The ideal time to apply to college depends on several factors, including where you are applying and at what time of year you plan to start your academic journey. Many college applications are similar to one another, as they must collect personal information, academic history, and possibly test scores. Where applications diverge, often, is on the level of detail students are required to provide.
It is a good rule to begin your official undergraduate search the summer before you begin your last year of high school. Before the school year begins, spend some time finalizing your prospective college list. Categorize the schools you are interested in into three segments: safety schools (where you will most likely be admitted), target schools (those that offer programs you are interested in, are most compatible with your lifestyle, and are within your budget), and reach schools (your dream schools, which you are not sure you will be admitted to).
Coming up with a personal statement as a foundation of your applications before the school year begins also puts you ahead of the game. Personal statements take time—the last thing you want to do is put one together quickly. They are the best way to help schools see you as more than just a transcript or a set of scores.
Once you begin the first semester of your final year in high school, it’s time to start submitting applications. Applications submitted early tend to result in early decisions from schools. The sooner you apply, the sooner you are likely to hear back. Be mindful of each school’s deadlines for application submission and submit yours well before that date. This can prevent problems like late delivery of transcripts, recommendations, or test scores hampering the progress of your application. If you get your application in early, you have time to resend materials and still meet the school’s deadline.
In late winter and early spring, most universities announce their final decisions. For students, this is a very busy time full of activities, papers, final exams, and preparations for commencement. If your college applications have already been submitted, you can relax and enjoy the end of your high school career.
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