I hear you! Do you think this is a result of the TO policy? I thought we already had about 8 or 9 essays both long and short between UT and A&M. Haven’t even counted what the total will come to when others are included. 
She is working simultaneously on the Apply Texas personal statement and the UT supplemental questions. We will probably send the first apps out around 3rd week of August.
I know!!! I just told S21 and I was met with a blank stare…followed by a groan :neutral:
It probably is because of the new TO policy for this cycle.
S21 plans to get two apps done this weekend, Clemson and UofSC. For both he is applying with their school apps rather than the Common App - he has yet to get a solid essay for the latter. Note to any Clemson people - changes to app. All HS classes must be entered by hand (with credit and grade) - ugh. There is no place for ECs. No AP scores. (But you can upload a resume detailing those.) The old “optional” essay of “Why Clemson” has been changed to an optional “personal statement” with no word count.
S already had his “Why Clemson” essay done - a pretty good essay explaining how he came to love Econ and Poli Sci (his intended majors) and how Clemson would help him achieve his goals there. He is sticking with that, since the more nebulous Common App essay just doesn’t scream “Clemson.”
He is jumping on Clemson because in the past, housing preference is in the order that you submit the app. Getting UofSC done just because.
Is that a common thing - housing preference being given in the order apps are received? D21 is not applying to Clemson, but I’m curious if this is true for many other schools.
I forgot about that little nugget (D will be applying to Clemson too). I need to review all her schools to see if that applies to any others.
Not ready to apply yet, but work on supplemental essays has begun and most of the basic info on the Common App has been filled out. D is finishing up online admissions sessions and has started Zoom/Skype interviews. Common App essay still needs some work.
Her school does a college application kickoff event (now virtual) at the beginning of the school year and she’ll probably start submitting applications after that. Her guidance counselor is very experienced and hands on and we want to take full advantage of his expertise.
@havenoidea pls count us in too, son hasn’t created an account nor started his college search or common app essay. I’m waiting patiently the time he gets to submit which will be mostly towards the due date ? definitely not sooner than that time.
D submitted a partial application at midnight last night to Mississippi State as housing preference is in the order you submit application, but app does not have to be complete, just demographics and payment.
In other news, D has decided NOT to apply to TAMA , the only way it would be affordable is if she got Brockman competitive scholarship which would be a huge long shot. The scholarship is huge into community engagement and leadership. D’s weakest areas.
So it looks like Mississippi State, BAMA and Texas Tech is all she is applying to.
D21 submitted Alabama today. I expect Clemson will be done shortly as well. With not essay requirements we figured why not just send them in.
U Chicago is notorious for pushing their applications so that they can brag about selectivity. IIRC from my S17 application season, that was why they dropped the application fee, so more people would apply on the off chance of getting in with no financial commitment to apply…
If there are any Common App experts, we are in need of some assistance. Our school uses Naviance and thus requires teacher rec letter requests to be submitted through Naviance. D21 wants one of her dual credit college professors be a teacher recommender, but we can’t select her through the high school Naviance because she’s not a high school teacher. We really don’t want to make it more difficult for her by making her do separate paper submissions for each school D21 is applying to.
We have emailed her school guidance counselor, but I don’t think he’s even back in the school for a few more weeks. Certainly we can’t be the only people with this issue!
Argh!!! UofSC changed their college-specific app this year to where it looks like…the Common App. Blah.
Thanks @Suave123, good to know we have company! Our older S was the worst! He finished apps right before midnight and hit the button. I don’t think these 2 will do that, but one of them gets stressed, so procrastinates, which of course leads to more stress! So, maybe we will have midnight apps again, who knows? But, this time around, I won’t be pulling out my hair. I’ve taken the zen approach: it’s their life, not mine. I’ve provided resources and gentle guidance.?
I remember when S19’s friends were applying. U Mich app was due at midnight. The boys freaked out around 11:00 our time (CST) and started texting around to find out if the Mich app was due midnight EST or CST. OMG!
Maybe call the colleges she’s applying to and ask them. I have a feeling you will have to have that professor send paper letters. If so, you could pre-address all of the envelopes and give them to him/her to make it a little easier.
me: let’s talk about your essay
S: when is it due?
me: Common App went live today!
S: but when is it due??
me: Nov 1, but you can’t wait until Nov 1 etc etc
S: 
I talked to a dad (obviously not on CC) a few weeks ago whose #1 class rank S18 had a 36 on his ACT. Applied SCEA to Stanford. They were floored that he didn’t get in. The next 2 weeks were a mad scramble. Similarity of supplemental essays to ones he had already written was a significant factor in determining where he would apply.
With their S21 they are more prepared and better understand how tough selective admissions really are now. Also S18 ended up at Yale, so he didn’t exactly get shut out. But just an example of how even smart people can be uninformed about what the odds are, even for kids who are average excellent ++.
@havenoidea I remember my D19 started her CA essay in mid September that too it was part of her AP lit assignment. Otherwise she would’ve started even late only. She submitted all her apps just an hour or two before midnight, only exception Univ of CA apps which she sent (actually we forced her to click on submit) like 3 days before due, as we heard due to it’s huge volume of applications, server might crash. She is still a great procrastinator and never gets satisfied with her work, thinks she can do better than the current…We tell her there is nothing standard like perfect but who’ll listen I read messages here but never talk a word to my S21
We know someone who ED’d to Columbia and really thought he’d get in. He did not. Spend those two weeks in Dec doing nothing but supplemental essays and trying to get interviews at colleges that do them. Ended up choosing between Brown and Georgetown and decided on Brown but it was a scramble. The first few days after the Columbia denial, he couldn’t do anything since he was upset. Turned out ok but super stressful. And he’s very happy at Brown.