<p>Colleges are already beginning to develop 2010 applications and Wash U already sent me a pre-supplementary application for 2010. So my question is when should I be starting to actually look and begin to begin rough drafts of applications?</p>
<p>I received the Wash U pre-application as well, though I have no intention of filling it out. :D</p>
<p>Personally, I’ve already started writing down some ideas/first paragraphs for my essays for a few schools and the Common Application, but I don’t intend to begin in earnest until July or August. I’ve heard that that’s a good time to start.</p>
<p>I started last year in September with my first application due November 15.</p>
<p>I started doing the Common App as soon as it came up last year. I started working on essays immediately too, figuring it would take me a while to write, rewrite, and rewrite again…over and over. Glad I started early because it helped me have nearly all of the apps submitted by Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>
<p>I started in the summer.</p>
<p>Summer. July to be more specific (when the Common App came out).</p>
<p>I just started filling out an application for a school which doesn’t require an essay. I’m a junior.</p>
<p>I started stalking the web for release dates of college apps at the end of junior year</p>
<p>I started at the beginning of the school year. However, you should probably start in the summer if you wish to apply early decision/action. This also gives you more time to fully develop the college application essays. Good luck!</p>
<p>P.S. Get all of your college application dates in place. This messes up a lot of students. Also, ask for teacher recommendations early so the teachers have enough time to write them (give them atleast 2-3 months time because they also are probably writing other students’ recommendations).</p>
<p>Do yourselves a huge favor and get a start during the summer. Download a copy of the Common Application and work on the list of activities and honors. Talk to teachers now about recommendations. Try to have some, if not all, of the essays done before school starts. You aren’t going to believe how busy your senior year will be.</p>
<p>Starting in the summer is one of the best recommendations I think I can give to any prospective college applicants. It gives you an edge in understanding just how tedious the application process can be, and even if you dont start filling out applications, you are able to start thinking about different ways to incorporate great ideas into essay topics, whether it be from the common app or the college’s supplement. I knew I wanted to apply to NU early decision, so it was much easier for me to put alot of my energy into that application in the beginning, while still working on other college applications on a less intense level in the beginning. July is a pretty good date to start. Good luck!</p>