When should I start my college process?

Hey guys, I'm currently a junior and super stressed about the college application process. When should I really start focusing on the whole thing, like essays, recommendation letters, and everything else that needs to be completed? I don't want to fall behind, but I also want to enjoy my last years of high school.

It's a good idea to start planning and working on your college applications during the spring and summer of your junior year, with the goal of submitting during the late fall or early winter of your senior year. Here's a rough timeline to help you prioritize tasks:

1. Spring of Junior Year:

- Research colleges: Make a list of potential schools, by researching factors such as location, size, campus environment, and academic programs.

- Begin gathering materials for recommendation letters: Make a list of teachers, coaches, or other adults from whom you'd like to request letters. Aim to have diverse recommenders who can vouch for your character and achievements.

- Get a standardized test baseline: If you're planning on taking the SAT or ACT, you'll likely want to take the test for the first time in your junior year. If you get the score you're hoping for, you'll have that out of the way, but if you need to retake the test, you'll still have plenty of time to do so. Keep in mind that, while many colleges are test-optional, it might still be a good idea to take one of these two tests - you can read more about test-optional policies on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional/.

2. Summer before Senior Year:

- Draft your main Common Application essay: Use your summer break to focus on writing and revising your main essay without the distraction of schoolwork. Give yourself plenty of time to go through multiple drafts and sets of revisions, if necessary. CollegeVine's blog contains detailed guidance on how to tackle your personal statement: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-common-application-essays/.

- Research college-specific supplements: Look up additional essay prompts and questions for the specific colleges on your list. CollegeVine's blog also has guidance on how to tackle school-specific supplemental essays - for example, this post contains advice on the prompts for the University of Michigan: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-michigan-essays.

- Contact recommenders: Reach out to the adults you've identified and ask if they'd be willing to write recommendation letters.

3. Fall of Senior Year:

- Finalize main essay and supplements: Continue revising and polishing your essays. Aim to have a final version you're satisfied with by October or early November.

- Retake standardized tests: If you're looking to improve your SAT or ACT score, early in your senior year is the time to do so. Just make sure you'll have your scores back well in advance of your first application deadlines, especially if you're applying early anywhere.

- Submit requests for recommendation letters: Some schools may have online portals where you can formally request letters from your recommenders. Make sure to give them plenty of notice (4-6 weeks) and provide background information or a resume to help them craft a well-rounded letter.

- Complete applications: Fill out the main parts of your application, and double-check to ensure you've met all requirements and deadlines.

- Submit applications: Generally, early decision/early action deadlines are in November, and regular decision deadlines are in early January.

Remember that college applications are important, but, like you said, it's also essential to maintain a balance in your life. Allocate time for both your application tasks and social activities to fully enjoy your final years of high school. The key is to manage your time effectively and plan ahead, to ensure you don't end up needing to cram things in at the last minute and missing out on major senior year milestones. Good luck!