When should I start?

I’m currently a junior and wondering when I can/should start the common app? Are the essays going to change? If so, when will these changes be released? Thanks!

The Common App for the next cycle opens 8/1. You can start beforehand though, and most info will carry over into next year’s version. The essays have been fairly constant year to year, but that’s not guaranteed for the future. Additionally, if a college usually changes its supplemental essays (although most do not) you should assume that they will change the next cycle as well.

But really, I can’t think of too many reasons why one would start before 8/1. But those reasons are individual ones.