When to Start Working on Your University Applications
- Shivang Jariwala
- Oct 27, 2021
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 29, 2022
When it comes to applying to college, there’s no such thing as being too prepared. Time is of the essence — and whether you’re applying to universities in the US or UK, the application to-do list is long. Starting the process early is critical to avoid undue stress and ensure all your application materials are of the highest quality.
For many high school students, applying to university is one of the biggest projects they’ve ever taken on. You work hard for years to build your candidacy in terms of academics and extracurriculars, and when your application year arrives, it’s a massive effort to build an application that represents who you are in the best possible way. That’s why getting started early is the first thing you can do to make sure that you’re prepared and confident when it’s time to click “submit.”
Ranchal student, Vivek, who was accepted to UCL, shares his application story below with some key milestones mapped out. He explains why students should plan to start building their applications several months in advance and how doing so sets them up for a stress-free application process.
My application process was quite accelerated, starting in March and effectively finishing in October. By working throughout quarantine and taking advantage of my early first few weeks of school, I completed 14 sets of supplements and my personal statement essay before my ED school’s application was even due.
Why? Well, for one, I had a lot of anxiety about finishing my applications on time. Second, I had a fantastic support group in my Ranchal team, who pushed me and met my enthusiasm in getting all my work done. Third, well, my “senioritis” during the last few months started a lot sooner than everyone else’s since I finished everything early! I’ve relaxed and actually was able to enjoy my Thanksgiving and winter breaks.
March: the beginning of the process
After spending the previous summer at Michigan State University doing physics and abstract math, I started applying to research programs there as well as at Texas Tech University, the University of Notre Dame, and Stony Brook University (Notre Dame’s was the only program that didn’t get canceled, so I went to Physics of Atomic Nuclei at Notre Dame and MSU). Now, it was time to start my college applications. March was the time for brainstorming, making a list of where to apply, and exploring different personal statement ideas. If it wasn’t for my early start, I don’t think I would’ve found the school I will be attending this fall!
Brainstorming involved a lot of conferencing with my strategist, Brice, and a lot of self-reflection about what I wanted from my college experience. March was when colleges started announcing changes due to COVID, and as such, there was a revolving door of questions and concerns surrounding my top preferences. My initial first choice was Princeton University, but after they canceled their Restrictive Early Action, I had to reconsider.
June: starting to write my personal statement
The summer was when my work with Brice and my writing assistant, Jason, really started.
The personal statement was, for me, the most time-consuming and challenging part of the application process. I can’t imagine going through that perilous journey without help from my team; I needed their reinforcement encouragement, and ideas to get my essay churning.
My initial essay was about my two most prevalent passions: poetry and physics. I think I wrote around five or six complete essays before striking them down and moving to the next. Finally, after I pulled my head out of the physics & poetry trope (to which Brice contributed immensely), I began to explore other topics that would enable me to express myself.
From a juxtaposition between my previous rural home to my current suburban one, to a narrative of a conversation between me and a friend, Brice and I finally settled on the topic: my map. To keep a long story short, I used a map to draw comparisons between my actions and struggles to those of history as I walked across my map (of the Middle East, Central Asia, and India).
July — August: editing, editing, then editing some more
As my college application list evolved, each change was accompanied by what felt like an excessive amount of editing on my Common App essay. I spent approximately an hour a day on this behemoth. We picked apart every sentence, scrutinized every word choice, and examined and reexamined every theme. I got a lot of feedback from my parents, my Ranchal mentors, and my friends, and by the end of August, my essay was precisely what it needed to be for top colleges: every word had meaning.
September — October: tackling supplemental essays
After I finished my personal statement, “all” that I had left were my supplemental essays. I planned on applying to 14 schools, so obviously, I had a fair few to write.
These were easier than the personal statement because the prompts allowed me to talk about the school and all it had to offer for me (however, you should still write about yourself! Check out this blog for supplemental essay writing tips!).
These moved faster, with many prompts being direct copies of other prompts. We also kept pace with me the whole way through, meaning I was churning out essays to be reviewed promptly (and eventually, submitted!). During this time, I also took three SAT Subject Tests, which added to the frenzy of these months.
With my essays done, my apps submitted, and my test scores completed, what did I do now?
I cruised, pretty much. The lack of motivation that comes when you’re mere months from finishing high school hit me pretty hard (as it will for everyone; I thought I was immune until November) — but I didn’t worry because I was finished with my applications. I kept my grades up, kept my stress levels low, and only really thought about college when waiting for my decision. I know that I wouldn’t have had that downtime during the last few months without getting started early, and through my hard work and productivity, I not only found the best school for me but was accepted Early Decision!
When talking with fellow or future applicants, I always stress the importance of beginning the whole process as soon as you can. The second semester of junior year is when application thoughts and brainstorming should start, even if it is just with the first draft of your college list. I wish you the best of luck, future applicant, and don’t forget: start early!
One of the most common questions we hear when students start to think about college applications is: “when should I get started?”
Generally speaking, we recommend that students begin the process during the spring semester of their junior year. It is important for each student to set their own goals, manage their own time, and measure their own success. Each student is vastly different from the next, and it’s important not to pressure yourself to live up to the expectations of others.
One important thing to remember is that you know yourself best. It is critical that you understand and acknowledge your values, goals, and limits before you start applying to colleges and universities. Junior year is busy. Most students will take standardized tests, and many more are working through AP and IB courses. Still, this is a great time to start thinking about important aspects of the application, such as your college essays.
Preparing for the Personal Statement
Ideally, you’ll begin to develop your personal statement first, since this is likely the most labor-intensive part of the application process. Students often ask what the trick is to write a perfect personal statement. The short answer? Write it about YOU! In college applications, the personal statement holds a unique degree of importance. A strong essay will offer a window into the student’s character and personality – giving admissions officers a more complete view of the student they may eventually admit. The statement brings to life the grades and accomplishments that color the rest of the application.
A great personal statement should not reiterate other parts of your application. Unless there is a ton of additional context needed on an existing activity, students should shy away from touching on topics covered elsewhere and focus instead on showing themselves in another light. Statements should be authentic and reflective: what happened to the student is often less important than how they processed, understood, and grew from it.
Once you have a strong sense of your personal statement topic, it’s time to get started! The summer between your junior and senior year is the ideal time to write your personal statement, as you are likely less distracted by schoolwork and deadlines. In an ideal world, you would be done with your personal statement by August.
Preparing For Your Common App
Mid-August is when the Common App and other application portals open and supplemental topics are released. Take August and September to write these essays before the rush of the senior year kicks in! Before you know it, Early Action and Early Decision deadlines will arrive. By mid-October, you may be submitting your first round of applications. You should be prepared to review your academic transcripts for application and finish your university selection. If you don’t have any applications due during this time, think about how you can get ahead. If you still need to take a standardized test, now is the time to really study. Early Action and Early Decision
November will be the time most Early Action and Early Decision applications will be due. This is also the last chance to take the SAT/ACT! During this time, you should also be finalizing your Common Application for all of the schools on your final list. You will need to submit standardized test scores and complete all of your supplemental essays and personal statement. If you’re aiming for top schools that are known for requesting interviews, now is the time to start prepping.
Wrap It Up!
Before you know it, it will be December! This is the month to put the finishing touches on your regular deadline applications. We also recommend taking this time to confirm your financial aid information (FAFSA) and submit your application early. And while you’re at it, we recommend submitting your regular round applications early too! Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. The earlier the better–put your brain at ease. As mentioned before, it is important for each student to set their own goals, manage their own time, and measure their own success. Students should utilize their own preferred ways of staying organized and holding themselves accountable. Map a timeline and to-do list of all of the tasks and deadlines that you need to keep track of and follow religiously! With enough dedication and drive, you can get accepted to the top school on your list!
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