What is the typical timeline for the college application process?

As I'm planning my college applications, I'm trying to understand the typical timeline for the entire application process. When do most students start and finish their applications?

The college application process typically starts in junior year and ends midway through senior year, though there's variation depending on the student and the schools they're applying to.

During the spring semester of junior year (January - May), students often start researching potential colleges and narrowing down a list of schools they are interested in. This can involve informational research, talking to alumni or current students if possible, and possibly visiting campuses or attending virtual info sessions. around this time, students may also want to prepare for and take their first ACT or SAT. 

Then over the summer before senior year (June - August), many students begin drafting their personal statements and college essays, particularly if they're applying to schools with supplemental essays. It's also a good time to request letters of recommendation from teachers if they haven't already. Some students may also choose to take the ACT or SAT during this time if they aren't satisfied with their initial scores.

The fall semester of senior year (September - December) is typically when most of the application due dates fall. For schools with an Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) process, these applications are usually due in November. Regular Decision (RD) applications are usually due in January or February, although the exact deadline varies by school. Other components like the FAFSA for financial aid are typically completed during this period as well.

Admissions decisions from ED and EA applications generally come back by mid-December, while for RD, students typically find out in late March or early April. Students then have up until May 1st to make their enrollment decision.

Again, this timeline can vary by school and by student - it's important that you double-check deadline dates for each of your own applications and adjust your plans accordingly. Good luck!