When's the ideal time to have the Common App completed by?

Hey folks! Junior here trying to balance schoolwork and college prep. I'm curious, when do you all think is a good deadline for myself to aim to have my Common App finished by? I want to avoid the last-minute rush and make sure I have time for revisions.

Hi there! It's great that you're thinking ahead. The ideal timeframe to aim for completing your Common App would be by the end of the summer before your senior year. This gives you a good cushion to review your essays and activities list, seek feedback, and make revisions without the added pressure of senior year coursework and deadlines. A good benchmark would be to have a solid draft by August and then spend the early fall polishing it up.

For example, if you're aiming for Early Decision or Early Action, those deadlines are typically around November 1st, so having your application done by the end of September would give you October to fine-tune any last-minute details. For Regular Decision, aiming to have everything submitted by mid-December (despite the January deadlines) will save you from the stress of any technical issues or unforeseen events and allow you to enjoy your holiday break. Just remember to leave a little buffer in your timeline for the unexpected!