<p>I'm a junior..and I just happen to be ridiculously indecisive, especially when it comes to my future college apps. My list is in its 20s right now, but no worries.. I plan to knock out a bunch after some visiting/more research this summer..</p>
<p>So this question goes out to all you veteran applicants ...</p>
<p>how did you manage to apply? how many? when did you start? what's the earliest you could start the applications? I would imagine you would stick to the common app a lot?</p>
<p>i began searching probably in my soph year...at the end of my junior year i was in the same spot as you: around 15-20 colleges in consideration. after summer looking around the web and visiting a few schools i got it down to four schools. definitely a productive summer :). applied to all four. now, i'm sure my situation is different from most of the people on here as i didnt even consider applying to an ivy. the closest i came to considering was UNC and Northeastern (and these two were only eliminated mainly b/c of cost as an OOS student). but i'll be attending Iowa State--i love the place. i'm in what some call a "non-traditional" major, Athletic Training, so that's one reason i chose ISU. </p>
<p>but anyways, most schools have applications up around august (atleast the one's i applied to). i applied early mainly to get it over with. first day of school i was turning in transcript requests to my HS. but not many kids do that.</p>
<p>anyways i've rambled plenty. more than i should have.</p>
<p>I started mine about middle of October, got 'em all done by the Nov. 15th deadline that my school gave us if you wanted the school to give you a better shot at getting in. </p>
<p>Essays were easy to write, cause I really only had to write 3 essays for 5 colleges. 1 essay I just used for 3 or 4 of the colleges. The other college, I had to write 2 different essays and the prompts were different for that school. </p>
<p>It really doesn't take long at all, just the essays do.</p>
<p>I applied to nine schools. I started filling out personal information a few months ahead of time, but most of the essays that weren't reused I started the day the application was due. Not the best idea, but it worked out pretty well.</p>
<p>I had applied to twelve schools. Made my list in early November of my Senior Year, and I had them mailed in three different mailing groups all throughout December.</p>
<p>I applied to my 4 schools all on January 1st; the deadline. And I got accepted to all of them (including Duke's January 13 extension deadline). It doesn't matter when you apply.</p>
<p>I started in August. I was in Costa Rica studying Spanish, and I had a lot of great experiences there, so I jotted down those experiences, in addition to other experiences I've had. The first essay I wrote about Costa Rica was fine I think, and used it for most of my colleges. and then the second one, I drafted probably 7+ drafts because it wasn't natural and free-flowwing....saying a lot about who I am. That's the key. And then I turned in everything Dec. 25th (yeah, i worked on my apps on Chrismtas). But it's fine now, cause I'm going to Yale next year. So if I could give you any advice, it's start early and make multiple drafts. SHOW the colleges who you are, SHOW them what you've learned, not TELL them. People really need to take this aspect to heart, because I read soi many of my friends essays from Andover (boarding school in mass. I attend), and they were quite hunky dory.</p>
<p>Just a little advice from an admission person...</p>
<p>Don't worry too, too much about filling out forms in the summer. Relax. Go to the beach, have some fun. You'll have plenty of time to fill out the apps. </p>
<p>If you really, really want to get started, check out the different essays you have to write and start thinking about or working on those.</p>
<p>The summer preceeding my senior year my family was trying to move out of state. But then, literally like a week before we were supposed to leave, we didn't. Since I was only looking at state school in the place we were moving to, that change of plans obviously messed me up big time. </p>
<p>So I actually didn't decide where to apply until late October/ early November. I think all my application materials weren't received until middle or end of December (sending transcripts takes so long!). Although I made the all the academic deadlines, for one school I did not submit my application in time to be extended a housing contract. I would've had to submit the app before October to get a contract... kind of nuts... </p>
<p>i mean, counselors always say you should start planning and maybe writing essays over the summer, but it ain't a huge thing. You really can wait to the last minute, AS LONG AS YOU AREN'T APPLYING TO 15 SCHOOLS. </p>
<p>If you're applying to 1-6 schools, yea, you can wait till a month to go before deadlines and such. But if it's getting more around 8+ schools, then maybe start a few over the summer so you don't stress yourself out so much.</p>