Optimal Time to Apply for Colleges?

Greetings everyone, I'm currently a junior and I'm not sure when the best time to apply for colleges is. Should I be starting this process now or wait till the start of my senior year? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hello! It's wise to start the college application process during the second half of your junior year, which means starting earlier rather than later. While actual application deadlines for most colleges aren’t until the Fall or Winter of your senior year, there’s a lot to do in advance. Here is a rough timeline I suggest based on the average college admissions process:

Junior Year: Spring

- Begin researching colleges and programs that interest you.

- Take the PSAT/NMSQT if you haven't already. This is usually offered in October, but results come out later and may inform your college choices.

- Begin considering a SAT or ACT test date. The test is now digital and registration is through the College Board or ACT website respectively.

- Start planning college visits or virtual tours. Demonstrated interest is important to certain colleges and will also help you gather material for college-specific essays.

Junior Year: Summer

- Draft your college essay. This allows you to have ample time for revisions. Avoid cliche topics to make your essay stand out.

- Continue your college research and start narrowing down your list of schools.

- Create a resume including your extra-curricular activities, leadership roles, awards and achievements. This will be handy when filling out applications and also for providing information to those writing your letters of recommendation.

- Talk to your school counselor about your college choices. They can provide advice and will often write one of your letters of recommendation.

Senior Year: Fall

- Double-check all application deadlines. Consider whether you want to apply Early Decision or Early Action where available, as these can significantly increase your chances of getting accepted.

- Request letters of recommendation. Remember to provide your references with enough time to complete these.

- Finalize your college list and begin completing applications.

- Send initial college applications. Remember, for most early decision or early action applications, the deadlines are in November.

- Complete and submit your FAFSA as close to the October 1st start date as possible.

Remember, these are just guidelines and the process can vary with every individual. The key advice is to get started as early as comfortable for you, and to be proactive in your research, preparation and submissions. Best of luck!