How do I know when a college application is due?

I'm applying to a bunch of schools, and keeping track of all the deadlines is hard! What's the best way to figure out when each college application needs to be submitted? Any tips would be hugely appreciated!

Different colleges may have their application deadlines vary so it requires some organizing to stay on top of it. First, you need to identify the type of application you are planning to submit—Regular Decision, Early Decision, or Early Action. Generally, Early Decision/Early Action deadlines are usually around November 1 of your senior year, whereas for Regular Decision, they're typically around January 1. Bear in mind that these dates are general and vary by school.

The best way to track these deadlines is using a spreadsheet or a calendar. For each potential school, research their admissions website and note down these crucial dates. Most universities have a specific 'Admissions' section on their website where they detail the deadlines. For example, the University of Michigan's website details their Early Action deadline as November 1 and their Regular Decision as February 1 (at least in the 2024-2025 academic year).

Remember to also mark any financial aid application deadlines such as dates for submitting the FAFSA or CSS Profile, as they might be separate from the application deadlines.

Lastly, remember that these are all "submit by" dates, not "start working on" dates. To avoid frantic, last-minute compilations, it's good practice to aim to complete your applications at least a couple of weeks ahead of the deadline.