When Should I Start My College Applications?

There is no time like the present to start looking for colleges that are good matches for you. You’ll want to make sure that you have all your primary college essays and your resume completed before school starts Senior year. That means that it’s optimal to write your essays the summer between Junior and Senior year. Many early decision/action deadlines are as early as November 1st or 15th of the fall of your Senior year, so you need to be ready.

How To Start Looking for the Right College

If you’re going to research and select schools with your guidance counselor’s assistance, find out if you have access to Naviance at your school. It’s a computer application that matches your skills, interests, and GPA with schools that are the best fit for you.

Resources

The best book about how to develop great college applications is, as far as we’re concerned, Rock Hard Apps: How to Write a Killer College Application. We recommend it to all of our students to get a sense of the kind of applications students submit to top colleges and universities.

Writing the College Admissions Essay

Your college application essays might be the most important pieces of writing you’ll craft during your Senior year. The essay can make or break the application, but what’s great is that it’s your big opportunity to introduce the admissions committee to some of the wonderful qualities that make you, you. You want to shine. We’re here to help.