Two google calendars. One for Home/Family/School. One for "All College Auds". Each in a different color. Start by adding ALL the audition dates for the schools you're interested in doing on campus auditions for. You can turn on both calendars and "superimpose" the audition dates onto your family calendar. Great visual for planning out which dates for which schools you do campus auditions for (While planning around everything else going on in yours and D's or S's life!). Once you schedule a particular campus audition date, you can right click and copy it to the family calendar. Great for sharing with others if necessary too. Turn off the All Auds calendar when you just want to see the family calendar. </p>
<p>Links
Again... google to the rescue. Create a google website. It's free. No html knowledge required. On one or multiple pages paste the links to Unifieds, Common App, school apps, school admissions page, school MT page, school audition requirments page, etc. You can organize it on pages that make the most sense to you and your S or D. I haven't figured out everything you can put on a google site, but I've created links pages, etc. This is great for D when she's working on apps from school or a friends house or even when she's working with her coach on audition material. Great for me in relation to travel arrangements.. links to hotels, airlines, city information, etc. All the information is handy through the links that are now in one place. And you don't have to be tied to your home computer's "My Favorites". </p>
<p>Documents
Google...of course. Their docs feature. It's like an on-line filing cabinet. Might have to scan some docs... but then it's available. Any kind of document can be stored there and is accessible to those you give access to. I wouldn't file anything that had super personal information in case google ever gets hacked... but essays, confirmations, anything in doc form related to the application and auditions can be stored there. You might want to create a logical folder system. But again.. that's up to your own preferences. </p>
<p>You need a Google account to access these features. But that's easy too! And it's all free.</p>
<p>Another interesting web tool I've been using is Evernote. If you're a "post it note" kind of person... this is great. All those little pieces of paper you want to keep track of? But you're at work and the post it note is at home... If you take your little notes and create "evernotes", you can access them anywhere there's a computer with internet access. The basic service is free.</p>
<p>I hope someone finds this helpful!</p>