Summer is our busiest time of year here at Collegewise. That’s because while applications aren’t due until later in the fall, our seniors get started over the summer so they can submit all of their applications weeks—and even months—before the deadlines without ever stressing about the volume of work.
Here are a few things our seniors do over the summer to give themselves an advantage during application season. Follow their example and you’ll have a less stressful ride to college.
1. Finalize your college list.
Deciding where you will apply to college shouldn’t be something you wait until the fall to do. Figure that out during the summer. Do your research, talk to your parents, do whatever you have to do—but don’t let yourself arrive at the fall of your senior year with just an idea of where you want to apply. Waiting just delays the entire process. And remember, applying to a college doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go there. The list isn’t as final as it feels when you make it.
2. Visit the colleges’ websites and collect all of the necessary information about deadlines and application requirements.
This is an example of something that’s much, much easier to do when you’re not in school. You can spend a leisurely afternoon during the summer visiting college websites to find out which tests scores are required, whether or not you need teacher recommendations, and the exact dates for application deadlines. If you check those sites now, you'll make sure there are no surprises when you start filling out applications later. And figure out a good way to store all that information for easy reference later.
3. Register for fall SAT, Subject Tests or ACT exams.
Fall test dates fill up fast. So if you plan to take any standardized tests this fall, register right away. You can sign up for the SAT or Subject Tests at www.collegeboard.org, or the ACT at www.act.org.
4. Start (and even finish) your applications and essays.
Many colleges will make their applications available this summer, including the Common Application, an application used by nearly 400 colleges (including Harvard, Princeton and Stanford). Check your schools’ sites regularly and watch for applications. And when they come online, start them. Most of our Collegewise students will finish the majority of their applications and essays over the summer (we’d have them do everything during the summer if only all the applications were available then). It's a lot easier to do these things during the summer when you aren't in school all day and doing homework at night. Start now and you'll have a much easier time this fall.
5. Have a family discussion about who’s really in charge.
Most families are in the midst of responsibility handoffs when college applications become available. The kids need to do this themselves, but many students have gotten used to parents handling all of the important administrative tasks at home like making dentist appointments and signing up for summer camps. Make sure you don't fumble the college application handoff. Have the family chat now to decide who’s going to do what. Kids should take the lead. They should fill out of all the applications, write all of the essays, and be in charge of their own college destinies. But parents can lend good organizational and emotional support during this time. Just make sure you don’t get to December with one party saying to the other, “I thought YOU were going to take care of that?”