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College Admissions

For many students and their parents, the college application process is a source of tremendous anxiety. Fear not. If you familiarize yourself with this process and devote enough time to it, I’m confident that you’ll be able to make it through unscathed and end up at a quality college.

In this article, we'll go over the college application deadlines you need to know. More importantly, we'll give you a complete college application timeline, detailing what you should be doing at each point in your high school career to ensure that you can submit exceptional college applications.

Overview of the College Application Process

If you want to successfully complete the college application process, meet every college application deadline , and make yourself as competitive for college admission as possible, you will be directly or indirectly working on your college application well before your applications are due . In fact, if you have any intention of applying to selective colleges, this process can really begin as early as your freshman year .

The major components of your application that will be evaluated are your transcript, your standardized test scores, your recommendations, your personal essay, and your extracurricular activities .

In this article, I’ll walk you through an ideal college planning timeline to ensure that you’re able to have every aspect of your final application be as strong as possible . Keep in mind this college application timeline is a recommendation: you may find it makes sense to tackle these steps a little ahead of our suggestions. The thing to keep in mind is that you want to plan ahead. Waiting until the last minute can negatively impact your ability to get into your dream school.

Freshman and Sophomore Years

While you don’t have to seriously think about what colleges you want to apply to before your junior year, your first two years of high school will influence the quality of your college application . Even though there are a few colleges including University of California schools that won’t consider your freshman grades, your sophomore grades will definitely factor into your high school GPA and help determine whether you’re accepted to the college of your choice.

Pay attention to what classes you take .  Selective colleges want to see that you’ve excelled in rigorous classes throughout your high school years . Some high schools are hesitant to allow students to take honors or AP classes in their junior years if they haven’t taken advanced classes in their first two years of high school.

Furthermore, colleges are concerned with how many years you’ve taken core subjects (math, English, science, history, and foreign language). If you don’t take a foreign language or history class in your freshman or sophomore year, you’ll be a less competitive applicant.

Also, make sure you’re involved in extracurricular activities . Colleges like to see that you've committed yourself to your extracurriculars . The student who has excelled in the same extracurricular activity throughout high school is a more impressive applicant than the student who first starts doing an extracurricular in his junior year.

Start studying for the SAT/ACT . Generally, you should start studying for the SAT/ACT in your sophomore year or the summer before your junior year.  We recommend that you take the SAT/ACT for the first time in the fall of your junior year. Start studying early to prepare yourself thoroughly.

Calsidyrose /Flickr  

Fall of Junior Year

The biggest college application deadline you have to meet in your junior year is taking your standardized tests. Universities use test scores as a way to determine whether a student is prepared to succeed at their school. The more competitive the university, the higher your test scores will need to be.  

In the fall of your junior year, you should take the SAT or ACT for the first time. Also, start researching colleges . You don’t need to finalize your list of schools at this point, but if you identify colleges you’re interested in, you’ll have a better sense of what you need to do to make yourself competitive for admission . Additionally, you’ll be able to determine your target score for the SAT or ACT .

Then, you can decide if you need to retake your SAT/ACT , and you can figure out how to improve your score , if need be.

Spring of Junior Year

In the spring of your junior year, you should make a preliminary list of colleges you want to apply to . Use college finders , college search websites , and ranking lists to help you. Having this list will give you ample time to complete all your application requirements and ensure that you can reach your target scores on your standardized tests. Divide your list into reach , target , and safety  schools.

If necessary, retake your SAT or ACT . Ideally, you’ll achieve your target score this time around. Again, make sure you’re prepared .

Finally, you should ask teachers if they’re willing to write recommendation letters for you . If you ask them early, your teachers will have more time to think about them, and you may get better recommendations. Keep in mind that many teachers will be bombarded by students asking for recommendations during your senior year, so be sure to ask early!

Summer Before Senior Year

In the summer before your senior year, try to finalize your list of colleges . This isn't a hard college application deadline, but doing so will make your life a lot easier in the fall! Additionally, make sure you’re familiar with the application requirements for each school. That way you'll be ready to start your applications as soon as possible. 

If you still need to take the SAT or ACT to reach your target score, do some intense studying over the summer .

Also, start thinking about and preparing for your college application essays .  Come up with ideas and write first drafts . The more you do over the summer, the less you'll have to worry about during the school year .

Fall of Senior Year

Most likely, the fall of your senior year will be rather busy. In the fall, you have to make sure your college applications are ready, so there are lots of college application deadlines you need to be aware of.

First, formally ask for recommendations early in the semester . Don’t wait until one week before your application deadlines to ask. Teachers who are too busy or inundated with recommendation requests may decline to write your letters or will be unable to write you a good recommendation at the last minute.

Next, polish your college essays . College essays take much more time than you think. Even though the essay isn’t that long, writing a great college essay can be time-consuming . Again, there's no hard deadline for getting these done, but we recommend you finish your essays one to two months before your application is due. That way you have time to revise, revise, revise! 

To make sure you're knocking your essays out of the park, write multiple drafts, and if possible, allow your teachers and counselors to review your essays and offer advice. For years, I spent many hours helping procrastinating students revise college essays the night before their applications were due. I'm having painful flashbacks. Let's proceed to the actual, hard-and-fast college application deadlines you need to know about. 

Typically, early decision and early action applications are due by November 15. If you apply early, the Oct. or Nov. SAT/ACT will most likely be your last chance to take the test. Early applicants are usually notified by early December regarding admissions decisions.

For most colleges, regular decision application deadlines are January 1st , but some popular colleges have earlier deadlines. For example, the deadline for University of California applications is the end of November. Be aware of the deadlines for all the schools on your list.

Make sure that you have submitted all necessary applications, forms, and score reports. Make a checklist for each school of what you need to submit . Luckily, your life may be easier because more colleges are using the Common Application or the Coalition Application .

If you still need to take the SAT/ACT, do some quality studying and take the test in time so you can get your scores to the colleges . For most schools, the December tests will be your last opportunity, but a few colleges will allow you to submit scores from January or February.

If you need financial aid, begin working on the financial aid process . Each college has its own financial aid requirements. Check the school’s website and financial aid office for requirements and deadlines for financial aid. If you want to be eligible for financial aid, make sure you complete the FAFSA . Become knowledgeable about financial aid and explore all your options to pay for college.

Spring of Senior Year

You'll hear about your regular decision applications by late March or early April . Hopefully, you'll be accepted by multiple colleges.

Continue researching the colleges that accept you to choose the college that will be best for you . If you applied for financial aid, the colleges that accepted you will give you their financial aid offers shortly after they accept you.

You can use the financial aid packages to determine how much you’ll have to pay for each school and factor that into your college decision.  Typically, you have to decide which school you’ll attend by May 1 .

Special Message to the Procrastinators

The college application timeline I’ve given you is ideal for maximizing the quality of your application and minimizing stress . Admittedly, many students don’t begin thinking about the college application process until the fall of their senior year. Some of these students are still able to successfully complete all of their applications and attend the college of their dreams.

However, I think every student benefits from sticking to the college application timeline I laid out. I know students who were unable to submit applications on time because they waited too long to start writing their essays. I know students who severely limited their college options because they didn’t do enough college research. Also, the majority of students I’ve worked with could have done better on their standardized tests if they had given themselves more time to study .

Furthermore, you’ll be busy with school and extracurricular activities during your senior year. If you don’t start contemplating the application process until the fall of your senior year, you’re likely to feel overwhelmed given all of your other responsibilities. If you devote more time to this process earlier, it will be easier and you'll be more likely to accomplish your goals.

What's Next?

Do you need more information to successfully stick to this college application timeline? We've got tons of other guides and resources to help you plan.

If you're struggling to find extracurricular activities, learn about the 3 best extracurricular activities for your college application .

Are you starting to work on your college essay? Make sure you know how to write a great college essay .

Finally, to help you stay on track, review the important college application deadlines you can't miss .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Justin has extensive experience teaching SAT prep and guiding high school students through the college admissions and selection process. He is firmly committed to improving equity in education and helping students to reach their educational goals. Justin received an athletic scholarship for gymnastics at Stanford University and graduated with a BA in American Studies.

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Advice for Writing Application Essays

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The resources in this section provide a general timeline for undergraduate applications. In this section you will also find more detailed information about each stage in the application process, as well as a handout on writing the admissions application essay.

Advice for Writing Successful Application Essays

When you sit down to write your application essays, there is very little left that you can control. You should have already taken, or retaken, the SAT and ACT, your grades from your first three years of high school are set on your transcript, and your recommenders all have their impressions of you that are unlikely to change before the recommendation deadline. The only thing that left in your control is your writing for the application essay.

As with all things related to your college application, you will need to start drafting your application essay far ahead of the due date. In fact, you should move each school’s deadline up two weeks so that no unexpected events prevent you from completing and submitting your application. The reason that you need so much time to work on your essay is primarily because many schools will ask you to write about similar topics, but to do so in different ways. You will need enough time to draft essays that address each of these questions or prompts for each school to which you are applying.

Don't use boilerplate essays. That is, resist the urge to reuse the exact same essay for different schools if each of them is giving you a slightly different writing prompt. You can, of course, adapt the same essay for similar prompts. Many schools do allow you to use the Common Application essay for admission to several participating schools. For more information on the Common Application and to check which schools participate as members, click here .

Although using the Common Application does simplify the processes, make sure that you review each of the schools’ application requirements. as many of these same schools also request that you submit a second essay along with the Common Application essay. For instance, in addition to answering one of the standard Common Application questions, Amherst College asks that you write an additional essay responding to one of several quotations.

Before you can start writing your essay, you will need to begin by reading the prompts and questions carefully. Even the Common Application has six prompts that you can choose from. Don’t feel as though you must choose one immediately after reading them. You should ask yourself what sticks out the most for you after having read through them. Think about what is most salient for you.

Brainstorm by putting your thoughts on paper. You can free write (writing without stopping or censoring yourself), create word association maps (visually clustering concepts that you feel go together), or keep a journal over the course of several days so that you can collect your thoughts in one place. See the Purdue OWL's PowerPoint on “ Finding your Focus ” for more details on these strategies.

After you have generated several ideas, reflect on where you find the most intensity or excitement in what you were writing. If nothing jumps out at you, keep brainstorming or talk with others about some possible topics until something grabs you.

Once you know what want to write about, put a rough draft on paper. Don’t be afraid of stray thoughts if they lead you to something more interesting than you had set out to write. Just make sure that you eventually come to have a rough draft that is about one thing.

Look over your draft and check for the following.

• Your writing should be personal. After reading your essay, does it seem like anyone could have written this? Make sure that your essay captures who you are.
• You writing should show, not tell, through vivid language. Successful essays relate an experience or analyze a pattern from the writer’s life. It is not enough to make general claims about what impacted your decision to go to college, for instance; you must elaborate by including evidence that answers “how” and “why” when you make your claims.

It is important to note that admissions officers care as much about your structure, style, and insights as they do about your content. That is not meant to add an extra layer of anxiety to your writing process, but to highlight the fact that you don’t necessarily need to have something life-changing to write about in order to write a successful essay. As Dowhan, Dowhan and Kaufman note in Essays that Will Get You into College , “Personal does not have to mean heavy, emotional or even inspiring” (10). In fact, as the authors explain, students might over rely on the significant event that they write about to speak for itself and don’t “explain what it meant to them or give a solid example of how it changed them. In other words, they do not make it personal” (10).

Finally, your writing should be about a sustained topic. You must use vivid description with a purpose. What is it that you learned because of this experience? What message can you decipher from the series of events that you present? What led you to your conclusions?

Once you have completed your rough draft, put it away for a few days. Afterwards, read the question again and look through your essay. Ask yourself if the essay answers the prompt. Is it personal? Does it use vivid language? Is it focused on one topic? Rewrite whatever needs to be strengthened. This is a great time to have other people look through your draft and get their reaction. Make sure that you ask someone early, and that you trust this person’s judgment; they will be putting in a lot of time to help you, so don’t disregard anything that is inconvenient or that you don’t want to hear.

Again, giving yourself plenty of time to work on this essay is vital. You should have enough time to rewrite or restructure your essay based on the feedback that you have received. As you are drafting and revising, feel free to fix any mistakes that you catch in terms of spelling, grammar, and mechanics, but don’t spend too much time editing early on in the writing process. Working on lower-order concerns can give you the impression that the essay is ready to submit prematurely. Instead, use this time to strengthen the main points of your essay.

To supplement the advice offered on this page, you can find a handout on writing the admissions application essay here .

Crunch Time: Writing College Essays on a Tight Timeline

Now that we are past November 1 and most Early Action or Early Decision 1 deadlines, many students have taken their ‘foot off the pedal’ when it comes to essay writing, but it’s worth making sure you know what the plan might be for any upcoming Regular Decision or Early Decision 2 applications.

Here are some tips to keep in mind as you work on finalizing some of your essays during this crunch time: 

Always Pay Attention to the Prompt!

At times, feeling stuck on an essay can be solved by taking a closer look at the prompt and what it’s specifically asking for. ‘Why’ essays, for example, will often – implicitly or explicitly – tell you more or less exactly what they want to hear from you, which can allow you to go find the kind of specific examples or details you need to write about. Broader essay prompts can still clue you in to what the college is looking for, and sometimes utilizing those ‘close-reading’ skills you learned in English class can prompt new ideas.

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

Depending on where you are in the process, you may be able to repurpose or reconstruct former essays to fit current prompts. Simply cut and paste all relevant essays and then move through each, highlighting and color coding relevant material. Then, repurpose the material, finding the appropriate “glue” in transitional phrases. If this sounds overly simplistic, that’s because, for most cases, it is. Often, a significant portion of the essay will likely have to be rewritten or reworked, but descriptions of activities, portrayals of academic interests, and characterizations of programs, institutions, or important people can often be reappropriated to new prompts. 

…or Start All Over

Sometimes, however, it is best to let go of what was and just start all over. Rather than trying to condense the 400-word activity description for Vanderbilt into a 150-word description for Michigan, it may be best to simply start from scratch with an essay (or activity) that is more fitting. Though it may not seem like it, this is often a more efficient process and helps writers avoid the “Franken-essay” because students are trying to graft dissimilar parts. 

Save Drafts, Include Links

In our hyper-connected digital world it has never been easier to preserve different iterations of documents or to link troves of information directly into the document. To make things simpler, students should neatly organize drafts and include links to websites within the document itself. This will save valuable time when searching for a certain page detailing a program, or a certain turn of phrase from a prior draft.

Don’t Miss Hidden Essays 

Certain programs, Honors Colleges, and elective Scholarships have essays separate from those required for admission, and these essays are often embedded in the application. The worst-case scenario is for a student to think that they are done only to encounter a research-intensive essay at the last moment. 

Sign up for an Essay Coaching Session

A knowledgeable editor can provide fresh insight and direction for a student who may be stuck in a rut. If you feel like another set of eyes on your essays would be helpful, or even if you’d appreciate someone to bounce ideas off of early in the drafting process, we encourage you to reach out to hear about our great Essay Coaches – you can call (608) 841-1053 to learn more!

Finally, keep perspective . While it would be nice to write a perfect essay, don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good . Remember, writing is never done, only due. Give it your best, edit carefully, submit, and then relax.  

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When should I start writing my college essay?

Because you'll want to tailor each application to each school, expect to write multiple personal essays. Advisers typically recommend starting these pieces during the summer before your senior year of high school. This will give you ample time to concentrate on writing a college essay before you're hit with schoolwork.

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The Ultimate College Application Timeline: From Search to Acceptance

The college application process can be incredibly stressful. From campus tours to letters of recommendation to essays, you have a lot to keep track of. With so much to do, it’s hard to know where or when to start!

To make sure you’re on the right path, we’ve created the ultimate college application timeline. Through junior and senior year, follow along with our comprehensive blog and printable timeline to make sure you successfully go from college search to acceptance!

Junior Year

September – January

• Attend college fairs. Virtual or in-person, college fairs can be a great place to acclimate to the college search process. Here’s our guide on making the most of college fairs.
• Begin test prep and take the PSAT. If you haven’t already taken it, now’s the time. College Board , the host of the PSATs, has your prepping needs covered.
• The SAT is generally offered March-June and October-December. Get a rundown of the SAT basics here.
• The ACT is offered February-December. Learn more and sign up on the official ACT website.
• Not sure which to take? Here’s our quick comparison of the SAT and ACT.

March – June

• Take the Niche College Quiz. After you’re done taking our quiz , visit your suggested schools’ profiles and research those you’re interested in.
• Make your list of colleges. Start with 15-20 schools— including safety, target and reach schools —for now and narrow them down later. To start adding colleges to your list , consider factors like location , tuition, reputation, size, selectivity, and if the school has a strong program for your intended major (if you know it yet).
• Attend campus visits and/or information sessions. Colleges can seem like a dream on paper, but there’s not always the same feeling once you get there. When you visit, get a feel for academic offerings, campus layout, dining options, dorm situation and social scene. To make the most of your visits, plan them properly . If you can’t go in-person, explore virtual visit options.
• Explore possible majors. For some, this is a simple feat. For others, it’s simply nerve wracking. There are many factors to consider when choosing a major.
• Prepare for and take the SAT/ACT. Know all the tips and tricks before you show up on test day. We’ve got plenty of suggestions for proper test prep to help you earn your ideal score. If you don’t like your score, set a new goal, hit the books, and try again in the fall—or superscore it . Still need help? There are more test prep resources.
• Keep your grades up (or bring them up). Junior year grades are the most closely analyzed by college admissions teams. Give that extra effort so you’re putting your best academic self out there.
• Ask for teacher/counselor letters of recommendation. Ideally, ask your junior year teachers or, if you know your intended major, a teacher who teaches a relevant subject. We have some pointers for getting counselor recs , too. Ask weeks, if not months, ahead of time. Here are all the details you should consider when asking for a letter of recommendation.

• Get summer experience. Spend your summer wisely by volunteering, getting a job, job shadowing , or participating in a summer college program or camp. Your best bet to impress schools is to do something relevant to your interests, skills or goals.
• Brainstorm ideas for your personal essay , AKA personal statement or Common App essay. This is your time to share something about yourself to your prospective universities. Get the creative juices flowing.
• Talk with parents or guardians about who’s paying for college and how. It can be a touchy subject, but it’s best to hash out the financial responsibilities before you get too far along in your search. Work your way through our financial aid checklist for the most productive convos.
• Start researching scholarships. A good place to get started? Niche’s list of college scholarships , of course.
• Get your FSA ID. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA ) determines your eligibility for student financial aid. Even if you think your family won’t qualify, submit a FAFSA. Create a username and password (FSA ID) on the FAFSA website to get started. The first day you can file is Oct. 1.
• Narrow down your list of colleges.
• Make an activities/honors list. As you begin filling out college and scholarship applications, a high school resume will be extremely helpful . List your activities, accomplishments, awards, volunteer work, and actual work experience from ninth grade until now. Mention the tasks you accomplished, skills you gained and/or leadership roles you held. Creating an all-purpose brag sheet can also help you prep for your personal essay, scholarship apps, alumni interviews and more.
• Draft your personal essay. It goes without saying that writing an essay can be challenging. For a little inspo and insight, check out our guide to acing the college essay.
• Create necessary application accounts (Ex: Common App, Coalition App, ApplyTexas, UC Application). Each application account serves different universities, so do some research to see which application is accepted by your potential colleges.
• Understand what types of admissions deadlines you’ll face. Admissions types and deadlines greatly affect your approach to applying. Know whether you’re interested in applying early action, early decision, restricted early action or regular decision (most common). Not sure? We can help you decide which admissions types best fit you.

Senior Year

• Follow up with recommenders. Follow our guide to reminding your recommenders and you’ll have your letters of recommendation in no time.
• Continue narrowing down your list of colleges. Trim your list down to the 5-10 colleges that you love the most. Be strategic: Choose at least two safety schools, several target schools, and one or two reach schools.
• Retake the SAT/ACT (if needed). If you weren’t happy with your previous SAT score, now is the time to take it again.
• Complete your CSS Profile, if required by any of your schools. Here’s the most up-to-date list of schools that require a CSS profile. And here are all the ins and outs on how to create a CSS Profile—and why.
• If applying to a University of California (UC) school, draft your early application. UC deadlines are earlier than most. All apps are due Nov. 30.
• Keep researching and applying for scholarships. Explore 5 scholarships you can apply to right now. No joke.
• Complete and submit your FAFSA. Submit your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as close to Oct. 1 as possible. You’ll need a lot of financial docs, and we give the whole rundown in our comprehensive FAFSA guide.
• Finish your personal essay and activities list.
• Draft college-specific supplemental essays. For more essay-writing insight, explore these tips on writing supplemental essays. If you’re applying early decision/early action, finish them now.
• Submit early application/early decision applications. Most early application/early decision deadlines are Nov. 1 or Nov. 15. The Common Application early decision deadline is typically Nov. 1.
• Ask your school counselor to send your transcripts. Protocol varies at each high school, but you’ll want to request them at least two weeks before they’re due. For the whole spiel, check our comprehensive guide on requesting transcripts for college.
• If applying to a UC school, finalize your supplemental essay.
• If applying to a UC school, submit your application. The deadline is Nov. 30.
• Finalize college list. Hear a student’s perspective on how to tackle and trim down your college list.
• Edit supplemental essays.
• Search and apply for more scholarships. Consider this your friendly reminder!
• Send test scores to your schools. You can choose your score recipients before or after you take the test. Here’s how to submit your SAT scores. And here’s how to submit your ACT scores.
• Review early decision/early action acceptance letters. If accepted, celebrate! If deferred, send a letter of continued interest. If rejected, review your application and its essay, and decide whether to make improvements for future applications.
• Finalize your supplemental essays.
• Submit your regular decision applications. Before you do: Read our last-minute reminders. Most regular decision deadlines are Jan.1 or Jan. 15. The Common Application deadline is typically Jan. 1. After hitting “submit,” there are still a few things to wrap up.

January – February

• Submit mid-year grade reports. Some colleges require mid-year or second semester grade reports. If this is the case, make sure your counselor has the necessary forms.
• Prepare for and complete alumni/admissions interviews. Do all the prepwork for a successful interview , including how to navigate a virtual interview.
• Apply for more scholarships. The internet is your friend—most of the time. Here are really easy and inventive ways to use Google to fuel your scholarship search.

March – April

• If deferred/waitlisted, reach out and write a letter of continued interest.
• If rejected, send an appeal letter.
• Review financial aid packages. If you need help understanding the lingo, we’ve got a simple explainer on how to read your financial aid award letter . If you’re happy with their offers, great! If you’re not, you may want to appeal for a better package.
• Decide on your top schools.
• Study for and take AP exams. It could help with earning college credit ahead of time. Learn more about how AP exams could benefit you.
• Apply for more scholarships.
• Make a final decision by May 1. Yes! You did it. After you notify your school (and let the others know you’re heading elsewhere), it’s time to celebrate!
• Notify your supporters of your decision—and thank them! They’ll be so happy for you. A note, a gift, a high five—just let them know you appreciate their support. Here’s a rundown of all the people you should be thanking.

Download The Ultimate College Application Timeline PDF!

Author: Lissett Bohannon

Lissett Bohannon earned her BS in Psychology from the University of Idaho and her Masters in Education from UT Austin. She has worked at every level of education from teaching first grade to working in higher ed at UT Austin. The majority of her experience and passion lies in her work as a high school counselor. In January 2020, she started a social media platform “ThatSchoolCounselor” to help students navigate their journey through high school and plan for their future. With over 120K followers on TikTok and over 97 million views on her hashtag #thatschoolcounselor, she reaches students at a national level. She is currently enjoying her role as the Niche School Counselor and resides with her family in Austin, TX

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We spoke with staff and faculty at Interlochen Arts Academy and Interlochen Arts Camp to get their best tips on overcoming perfectionism, developing confidence, and showcasing your artistic gifts. 

The Best Time to Write College Essays

We are going to be honest with you: there is no good time to write college essays. There are only the “least worst” times. 

Why? Because there will always be something else happening in your life! Something more interesting, time-consuming, exciting, stressful…you get the idea.

That being said, your college essays need to get written, preferably with plenty of time before application deadlines. After working with many different students over many years, we know that writing an essay is much easier when broken into smaller pieces—so, starting earlier, easing into this process, and giving plenty of time for self-reflection and brainstorming are pivotal.

So, when is the “least worst” time to start writing my college essays?

For ALL students, it is ideal to start the brainstorming process for essays in the winter of junior year. The hardest part of writing college essays is coming up with the topics of the essays; it takes a great deal of self-reflection and time. This also means that if your school gives an assignment in the spring to write the personal statement (also known as the Common App essay), you are ready to go!  

For most students, the best approach is to write college essays during the summer after junior year and to finish essay writing before the beginning of your senior year. This way, college essays are off your plate and you can focus on submitting your applications and on your senior-year classes and activities. 

For students who go to summer camp, it’s ideal to finish writing your personal statement before going to camp. Then, aim to finish any supplemental essays before October 31st.

For students who are applying for Early Action or Early Decision, it is a good idea to finish your essays by late September—a month before most ED/EA deadlines. This way, you have plenty of time to review the essays before submitting ED/EA applications in early or mid-October. 

For students with a lot of supplement essays, essays should ideally be finished by October 31st. This way, you can focus on senior year (when grades are still paramount), and have plenty of time to work on addressing any deferrals or waitlists that may arise. 

For ALL students, it is ideal to have essays finished one month before the deadline . This provides plenty of time to proofread, nitpick, and tweak the essays, without having to worry about time pressure.

How can Ivy Experience help with college essays?

The Essay Coaches at Ivy Experience are here to help students with every phase of the college essay and application process: project-managing by giving students assignments and keeping them on deadlines (so parents don’t have to!) in a timely manner, encouraging students to self-reflect on their stories, and pushing students with critical feedback on every draft of every essay and application before reviewing and proofing final versions. 

We begin working with students in November of their junior year; anytime during the winter is the ideal time to start so that we have time to get to know the student, build a relationship and trust, and have the opportunity to provide broader counseling in the second half of junior year. 

If you are interested in talking to us more about essay writing help, please contact us!

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College Essays Don’t Write Themselves: How to Find the Time

June 28, 2019

The average reading speed can be around 200 words per minute.

The average writing speed can be around 200 words per hour. (Many famous authors write even more slowly than that).

College application essays are widely considered the hardest part of college applications because they’re so time-consuming. This is why it’s never too early to get started writing.

For the best results, set aside time to think deeply about the essay topic and how to stand out among other students who are writing to the same prompt.

Even if you only have 10 minutes to spare, it’s important to start brainstorming and dedicate time to writing your essay. Follow these tips to get started writing your college application essays right away.

When Should I Start Writing?

Like, yesterday.

Seriously, the Common App® topics are already available. This means that if you get started writing your application essay now, your essay will still be on point months later.

Ideally, you’ll write several drafts of each essay before you hit submit. Writing is not usually a quick process, since you ought to go through a number of stages while preparing your essays.

If you’re overwhelmed by the college admissions process and unsure of what to write, follow these steps to get started. Don’t think too hard about it. If you start early, you’ll be able to tweak and revise your essay until it’s a perfect piece.

Stages for Writing Your College Essays:

• Brainstorming

High school seniors with application deadlines as early as November 1 need to begin assembling the components of their college application in the summer before their senior year. This means you’ll want to start writing your college essays toward the end of your junior year of high school.

How Do I Allocate My Time?

Get organized and have a plan.

People who love lists and charts are going to love the college essay writing process. People who tend to procrastinate should follow these organization techniques to stay on task.

1. Create a spreadsheet

Whether it’s on notebook paper or Google Docs, the spreadsheet must happen. A spreadsheet will help you keep track of deadlines and where you left off in the process.

Look up the colleges you’re interested in and write down the deadlines for essays or paperwork submissions. Most of these dates will likely be in early January.

Organize the list in date order, starting with the first application deadline.

We also recommend adding a column called “Personal Deadline” that is set to at least two weeks before the essay is due, at the very latest. This will give you a little leeway in case something unexpected comes up. We recommend having your essays complete by September of 12th grade.

It should look something like this:

2. Schedule Personal Deadline Reminders

After you’ve started your spreadsheet, you need to schedule your personal deadlines.

Plug all of the deadlines, official and personal, into your phone’s calendar app (or if you like to go old school, write them in your planner). Set reminders for yourself so that your deadlines don’t slip off your radar.

Then–and this is key–treat your deadlines like they are important appointments like a job interview or homework assignment. Pretend that you can’t cancel, reschedule, or ignore these deadlines.

3. Make a Writing Checklist

If four colleges have the same or nearly the same essay prompt, work on these deadlines at the same time and roll into one overarching essay (if possible).

If two colleges have super early deadlines, you’ll need to bump those essays up to the top of your list.

Basically, your writing checklist details everything you have to write and when to have it done by. It’s a master list. If you like to color-code things, use that as a tool for keeping track.

Having a writing checklist makes it easy to stay organized and know exactly where you are in the grand scheme of college essay writing.

It also makes it easy to find your essays when you’re looking for them, and it ensures that you won’t forget about a deadline and have to compose an entire essay the night before it’s due.

4. Make Folders

A messy desk is supposedly a sign of genius, but people who lose things don’t look very smart.

If you like to draft on notebook paper, grab a binder with dividers or a 5-subject notebook with tabs labeled for each university.

If you like to draft on your laptop, save each document with a clear title (“Harvard Essay Option D Final Draft”) in a folder also named for the university.

Be sure to back up your files. Save yourself the heartbreak of losing hours of work because of technical difficulties.

5. Follow Up

Follow up with the college to make sure they’ve received all necessary documents and recommendations.

In addition, follow these tips to stay organized and on track:

• Follow up with your master list, updating it as needed.
• Follow up with your spreadsheet, noting your essay status.
• Follow up with the universities, researching what a great applicant looks like to them.

With some organization and plenty of lead time, writing college application essays will not be a rushed afterthought for you. You’ll be able to give the process plenty of time and focused attention in order to create your best essays.

Need help with your essays?

Our experienced college counseling team offers college essay assistance to help students write essays that capture the attention of admissions officers. Schedule a free consultation to get started.

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“Ethan is a National Merit Finalist, so he received scholarship opportunities from a number of universities based on his National Merit status, including the University of Houston, where he will be attending tuition-free. He also scored an almost perfect SAT® score... Read more...

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Samarth S. – Class of 2023

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“Taking KD College Prep has been one of my best choices in high school! All of the instructors definitely know their stuff and teach an extremely useful curriculum in an engaging and efficient manner. I recommend KD to anyone looking to... Read more...

Preston King – Class of 2023

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“Honestly, was really, really solid. Doing the program the summer before junior year — and I only did the one — actually got me a lot of experience and review of technical skills needed for the SAT®... Read more...

Katya G. – Class of 2023

“Working with KD was incredible! I truly enjoyed how experienced the counselors were and how deeply they cared about their students. I would recommend KD and especially their college prep plan to everyone who is looking to get professional college admissions advice!”

“Working with KD was incredible! I truly enjoyed how experienced the counselors were and how deeply they cared about their students. I would recommend KD and especially their college prep plan to everyone who is looking to get professional college admissions... Read more...

Ananya A. – Class of 2023

“Our son, Joseph, is our fifth child to go through the KD College Prep program and our fourth National Merit Finalist. He had another test prep program available to him through his private high school but chose KD because he felt like it made the biggest difference in his scores in the least amount of time. He found the program easy to follow and adapt to his strengths and weaknesses. As parents, we cannot say enough good things about the KD program and would recommend it to anyone looking to improve their scores and earn scholarship dollars!”

“Our son, Joseph, is our fifth child to go through the KD College Prep program and our fourth National Merit Finalist. He had another test prep program available to him through his private high school but chose KD because he felt... Read more...

Ellyn A. – Parent of 5 KD Students

“My daughter completed your program in the Plano location. In the fall, she is headed to Colorado School of Mines to study engineering. I asked her if KD had helped her with the SAT® and ACT® tests. She said they helped her know how to manage her time while taking the test as that is a huge aspect to the test.”

“My daughter completed your program in the Plano location. In the fall, she is headed to Colorado School of Mines to study engineering. I asked her if KD had helped her with the SAT® and ACT® tests. She said they helped... Read more...

Julie M. – Daughter, Class of 2022

“(I wanted) help with writing essays and getting into my dream colleges. (I was most concerned with) keeping up with everything I have to do and meeting all the deadlines. The constant and honest feedback about my essays regardless is what I really appreciated. There was a time that writing essays just clicked, and it was much easier after that.”

“(I wanted) help with writing essays and getting into my dream colleges. (I was most concerned with) keeping up with everything I have to do and meeting all the deadlines. The constant and honest feedback about my essays regardless is what... Read more...

Neha C. – Class of 2022

“It’s hard to believe we are finally done at KD Prep with our three children. We are incredibly grateful to you for all of your support over the years, which undoubtedly helped each of our children realize their college dreams. All three were accepted to colleges with single digit admission rates. Our eldest was selected as a National Merit® Finalist and was able to apply to colleges with a perfect SAT® score. Our other two were both named National African American Recognition Scholars and National Merit Commended Scholar. One of them applied to college in 2020 with an SAT score of 1520 (780 math and 740 verbal) and the youngest scored 1500 on the October 2021 SAT test (720 verbal and 780 math). Our... Read more...

“It’s hard to believe we are finally done at KD Prep with our three children. We are incredibly grateful to you for all of your support over the years, which undoubtedly helped each of our children realize their college dreams. All... Read more...

Nike A. – Parent of 3 KD Students

“Obviously SAT® test prep was NOT fun. The experience was difficult and exhausting, but learning through KD definitely made the experience much less stressful and definitely easier. It's a great system with tons of resources all aimed to give you what you need and more to reach whatever score range you set as your goal (I was able to get a 1540). My favorite part though, specifically with the Coppell campus, was the people! Everyone was so incredibly nice and always in impossibly good moods. It was a great environment to learn and improve in!”

“Obviously SAT® test prep was NOT fun. The experience was difficult and exhausting, but learning through KD definitely made the experience much less stressful and definitely easier. It's a great system with tons of resources all aimed to give you what... Read more...

Alex N. – Class of 2023

“I want to thank KD College Prep for helping me get the score I needed to receive over $464,000 in scholarships, including two full rides. I started the program the summer going into my junior year. I had an excellent GPA but struggled on standardized tests. Taking the test prep classes throughout junior year and taking practice tests got me more prepared each time I took the test. I achieved my best score the summer going into my senior year. That score allowed me to apply to my top schools as soon as early decision opened. I am so grateful to Karen Dillard and the extra practice and proctored exams! My parents are grateful too—for the small investment they got a great return.”

“I want to thank KD College Prep for helping me get the score I needed to receive over $464,000 in scholarships, including two full rides. I started the program the summer going into my junior year. I had an excellent GPA... Read more...

Saadia P. – Class of 2022

“I really enjoyed KD because the teachers helped me look at the SAT® test in a whole new angle. I really began analyzing the test and learned how to work math and reading problems in a smarter way, which was really helpful. I also really appreciated all the varied practice and detailed breakdowns from instructors, helping me see not just what answer was correct but why those answers were correct.”

“I really enjoyed KD because the teachers helped me look at the SAT® test in a whole new angle. I really began analyzing the test and learned how to work math and reading problems in a smarter way, which was really... Read more...

Pranathi P. – Class of 2022

“KD had a very streamlined process of learning the ins and outs of the reading and grammar part of the SAT® test as well as a very well-structured mathematics process that went through the subjects of algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus in depth. Another great part of the KD experience was the wonderful staff giving me so many useful tips and strategies for the areas that I was specifically struggling with. The staff understands students have different strengths and weaknesses, and the fact that they tailor the info they give to each student is very useful. Overall, KD has helped me not only with SAT preparation but also with my normal school work.”

“KD had a very streamlined process of learning the ins and outs of the reading and grammar part of the SAT® test as well as a very well-structured mathematics process that went through the subjects of algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus in... Read more...

Armaan C. – Class of 2023

“I am very grateful that KD was able to offer so many resources and guides for the SAT® and PSAT tests. They really helped me get a good grasp on the types of questions that the SAT exam tested on, and I was able to get a really good score the first time I took it! Once again, thank you KD, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to earn a high SAT score.”

“I am very grateful that KD was able to offer so many resources and guides for the SAT® and PSAT tests. They really helped me get a good grasp on the types of questions that the SAT exam tested on, and... Read more...

Sri Vamsi Krishna Putti – Class of 2023, Frisco ISD

“My husband and I are so impressed with your course and the quality of guidance that you provide. It feels like you really want our son to succeed. Thank you!”

Debra H. – Son, Class of 2023

“KD taught me so many useful strategies for the SAT® & PSAT/NMSQT® tests. They helped me improve my SAT score by over 400 points, and I got done with the SAT test at the beginning of 11th grade! I would recommend KD to anyone who wants a highly competitive SAT score. ”

“KD taught me so many useful strategies for the SAT® & PSAT/NMSQT® tests. They helped me improve my SAT score by over 400 points, and I got done with the SAT test... Read more...

Praneel S. – Class of 2023

“My time and experiences at KD College Prep have efficiently guided and prepared me for my future educational career as a college student. Not only did KD help me with college entrance exams but also provided numerous informational seminars that helped me with the various steps required for college admissions. At KD I enjoyed learning from amazing teachers, who cared for each of their students individually and were ready to help wherever it was needed. Being a student at KD has also helped me figure out which learning techniques work best for me. The opportunity to engage in different learning methods such as small group interactive learning, larger group discussions, or individual practice are all ways that helped me come up with a learning... Read more...

“My time and experiences at KD College Prep have efficiently guided and prepared me for my future educational career as a college student. Not only did KD help me with college entrance exams but also provided numerous informational seminars that helped... Read more...

Tanisha P. – Class of 2020

“ My feedback can only be positive, given how much you helped me get ahead with my application process. I really appreciated how much work both of you put into helping me write the best essay possible, especially reviewing my essays twice to polish them completely. In addition, I have noticed that writing my resume has released a lot of stress off my shoulder when it comes to making sure I have all the things necessary to apply to schools. ”

“ My feedback can only be positive, given how much you helped me get ahead with my application process. I really appreciated how much work both of you put into... Read more...

Claudia A. – Class of 2020

“My favorite things about KD were the mirroring it had to actual test questions, the availability, and the relationships you built with all the teachers and advisors who made the process of learning easier. I think that after you started going to a good amount of classes and the workshops, you knew every teacher, and they were always available to answer any questions that you had...Everyone was just so welcoming and made learning more engaging for the students, especially with the workshops. All of had their own unique style of teaching which never made a class boring.”

“My favorite things about KD were the mirroring it had to actual test questions, the availability, and the relationships you built with all the teachers and advisors who made the process of... Read more...

Rishab P. – Class of 2021

“I want to thank both of you so very much for making this dream come true. When I first came to KD, I wanted to get a score of 1520 or above... So many people told me it would be impossible to reach my desired score. After months of using KD's methods my scores definitely improved but hovered around 1350—still not near the score I needed but closer. After finally working with both of you during one on ones, my scores started to see heavy improvement and while I didn't get a score of 1520 or above as a single score, I got it as a  superscore ... Read more...

“I want to thank both of you so very much for making this dream come true. When I first came to KD, I wanted to get a score of 1520 or... Read more...

David P. – Class of 2022

“It takes a village to raise a child—this is so true. KD College Prep staff have been nothing but uplifting to my child and to us parents through their eager attitudes to assist, in-depth guidance and unparalleled wisdom. I am in awe at the consistent level of professionalism yet genuine concern for each and every person that walks through their doors. Thank you KD staff for being great mentors for our children!”

“It takes a village to raise a child—this is so true. KD College Prep staff have been nothing but uplifting to my child and to us parents through their eager attitudes to assist, in-depth guidance and unparalleled wisdom. I am in... Read more...

Gloria D. – Daughter, Class of 2021

“I attended KD for the last 3 years, and I was blessed with the opportunity to take the SAT ® test one last time last month. I got a 1430 on the test. I wanted to take the time to say I have finished college applications, and I would love to thank all the teachers and aides at KD for giving me the score that I got on the test. Without the extra practice, I wouldn't have been able to get through to the score I got. These past 3 years went by so fast, and it is so fun to look back at where I started and how much I have come out with flying colors. Thank you so much!”

“I attended KD for the last 3 years, and I was blessed with the opportunity to take the SAT ® test one last time last month. I got a 1430 on the test. I wanted to take the time to say I... Read more...

Kareena A. – Class of 2021

“I just wanted to say thank you to KD for all the help and support you’ve given over the past couple years! I was able to get the scores I wanted for the PSAT, SAT ® , and ACT ® tests. The resources were very helpful, and the individualized assistance I received from teachers were what really supported my learning. Special thanks to Ms. Barwick and Mr. Hoffman!”

“I just wanted to say thank you to KD for all the help and support you’ve given over the past couple years! I was able to get the scores I wanted for the PSAT, SAT ® , and ACT ® tests. The resources were... Read more...

Advika R. – Class of 2022

“I shifted toward taking practice tests and going to workshops because I felt those were the best ways to apply the concepts (I was) learning in class. I started applying the tips and tricks that the teachers were showing me in class. In conjunction, those two things helped me raise my score a lot because I was not a math kid before KD or high school. The repetition and being able to practice in a non-stressful environment and simulating that testing experience is something that was very beneficial for me... “The college counseling team was super patient and honest about the work I was submitting. I know for a lot of kids, it’s hard to articulate who you are through 250-300 words. It was definitely... Read more...

“I shifted toward taking practice tests and going to workshops because I felt those were the best ways to apply the concepts (I was) learning in class. I started applying the tips and tricks that the teachers were showing me in... Read more...

Blaine W. – Class of 2021

“Both of my sons have been guided by KD College Prep counselor Steve Peifer on their journey to finding the right college for them, and we could not have had a better experience and outcome. My oldest son is now a rising junior at the University of Miami, and my youngest son is an incoming freshman at Vanderbilt University. Steve’s help in navigating the complicated college landscape and finding the BEST FIT for my two sons is what has made this resource invaluable. “What made the biggest difference for my two sons was the depth and breadth of knowledge Steve has of the many universities and colleges in the U.S. First, by getting to know my kids on a one-on-one basis, he was able to... Read more...

“Both of my sons have been guided by KD College Prep counselor Steve Peifer on their journey to finding the right college for them, and we could not have had a better experience and outcome. My oldest son is now a... Read more...

Julio M. – Parent

“My daughter loved the program—the program materials and the teachers both online and in person. She participated in a year of online and a year of in person. It was incredible enrichment and helped her keep her skills sharp over the summer. She liked being challenged academically, and she loved taking classes with high school students who were focused on their college goals. These students were also excellent role models! The lessons were especially important during the pandemic when it wasn’t a typical middle school experience.”

“My daughter loved the program—the program materials and the teachers both online and in person. She participated in a year of online and a year of in person. It was incredible enrichment and helped her keep her skills sharp over the... Read more...

Beth L. – Advanced Start™ Parent

“I wanted to say thank you to all of the teachers and directors at KD for helping me get a great score on the SAT ® test. I started with a 1250 on the first KD test I took, and I got a 1530 on the December 5th SAT test. KD played a huge role in this, and I just wanted to say thanks to everyone there for helping me achieve this.”

“I wanted to say thank you to all of the teachers and directors at KD for helping me get a great score on the SAT ® test. I started with a 1250 on the first KD test I took, and I got... Read more...

Vyom S. – Class of 2022

"Our twin 16-year-old boys used KD College Prep to study/practice for the PSAT test, and we believe the classes and coaching were invaluable. Very professional and concise. Worth every penny!"

Jerry – Sons, Class of 2022

“I'm writing to thank the KD team for all the help and guidance over the last couple of years! All the resources provided were very useful to me and helped me achieve the scores I was aiming for on the PSAT, SAT ® , and ACT ® tests (1520, 1580, and 34). I really appreciate everyone's willingness to be flexible and accommodate my requests!”

“I'm writing to thank the KD team for all the help and guidance over the last couple of years! All the resources provided were very useful to me and helped me achieve the scores I was aiming for on the PSAT,... Read more...

Mithra A. – Class of 2022

"The resources that KD offers have greatly prepared me for the college admissions process. Without KD, I would not have been this prepared and confident... I am a rising senior, and I ended up receiving a 1570 on my SAT ® test (third time) and a 35 on my ACT® test (first time). I remember the first ever practice test I took for the SAT test was a 1230 (about 1.5 yrs ago) and the first ever practice test I took for the ACT test was a 31 or 32 (about 6 months ago)."

"The resources that KD offers have greatly prepared me for the college admissions process. Without KD, I would not have been this prepared and confident... I am a rising senior, and I ended up receiving a 1570 on my SAT ® test... Read more...

Elise P. – Class of 2022

“I want to thank KD College Prep for helping both of my kids over the last years reach successful outcomes on their SAT ® and ACT ® scores, which helped them get into great colleges. I found the college prep class for parents very informative and helpful during the process as well.  My son (Jacob) graduated in 2018 and got a 32 on the ACT test. got accepted into Texas A&M but chose Baylor for Health Sciences.  My daughter (Morgan) graduated in 2020 and got a 1450 on the SAT test and a 32 on the ACT test. got into an Ivy League school (Cornell) for Engineering.  Both my kids say that they apply the test taking skills they learned at KD Prep to... Read more...

“I want to thank KD College Prep for helping both of my kids over the last years reach successful outcomes on their SAT ® and ACT ® scores, which helped them get into great colleges. I found the college prep class for parents... Read more...

Jon D. – Parent

“Coming into this whole process, I had absolutely no idea what anything was, and your help was invaluable—your encouraging words, strategic advice, and wholesome stories and jokes really got me through a stressful time! I'm still on the waitlist at Harvard and other schools, but I've really started to immerse into the Emory culture, especially their debate team. Not having to pay for college and still attend a private institution is really a dream come true, and it wouldn't be possible if it were not for you.”

“Coming into this whole process, I had absolutely no idea what anything was, and your help was invaluable—your encouraging words, strategic advice, and wholesome stories and jokes really got me through a stressful time! I'm still on the waitlist at Harvard... Read more...

Shreyas R. – Class of 2020

“The most beneficial guidance I received during my College Counseling experience was being taught that it's completely ok to not know what I want to do with the rest of my life at 17/18 years old. Steve told me that a good school will help me find my path. Also, Steve's knowledge about what colleges were wanting to see in potential admissions candidates was a huge help... “There was not one specific beneficial moment or turning point in my time working with Steve, there were many. He encouraged me during the entire application process and brought to my attention many colleges I wouldn't have considered or heard about without his help.”

“The most beneficial guidance I received during my College Counseling experience was being taught that it's completely ok to not know what I want to do with the rest of my life at 17/18 years old. Steve told me that a... Read more...

Jake W. – Class of 2020

"I'm very happy my daughter chose KD as her learning partner to achieve her goals. All the experiences with KD and the Directors there are fabulous. My daughter has improved significantly."

Zarni, Daughter – Class of 2021

"I took KD classes the summer before my junior year, and I was finished with my SAT ® test by December...The test prep classes also helped me earn the award of National Merit ® Finalist."

Claire I. – Class of 2020

"It's been super helpful, and I've noticed my scores go up both on my SAT ® /ACT ® scores as well as test scores in school... Overall, I believe this to be the best college prep that money can buy."

Gopi C. – Class of 2021

"KD helped me come up with a game plan for the colleges I wanted to attend, as well as any backups, and how to manage my time during this stressful period. They helped to ease the stress and made sure that I would be successful in whichever college I picked, and I am eternally grateful for all their help and hard work!"

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When are the application deadlines for college.

Senior Associate, JPMorgan Chase

Many prospective college students prepare for months to ensure their college applications are filled out just right. From preparing essays , getting test scores, and asking for letters of recommendation, it can take a lot of energy to make sure you have all the required information to complete a college application.

But when are college applications due? Keep reading as we break down the ins and outs of college application deadlines, along with questions you may have about these deadlines.

When are college applications due for “early decision”?

Most colleges have early decision and early action deadlines that predominantly fall on November 1 for the next academic year. For example, if you’re applying early decision or early action to be in the incoming freshmen class of 2025, the application deadline will likely be on November 1, 2024.

If you apply early decision, and get accepted by a school, you must attend. For early action, you’ll likely receive an admission decision by February of the following year, but you can take a couple of months to decide if you want to attend or not – your decision isn’t binding.

Even though November 1 is often the norm for colleges who offer early decision and early action application options, this deadline can vary by school, so make sure to check the deadlines for each school you’re interested in and make a note of them.

When are college applications due for “regular decision”?

According to College Board, a national nonprofit that helps students with college admissions, you’ll likely see deadlines for regular decision applications between the months of January and February. Many schools have a deadline of January 1, if it’s helpful to keep a general deadline in the back of your mind. So, for instance, the regular decision deadline to apply to college for the fall of 2025, would be January 1, 2025.

Just like with early decision and early action, this’ll vary by school, so make sure to check the exact deadline for each school you’re interested in applying to.

When are college applications due for transfer students?

If you’re considering transferring schools in the next academic year, you’ll want to keep an eye out for transfer specific deadlines. Some schools have the same application deadlines whether you’re applying to transfer or are applying as a first-year student, while others have different deadlines for transfer students. Because of that, you’ll want to check the deadline for each school you’re interested in applying to as a transfer student.

Many colleges and universities have a transfer application deadline of March 1 for the next academic year.

Common FAQs about college application deadlines

When’s the common app due.

Students utilize the Common App to apply to different schools. This standardized admission application is supported by over 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities and allows you to share your personal information, essays, activities, grades and more in one platform to the schools of your choice.

While the app’s purpose is to simplify the college application process, the deadline to submit the Common App to the schools you want to apply to is based on the individual schools’ deadlines. The Common App opens to students on August 1 for the next academic year.

Can you send college applications after the deadline?

Whether or not you can submit college applications after the deadline will depend on the school. Some will accept late college applications in rare circumstances such as a family emergency, medical illness, or natural disaster. You'll want to contact the school’s admissions office as soon as possible to find out if you can submit a late college application.

Can you send college applications before receiving teacher recommendations?

If you’re applying to colleges through the Common App, you can send your application to schools before submitting letters of recommendation. If a school doesn’t use the Common App, or you’re applying to a school via its individual application regardless, you’ll want to ask the school’s admissions office if this is permissible.

Can you send college applications before receiving SAT or ACT scores?

Whether or not you can send college applications in before supplying ACT or SAT scores with an application will depend on the school. Most colleges do allow students to send updated SAT or ACT scores after you’ve submitted your application, though.

It’s also important to note that some schools don’t ask for or make it optional for students to supply standardized test scores like SAT or ACT scores with their applications.

Final thoughts

You may feel nervous when it comes to preparing your college applications , but staying on top of deadlines is one way you can feel more at ease. Because many schools have different deadlines, you may consider jotting the deadlines down for the schools you’re considering applying to months in advance, so you’ll be ready when the deadlines arrive.

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‘When Normal Life Stopped’: College Essays Reflect a Turbulent Year

This year’s admissions essays became a platform for high school seniors to reflect on the pandemic, race and loss.

By Anemona Hartocollis

This year perhaps more than ever before, the college essay has served as a canvas for high school seniors to reflect on a turbulent and, for many, sorrowful year. It has been a psychiatrist’s couch, a road map to a more hopeful future, a chance to pour out intimate feelings about loneliness and injustice.

In response to a request from The New York Times, more than 900 seniors submitted the personal essays they wrote for their college applications. Reading them is like a trip through two of the biggest news events of recent decades: the devastation wrought by the coronavirus, and the rise of a new civil rights movement.

In the wake of the high-profile deaths of Black people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers, students shared how they had wrestled with racism in their own lives. Many dipped their feet into the politics of protest, finding themselves strengthened by their activism, yet sometimes conflicted.

And in the midst of the most far-reaching pandemic in a century, they described the isolation and loss that have pervaded every aspect of their lives since schools suddenly shut down a year ago. They sought to articulate how they have managed while cut off from friends and activities they had cultivated for years.

To some degree, the students were responding to prompts on the applications, with their essays taking on even more weight in a year when many colleges waived standardized test scores and when extracurricular activities were wiped out.

This year the Common App, the nation’s most-used application, added a question inviting students to write about the impact of Covid-19 on their lives and educations. And universities like Notre Dame and Lehigh invited applicants to write about their reactions to the death of George Floyd, and how that inspired them to make the world a better place.

The coronavirus was the most common theme in the essays submitted to The Times, appearing in 393 essays, more than 40 percent. Next was the value of family, coming up in 351 essays, but often in the context of other issues, like the pandemic and race. Racial justice and protest figured in 342 essays.

“We find with underrepresented populations, we have lots of people coming to us with a legitimate interest in seeing social justice established, and they are looking to see their college as their training ground for that,” said David A. Burge, vice president for enrollment management at George Mason University.

Family was not the only eternal verity to appear. Love came up in 286 essays; science in 128; art in 110; music in 109; and honor in 32. Personal tragedy also loomed large, with 30 essays about cancer alone.

Some students resisted the lure of current events, and wrote quirky essays about captaining a fishing boat on Cape Cod or hosting dinner parties. A few wrote poetry. Perhaps surprisingly, politics and the 2020 election were not of great interest.

Most students expect to hear where they were admitted by the end of March or beginning of April. Here are excerpts from a few of the essays, edited for length.

Nandini Likki

Nandini, a senior at the Seven Hills School in Cincinnati, took care of her father after he was hospitalized with Covid-19. It was a “harrowing” but also rewarding time, she writes.

When he came home, my sister and I had to take care of him during the day while my mom went to work. We cooked his food, washed his dishes, and excessively cleaned the house to make sure we didn’t get the disease as well.

It was an especially harrowing time in my life and my mental health suffered due to the amount of stress I was under.

However, I think I grew emotionally and matured because of the experience. My sister and I became more responsible as we took on more adult roles in the family. I grew even closer to my dad and learned how to bond with him in different ways, like using Netflix Party to watch movies together. Although the experience isolated me from most of my friends who couldn’t relate to me, my dad’s illness taught me to treasure my family even more and cherish the time I spend with them.

Nandini has been accepted at Case Western and other schools.

Grace Sundstrom

Through her church in Des Moines, Grace, a senior at Roosevelt High School, began a correspondence with Alden, a man who was living in a nursing home and isolated by the pandemic.

As our letters flew back and forth, I decided to take a chance and share my disgust about the treatment of people of color at the hands of police officers. To my surprise, Alden responded with the same sentiments and shared his experience marching in the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Here we were, two people generations apart, finding common ground around one of the most polarizing subjects in American history.

When I arrived at my first Black Lives Matter protest this summer, I was greeted by the voices of singing protesters. The singing made me think of a younger Alden, stepping off the train at Union Station in Washington, D.C., to attend the 1963 March on Washington.

Grace has been admitted to Trinity University in San Antonio and is waiting to hear from others.

Ahmed AlMehri

Ahmed, who attends the American School of Kuwait, wrote of growing stronger through the death of his revered grandfather from Covid-19.

Fareed Al-Othman was a poet, journalist and, most importantly, my grandfather. Sept. 8, 2020, he fell victim to Covid-19. To many, he’s just a statistic — one of the “inevitable” deaths. But to me, he was, and continues to be, an inspiration. I understand the frustration people have with the restrictions, curfews, lockdowns and all of the tertiary effects of these things.

But I, personally, would go through it all a hundred times over just to have my grandfather back.

For a long time, things felt as if they weren’t going to get better. Balancing the grief of his death, school and the upcoming college applications was a struggle; and my stress started to accumulate. Covid-19 has taken a lot from me, but it has forced me to grow stronger and persevere. I know my grandfather would be disappointed if I had let myself use his death as an excuse to slack off.

Ahmed has been accepted by the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Miami and is waiting to hear from others.

Mina Rowland

Mina, who lives in a shelter in San Joaquin County, Calif., wrote of becoming homeless in middle school.

Despite every day that I continue to face homelessness, I know that I have outlets for my pain and anguish.

Most things that I’ve had in life have been destroyed, stolen, lost, or taken, but art and poetry shall be with me forever.

The stars in “Starry Night” are my tenacity and my hope. Every time I am lucky enough to see the stars, I am reminded of how far I’ve come and how much farther I can go.

After taking a gap year, Mina and her twin sister, Mirabell, have been accepted at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and are waiting on others.

Christine Faith Cabusay

Christine, a senior at Stuyvesant High School in New York, decided to break the isolation of the pandemic by writing letters to her friends.

How often would my friends receive something in the mail that was not college mail, a bill, or something they ordered online? My goal was to make opening a letter an experience. I learned calligraphy and Spencerian script so it was as if an 18th-century maiden was writing to them from her parlor on a rainy day.

Washing lines in my yard held an ever-changing rainbow of hand-recycled paper.

With every letter came a painting of something that I knew they liked: fandoms, animals, music, etc. I sprayed my favorite perfume on my signature on every letter because I read somewhere that women sprayed perfume on letters overseas to their partners in World War II; it made writing letters way more romantic (even if it was just to my close friends).

Christine is still waiting to hear from schools.

Alexis Ihezue

Her father’s death from complications of diabetes last year caused Alexis, a student at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology in Lawrenceville, Ga., to consider the meaning of love.

And in the midst of my grief swallowing me from the inside out, I asked myself when I loved him most, and when I knew he loved me. It’s nothing but brief flashes, like bits and pieces of a dream. I hear him singing “Fix You” by Coldplay on our way home, his hands across the table from me at our favorite wing spot that we went to weekly after school, him driving me home in the middle of a rainstorm, his last message to me congratulating me on making it to senior year.

It’s me finding a plastic spoon in the sink last week and remembering the obnoxious way he used to eat. I see him in bursts and flashes.

A myriad of colors and experiences. And I think to myself, ‘That’s what it is.’ It’s a second. It’s a minute. That’s what love is. It isn’t measured in years, but moments.

Alexis has been accepted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is waiting on others.

Ivy Wanjiku

She and her mother came to America “with nothing but each other and $100,” writes Ivy, who was born in Kenya and attends North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Ga.

I am a triple threat. Foreign, black, female. From the dirt roads and dust that covered the attire of my ancestors who worshiped the soil, I have sprouted new beginnings for generations.

But the question arises; will that generation live to see its day?

Melanin mistaken as a felon, my existence is now a hashtag that trends as often as my rights, a facade at best, a lie in truth. I now know more names of dead blacks than I do the amendments of the Constitution.

Ivy is going to Emory University in Atlanta on full scholarship and credits her essay with helping her get in.

Mary Clare Marshall

The isolation of the pandemic became worse when Mary Clare, a student at Sacred Heart Greenwich in Connecticut, realized that her mother had cancer.

My parents acted like everything was normal, but there were constant reminders of her diagnosis. After her first chemo appointment, I didn’t acknowledge the change. It became real when she came downstairs one day without hair.

No one said anything about the change. It just happened. And it hit me all over again. My mom has cancer.

Even after going to Catholic school for my whole life, I couldn’t help but be angry at God. I felt myself experiencing immense doubt in everything I believe in. Unable to escape my house for any small respite, I felt as though I faced the reality of my mom’s cancer totally alone.

Mary Clare has been admitted to the University of Virginia and is waiting on other schools.

Nora Frances Kohnhorst

Nora, a student at the High School of American Studies at Lehman College in New York, was always “a serial dabbler,” but found commitment in a common pandemic hobby.

In March, when normal life stopped, I took up breadmaking. This served a practical purpose. The pandemic hit my neighborhood in Queens especially hard, and my parents were afraid to go to the store. This forced my family to come up with ways to avoid shopping. I decided I would learn to make sourdough using recipes I found online. Initially, some loaves fell flat, others were too soft inside, and still more spread into strange blobs.

I reminded myself that the bread didn’t need to be perfect, just edible.

It didn’t matter what it looked like; there was no one to see or eat it besides my brother and parents. They depended on my new activity, and that dependency prevented me from repeating the cycle of trying a hobby, losing steam, and moving on to something new.

Nora has been admitted to SUNY Binghamton and the University of Vermont and is waiting to hear from others.

Gracie Yong Ying Silides

Gracie, a student at Greensboro Day School in North Carolina, recalls the “red thread” of a Chinese proverb and wonders where it will take her next.

Destiny has led me into a mysterious place these last nine months: isolation. At a time in my life when I am supposed to be branching out, the Covid pandemic seems to have trimmed those branches back to nubs. I have had to research colleges without setting foot on them. I’ve introduced myself to strangers through essays, videos, and test scores.

I would have fallen apart over this if it weren’t for my faith.

In Hebrews 11:1, Paul says that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” My life has shown me that the red thread of destiny guides me where I need to go. Though it might sound crazy, I trust that the red thread is guiding me to the next phase of my journey.

Gracie has been accepted to St. Olaf College, Ithaca College and others.

Levi, a student at Westerville Central High School in Ohio, wrestles with the conflict between her admiration for her father, a police officer, and the negative image of the police.

Since I was a small child I have watched my father put on his dark blue uniform to go to work protecting and serving others. He has always been my hero. As the African-American daughter of a police officer, I believe in what my father stands for, and I am so proud of him because he is not only my protector, but the protector of those I will likely never know. When I was young, I imagined him always being a hero to others, just as he was to me. How could anyone dislike him??? However, as I have gotten older and watched television and social media depict the brutalization of African-Americans, at the hands of police, I have come to a space that is uncomfortable.

I am certain there are others like me — African-Americans who love their police officer family members, yet who despise what the police are doing to African-Americans.

I know that I will not be able to rectify this problem alone, but I want to be a part of the solution where my paradox no longer exists.

Levi has been accepted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and is waiting to hear from others.

Henry Thomas Egan

When Henry, a student at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, attended a protest after the death of George Floyd, it was the words of a Nina Simone song that stayed with him.

I had never been to a protest before; neither my school, nor my family, nor my city are known for being outspoken. Thousands lined the intersection in all four directions, chanting, “He couldn’t breathe! George Floyd couldn’t breathe!”

In my head, thoughts of hunger, injustice, and silence swirled around.

In my ears, I heard lyrics playing on a speaker nearby, a song by Nina Simone: “To be young, gifted, and Black!” The experience was exceptionally sad and affirming and disorienting at the same time, and when the police arrived and started firing tear gas, I left. A lot has happened in my life over these last four years. I am left not knowing how to sort all of this out and what paths I should follow.

Henry has not yet heard back from colleges.

Anna Valades

Anna, a student at Coronado High School in California, pondered how children learned racism from their parents.

“She said I wasn’t invited to her birthday party because I was black,” my sister had told my mom, devastated, after coming home from third grade as the only classmate who had not been invited to the party. Although my sister is not black, she is a dark-skinned Mexican, and brown-skinned people in Mexico are thought of as being a lower class and commonly referred to as “negros.” When my mom found out who had been discriminating against my sister, she later informed me that the girl’s mother had also bullied my mom about her skin tone when she was in elementary school in Mexico City.

Through this situation, I learned the impact people’s upbringing and the values they are taught at home have on their beliefs and, therefore, their actions.

Anna has been accepted at Northeastern University and is waiting to hear from others.

Research was contributed by Asmaa Elkeurti, Aidan Gardiner, Pierre-Antoine Louis and Jake Frankenfield.

Anemona Hartocollis is a national correspondent, covering higher education. She is also the author of the book, “Seven Days of Possibilities: One Teacher, 24 Kids, and the Music That Changed Their Lives Forever.” More about Anemona Hartocollis

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FAFSA is still having major issues and delaying financial aid decisions—how students and families can cope

Numerous hiccups in the rollout of the updated Free Application for Federal Student Aid have upended this year's financial aid award season . 

Technological issues during the soft launch of the application at the end of December meant many students and their families may have struggled just to submit the form from the time of its release through mid-January.

Over 17 million people submit FAFSAs each year, per Department of Education data . But this year, as of late March, FAFSA submissions were down about 29% from the previous year, according to the National College Attainment Network . By now, most of the problems with submitting the form have been resolved, but getting the FAFSA information from the ED's Federal Student Aid office to colleges has introduced another slew of issues.

At the end of March, FSA identified problems with the information some schools were receiving, including inconsistent student tax information from the Internal Revenue Service that could impact a student's aid eligibility. The errors impacted an estimated 5% of processed FAFSA, according to ED and the IRS, all of which will be reprocessed in the first half of April, the department said in a blog post.

Many of those who have filled out an application are waiting in limbo to find out how much they will owe for tuition for the upcoming school year. 

"Every day matters, and with hundreds of thousands of FAFSAs needing to be reprocessed, even more delays for students are coming," Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators said in a statement . "Continually taking two steps forward and one giant step back is not a sustainable pathway toward getting financial aid offers out to students and families."

While you may have to wait some time until you get your aid package, it's still advisable to submit your FAFSA as soon as you can. Outside of those erroneous forms being reprocessed, FSA said as of April, schools should start receiving students' financial information within one to three business days of the student submitting their FAFSA. 

Typically, most colleges have a May 1 deadline for incoming students to commit to attending, but many schools have pushed that date back in light of the FAFSA delays. Still, some students may feel the pressure to commit to a school before they've seen all the financial aid offers available to them or skip the FAFSA — and potentially college — process altogether. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you're stressed about making a college decision amid the FAFSA turmoil.

Patience and communication are key

It's important for students who need financial aid to pay for college — and even those who think they may not qualify for aid — to complete the FAFSA, higher education experts say.  

Despite the delays, "Every high school senior and returning college student should still be completing the FAFSA," Bethany Hubert, a financial aid specialist at Going Merry by Earnest , tells CNBC Make It. "Especially those low-income, minority and first-generation students that can really benefit from this financial aid — they need to make sure they're prioritizing it."

Once you've completed your application, Hubert says all you can really do after that is keep an eye on institution commitment deadlines, be patient and communicate your situation to the appropriate parties —schools awaiting your decision or the FSA office in the event of errors on your FAFSA.

"Make sure that you're being proactive and staying on top of communication from your financial aid office and the Department of Education," she says. "And make sure if you know that you're going to have to do an appeal or a FAFSA correction that you're prepared for that as well."

Make an informed decision

Hubert stresses, however, that you shouldn't feel pressured to commit to a school you don't know you can afford just because the deadline is approaching and you haven't seen your aid package.

"Make sure that you're not committing if you're uncomfortable [with your aid package] or without having all the information in front of you," she says. "If you can wait for those decision deadlines, try and do that so that you can get those award letters hopefully in time to make an informed decision."

Students who have received aid packages they feel are smaller than anticipated may consider appealing that decision with their school's financial aid office, Hubert says. If your student aid index — a number generated by the FAFSA which your college will use to help determine your aid eligibility — feels off, you'll definitely want to ask them to take another look.

Additionally, if something in your family's financial circumstances isn't reflected in your FAFSA, like a recent decline in income or caring for an elderly family member, informing your prospective school's financial aid office of those could help you get more need-based aid, Hubert says.

If you're really in a bind waiting for a financial aid decision, Hubert recommends considering alternate pathways, such as enrolling in community college to help lower the overall cost of your education. Getting a college degree typically pays off in the long run in terms of the jobs you'll be able to get and salary you'll be able to command with a bachelor's versus without.

"You shouldn't just jump to skipping college altogether," Hubert says. She mentions a few small ways you might be able to reduce your cost of attendance like looking for more affordable housing or changing your meal plan.

 "There's lots of ways to kind of nickel and dime some savings out of college," she says.

Want to make extra money outside of your day job?  Sign up for CNBC's new online course How to Earn Passive Income Online to learn about common passive income streams, tips to get started and real-life success stories. Register today and save 50% with discount code EARLYBIRD.

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How to Write a Last Minute Essay

←What If I Don’t Have Anything Interesting to Write About in My College Essay?

8 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block→

Ooops! You waited until the very last minute to begin the college application process, and it’s probably stressing you out. But never fear – CollegeVine is here to make sure that your procrastination impacts your essay as minimally as possible.

We’ve included a guide for the 30-day essay, the 15-day essay, and the 3-day essay. If you have multiple essays to write in a short time, you can follow the appropriate guide for multiple prompts simultaneously, or offset it by a few days.

The 30-Day Essay

At this point, you want to focus on ideas. You have the freedom to spend a few days figuring out which direction your essay is going to take, so take your time to think about what you want to convey in your essay. Find four to five topics to begin with—you can ask your parents, friends, and teachers about what they find interesting about you in order to speed this process up. Try to choose anecdotes from your life that, in retrospect, you learned from, and these stories will inform your topic. Even the shortest, most insignificant moment can make a great essay if it shaped you in some way. If you are writing a “why this school” essay, make a list of reasons why you are applying. Do appropriate research to find strong reasons that show your genuine interest in the school. 

Now that you have a few potential topics, think about how each one would respond to the prompt. Spend 15 minutes outlining each one, using your prompt to guide the outline. In essays that ask you to tell a story, a good topic should write itself and finding a strong essay idea will nearly always be more productive than forcing a story to respond to the prompt. For “why this school” essays, focus on the structure and connection between your reasons. Giving this step the necessary hours now will pay off later. Narrow your list of potential topics to your top one to three choices.

Now it’s time to put pen to paper. If you’re having a hard time, try writing in different environments—coffee shops, your room, or a library, for example—and alternate between topics, and remember that at least at this stage, more words is better than fewer; there will be a step to polish your writing later. 

By day 14, you should have written one rough essay for every “top choice” topic you decided on during day 5. This means that you should now have anywhere between one to three potential essays for a single prompt.

If you do have more than one essay written, it is now time to choose a single essay. Out of the two or three essays you have written in the past couple days, there is probably one that speaks to you more than the rest. If you’re having a hard time, think about which of the topics you’d like to spend another two weeks with, and try to figure out which one says the most about you. Essays with twice the number of words allowed or more should be ruled out; the anecdote is probably too long, or the topic requires too much detail to be effective.

Break days! Distance is important when writing. Take a break from your essays so that you can continue to edit with a fresh mind. These are great days to give your essay to other people to edit—school faculty members who know you well, a coach/music teacher, your parents, and one or two friends. If you are over the word limit, ask specifically for these editors to help you cut down the essay.

Reading your essay with a fresh mind should help you catch big, structural edits. Your first round of edits should involve content edits; you’re looking for what the essay really says about you as a person, and whether that was what you were trying to get across. How does the sentence flow? Does the essay move itself?

Break day! Get some more distance from your writing.

At this point, you might have received some edits back from the people you handed your essay to. Go through each of the edits and decide which suggestions you plan to take, and which seem to alter your personal voice or which don’t match the essay stylistically. Try to stay objective as you review these edits—some of them will be detrimental. If you can’t see why the change was made, it’s probably best to ignore it. If multiple people give you the same feedback, however, you may want to give it some thought.

Implement the edits that you liked. Then read through the essay again and make sure that there are no structural edits or content edits that still need to happen.

These days are the middle stage of your editing process. You’re looking for words that don’t fit the style of the essay, or which could be improved, as well as sentence flow problems. Are all your sentences the same length? Is one paragraph not as well written as the rest of the essay? This should also be the time that you cut words. If you are still more than 70 words over, try to cut full sentences. Otherwise, start by cutting unnecessary phrases and words.

Start doing smaller grammatical edits. A great way to catch edits is to record yourself reading your essay aloud and then listening to the recording. As you go through this process, highlight, mark, and comment on your essay. Afterwards, go through and use your notes to fix word flow, word choice, and grammatical mistakes.

Break day! It’s close to the deadline, we know. Take a break anyway – you need and deserve it.

Last minute edits! Spend some quality time with your essay by just reading it every few hours. Try to catch any small mistakes or random sentence flow problems. (If you suddenly realize that you hate your essay, reference the 3-Day Essay below. Be sure that you aren’t being hyper-critical, though—you may just hate the essay because you’ve spent so much time on it).

Congratulations! Your essay is done! It’s time for you to catch a break. 

The 15-Day Essay

Spend a few hours working on a list of ideas that could become potential essays. Choose one and make an outline.

Write your essay!

Ask a few people who you think would give constructive comments to read your essay— teachers, parents, and  friends. Spend some time doing content and structure edits. Figure out what you want the essay to convey about your personality, and determine whether your essay actually gets this across.

Do some structural editing. Pay attention to sentence flow, the length of paragraphs, overall organization. If your essay is too long, try to cut down on unnecessary information. Pay close attention to the way that you have structured paragraphs and make sure each one makes sense.

Take a break!

Synthesize the comments you received on your essay. Decide which suggestions you want to use and which ones you don’t. If you can’t figure out why a particular suggestion was made, ask the person who gave it. After you’ve gone through all the feedback, edit your essay accordingly.

Cut your essay down to the word limit – ask yourself which anecdotes, details, and adjectives are truly necessary. If you’re having trouble, reference the editors that you spoke to previously.

Work on grammatical and other small edits. Look for minor things that need to be corrected, such as punctuation and word choice. This process requires a few dedicated hours. Aim to really spend some time polishing your language. Reading your essay aloud can be a productive way to accomplish this.

Take a break from your essay!

Spend the whole day with your essay. Every few hours, do a reread and see if you can catch any small last minute edits. Don’t try to change anything major—you don’t have time!

Submit the essay and take a good nap. You’ve finished! 

The 3-Day Essay

Don’t panic. This is doable, but it’ll be a busy few days. Spend the morning coming up with ideas for your essay. Choose one, and use the afternoon to write it. Email this draft to teachers, and show it to your parents. Then, take a few hours off, and later at night, read it through to edit for content. Does the essay say what you intended it to?

Check your email throughout the day. When you get edits back, start incorporating those into the essay. Be picky about which ones you choose to include because you don’t want to take your own voice out of the essay. Spend the day doing structural edits. Every hour, take a thirty minute break from editing. By the end of the day, you should have an essay that fits within the word limit and also has a strong flow. The organization should be good, and you should be able to see how the essay builds upon itself.

DO NOT OPEN EDITS. If any of your readers have replied to your email, don’t open them at all. At this point, the extra edits will just freak you out, and you don’t have time to do major fixes. The name of the game today is small edits; look for grammar, word changes, and minor sentence structure changes. When you’re finally done, take a breath; you can finally relax. 

The 1-Day Essay 

Of course, writing a college essay the day before it’s due is far from ideal, but we know there are probably some of you out there who will find yourself in this situation. Don’t worry, it is not hopeless. Instead of trying to fit a step-by-step plan into a tight timespan, we’ve compiled some general tips to help you churn out that essay in one day. 

Choose your prompts strategically.

If you already know what you’re going to write about, great! Move on to the next tip. If not, see if you might have already written an essay to any of the available prompts. Especially if the prompts are open-ended, you may have already addressed a potential topic in previous school papers. Look through your files to see if you have any essays that you might be able to recycle. The key here is recycle : it goes without saying that you shouldn’t use a previously-written essay word for word for your college submission. You should still take time to tailor it to the prompt and make sure that it conveys your message clearly, whether it’s illustrating your strengths or expressing why you wish to attend that particular college. 

Make an outline. 

Yes, you may feel that you don’t have time for extensive planning, and that you should just jump in and get everything on paper. Try to rein in this urge and take one hour to make a brief outline, spelling out your “thesis” and all the points you want to address. This will help keep your thoughts in order as you write, especially in such a time-constricted context. 

Get that distance, re-read, and edit. 

It’s always tempting to just click submit once you’re done with a project you worked long and hard on, to feel that relief when you know it’s done. However, especially given the rushed nature of a last-minute essay like this, the revision and editing process is crucial, even if it’ll be minimal. Blatant errors will reflect poorly in your application! 

So when you’re done writing, set it aside for a few hours. Then, reread it, and make any necessary corrections—grammar mistakes, typos, sentence flow. When you’re sure it sounds they way you want it to, then you can submit. 

Wrapping it Up

Procrastinating on your college essays isn’t the best way to go, but it can be saved. If you haven’t started applying yet, start your college essays as early as possible! Longer breaks between editing sessions will allow you to get the distance necessary to be objective, and to produce the best quality essay you can.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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• What Caitlin Clark said after her last game at Iowa

Caitlin Clark's historic career for Iowa women's basketball ended with a crushing defeat to South Carolina in the 2024 national championship game. Here's what Clark had to say after the game.

Caitlin Clark on post-championship game praise from South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley

Question: Caitlin, I'm sure the moment stings quite a bit, but Dawn Staley just gave you some really, really strong and sincere praise on the podium, on the TV broadcast, for all you've done and all that she believes you're about to do in the years to come. I wonder what that means to hear from her.

"I think any time someone like Coach Staley is able to recognize you and what you did for the game is obviously pretty special. Obviously she's someone I respect so much. I respect what she's done for South Carolina. I respect what she did as a player for our game."

"Any time you can get the praises of her is pretty special. So it means a lot."

Dawn Staley gave a shoutout to Caitlin Clark for what she has done for women's basketball 👏 pic.twitter.com/dhTb85Dt0t — ESPN (@espn) April 7, 2024

"Anytime you can get the praises of her it's pretty special so it means a lot." Caitlin Clark on Dawn Staley calling her one of the GOATs of the game. pic.twitter.com/PZkm3WIsfH — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 7, 2024

Caitlin Clark reflecting on the 2023-24 season

Question: Caitlin, you said that you've not wanted to look beyond this game or whatever was next in front of you. Now what are the emotions, and what do you think going forward? Do you think about everything that you were able to do, especially this past season?

"Yeah, it's certainly been a special year. To be honest, after last year I was kind of, like, how do we top doing what we did last year? Somehow, some way, every single person in our locker room believed. To be honest, this year was probably more special than last year."

"The teams we had to go through to get to this point, we won the Big Ten tournament. We lost two players that were three-year starters for our program, and to be back in this position and come out here and battle — I mean, South Carolina is so good. There's only so much you can do."

"[Kamilla] Cardoso has 17 rebounds. They have 51 as a team. We have 29. Hard to win a basketball game like that. You've basically got to shoot perfect at that point."

"I'm just proud of our group. We never backed down, and we gave it everything we've got."

"For me, just the emotions will probably hit me over the next couple days. I don't have much time to sit around and sulk and be upset. I don't think that's what I'm about either."

"Yeah, I'm sad we lost this game, but I'm also so proud of myself, I'm so proud of my teammates, I'm so proud of this program. There's a lot to be proud of."

"But there's going to be tears. It is sad this is all over, and this is the last time I'm going to put on an Iowa jersey."

"I think just reflecting back and soaking in everything that I was able to do because basically anybody other than me and coach Bluder never thought this was possible."

"Yeah, I'm sad we lost this game. But I'm also so proud of myself. I'm so proud of my teammates. I'm so proud of this program." Caitlin Clark reflects on @IowaWBB 's second straight NCAA title game run. #WFinalFour pic.twitter.com/EtbSEXz0FH — Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) April 7, 2024

HOW IT HAPPENED:  South Carolina defeats Iowa 87-75 to win national championship and complete perfect season

Caitlin Clark on enjoying the moment and not looking too far ahead

Question: Caitlin, have you allowed yourself to be excited about what's next, or have you been too focused on finishing your career here?

"I've been 110 percent focused on finishing my career here. That's been my full focus. That's been my driving force, and I think that's what's allowed me to play such great basketball through the month of March and April and through the end of our season, but really all year long."

"It was never the decision of whether I was going pro or whether I was staying at Iowa, never was something I stressed on too much. I knew it was something that would become clear to me over time."

"I think for me I know what's next is soon. But at the same time, I'm not blind to the fact that I need to enjoy this, I need to soak this in and enjoy these last few moments with my teammates because these are some of my best friends. They'll be my best friends for the rest of my life, and that's what matters to me the most."

"I know what's next is soon. But at the same time, I'm not blind to the fact that I need to enjoy this. I need to soak this in." Caitlin Clark offers some great perspective in response to her @WNBA future. 👇 #WFinalFour x @IowaWBB pic.twitter.com/q61NKDpwFC — Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball) April 7, 2024

Caitlin Clark on helping to grow women's basketball

Question. Caitlin, you've done a lot for the Big Ten. The Big Ten gets maligned a lot, but you guys did a lot for the Big Ten. I'm sure you're disappointed, but when you have a chance to look at the impact you've made, where the ratings are through the roof and most of it's because of you, and then of course the Iowa team once again being in this position two years in a row. What will you look back at this time frame despite the not winning the championship?

"I think the biggest thing is it's really hard to win these things. I think I probably know that better than most people by now. To be so close twice, it definitely hurts, but at the same time, we were right there. We battled. We took down some really great teams to get back to this point. It's something that's really hard to do."

"When I think about women's basketball going forward, obviously it's just going to continue to grow, whether it's at the WNBA level, whether it's at the college level. Everybody sees it. Everybody knows. Everybody sees the viewership numbers."

"When you're given an opportunity, women's sports just kind of thrives. I think that's been the coolest thing for me on this journey, we started our season playing in front of 55,000 people in Kinnick Stadium. And now we're ending it playing in probably 15 million people or more on TV. It just continues to get better and better and better. That's never going to stop."

"When you continue to give them the platform, things like this are just going to continue to happen."

Caitlin Clark on the growth of women's basketball pic.twitter.com/8FV6eBEkLh — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 7, 2024

Caitlin Clark on how women's sports can build on its momentum

Question: Caitlin, what you and your team have accomplished in Iowa has made the whole world look at women's sports and women's basketball. How do you think all of women's sports can capitalize on this momentum right now?

"I think the biggest thing is, for us, this team came along at a really good time, whether it was social media, whether it was NIL, whether it was our games being nationally televised. We've played on Fox, NBC, CBS, ESPN — you go down the list, and we've been on every national television channel. I think that's been one of the biggest things that has helped us."

"I think, no matter what sport it is, give then the same opportunities, believe in them the same, invest in them the same, and things are really going to thrive."

"You see it with other sports, and I'm a big fan of other sports. Like I try to support as much as I can, and I think that's the biggest thing is continue to invest your time, money and resources there, and continue to show up for those people and give them the opportunities."

"I think that's what's going to help drive women's sports forward in the future."

CAITLIN CLARK TRACKER: Follow the Iowa star's biggest games and highlights in the 2023-24 season

Caitlin Clark on her legacy with Iowa basketball

Question: This is for all three of you (Clark's teammate Kate Martin and head coach Lisa Bluder were also at the podium). What do you think the legacy of this team and this era is for Iowa basketball? And what's probably the moment that stands out? Is it something on the floor? Is it something just among all of you? I guess what can you share?

" think this group has gone about it in the right way in every single thing that we've done in every phase of our life. I think that's what you can be the most proud of."

"We truly have each other's back. Maybe we weren't always the most skilled. Maybe we weren't always the tallest. Maybe we weren't always the fastest, but we just believed. We knew we could be in these moments. We trusted one another. That took a couple of years to get to that point."

"There's been so many great Iowa women's basketball players to come before us and allow this program to be really, really good when Kate and I and everyone else stepped on campus. And I feel like we took it to a whole nother level. I feel like our program is in good hands moving forward."

"I think more than anything people will probably remember our two Final Fours and things like that. But people aren't going to remember every single win or every single loss. I think they're just going to remember the moments that they shared at one of our games or watching on TV or how excited their young daughter or son got about watching women's basketball. I think that's pretty cool."

"Those are the things that mean the most to me when people come up to me and — I don't really get offended when people say I never watched women's basketball before. I think, one, you're a little late to the party, yes. But, two, that's cool. We're changing the game. We're attracting more people to it."

"But at the same time, those little things are, I think, the moments that we'll remember forever."

No @IowaWBB senior class has won more career games than this year's group. @kate_martin22 and @CaitlinClark22 discuss their legacy. ⤵️ #WFinalFour pic.twitter.com/RRZ3Mi7x9V — Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) April 7, 2024

Caitlin Clark on South Carolina's swing to pull away mid-game

Question: Caitlin, this was a game of runs. Your guys' start was amazing, right? Right before the end of the half, they hit you with a 5-0 and then they start with a 6-0 at the start of the third quarter. Is that where the game changed hands and they took control?

"They're a really good team. We knew they were going to go on runs. By no means, when we started off as hot as we did, did we think we'd be able to hold that lead. That's just what teams do."

"There's some crazy statistics where South Carolina just outscores everybody in the second half by a ton of points every single game."

"To me, I'm just proud of our resiliency. We go into the fourth quarter, I think we cut it to five. And we just weren't able to come up with a few stops and a few baskets."

"That speaks to our team. That's the story it's been all year long. My whole entire career, we never give up. We just keep fighting."

"Their runs are kind of daggers, especially when they keep making pull-up jump shots. That's what we are going to give up. Sometimes you live with that and you're going to live with them out-rebounding you. There's only so much you can do for someone who's 6-foot-7. Hannah was doing her best to box her out. She's a really great player, going to be a really great pro."

BUCKETS:  Women's college basketball all-time leading scorers

Caitlin Clark on what beens to be a part of transforming women's basketball

Question: I want to ask a variation on questions that have been asked. We've talked about this being a transformative year in terms of women's college basketball. And I just wondered for the two of you personally, what does it mean to be a part of that, to have your name associated with that?

"I think there's obviously so many amazing people that have come before us and give us this opportunity. I think, to attract so many people to watching women's basketball is so special. And the way people have showed up consistently throughout my career, I was going through some old pictures last night and just how things have changed since my freshman year and my sophomore year, it was so incredible. Time goes so fast. It's crazy."

"I can't believe this is my last career game. There's just so much to be proud of."

"I think people didn't love us for our wins. I think they loved us for the way we carried ourselves every single day, for the way we played for one another, the joy we played with, the passion we played with, the competitive spirit we had, the way we high-fived and celebrated our teammates' success. That's the reason people loved turning on Iowa women's basketball."

Everything Caitlin Clark says here. All of it. 😍 #WFinalFour x @IowaWBB pic.twitter.com/Q0x1ff3w6X — Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) April 7, 2024

Caitlin Clark on the message she'll tell kids that look up to her

Question: You've had an incredible journey to this point, especially with the historical viewership. What would you say to kids striving to be you right now?

"I would say I think the biggest thing is this is what I kind of said about my entire career is nobody really believed other than myself. I think confidence. I think as a young girl, just have confidence, a young boy, have confidence in yourself and confidence in whatever you want to be."

"I think that was the thing that my parents instilled in me from a young age. They never told me no. They told me no about other things, but not in what I wanted to do and what I wanted to be and the goals I wanted to chase after."

"I would say that's the biggest thing. You've got to say it. You've got to work for it. You've got to earn it. You don't ever want anything to be given to you."

"That's what I'm most proud of throughout my career, I've worked really hard to be in this moment. That's where my confidence comes from. That's the piece of advice I would give to the younger generation."

𝐐: What would you say to kids striving to be you right now? Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin give their answers to 9-year-old DJ Lily Jade. 🗣️ #WFinalFour x @IowaWBB pic.twitter.com/zJm6XVTJAB — Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball) April 7, 2024

Caitlin Clark says goodbye to Iowa WBB ❤️ (via @CaitlinClark22 ) pic.twitter.com/8QP5WqK3Nz — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 7, 2024

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