Most people think that the college application process takes place between September and January.  In actuality, a successful application process lasts nearly a year, beginning in June and extending sometimes into April and even May.  Some teachers have their students begin their personal statements at the end of junior year, which elongates the process even more, and if we add in SAT or ACT preparation and test-taking to the list, then the process really lasts at least two years. The point is that working parents and their children must have a plan of attack in order to meet the deadlines and do so with the least amount of angst.

I am an academic tutor in Los Angeles; about one third of my clients come to me for help on college applications. I became interested in helping students in this area because my father invented the concept of the online college application after seeing my sister and me with a multitude of applications throughout our rooms.  He noticed that we were filling out the same information repeatedly and that we would white out mistakes or order new applications to make them look perfect.  The result of his efforts has led to an ecologically friendly outcome; however, it has also led to seniors applying to more schools than ever and even fiercer competition. I recently read my student’s acceptance letter from UCLA: “You were selected from the largest pool of university candidates in the nation – more than 61,000 applicants.” Princeton University confirmed on their website that their number of applicants continues to skyrocket:

Princeton University set another record this year for students applying for admission, receiving 18,891 applications for the class of 2011. This marks the third year in a row for record applications, and represents an 8 percent increase over 2010's record of 17,564 applications for the class of 2010. The numbers are staggering, and they are not getting any better. What can a parent do? You can help your child by starting early.

Create a Timeline for the College App Process:
Summer Before Senior Year:
Begin the personal statement and other writing during the summer months:
At the end of junior year, students tend to take the SAT and/or ACT; for many, this will not be their first sitting. When testing is completed, I like to start working on the personal statement. The personal statement is the main essay on the Common Application, but it can be used for other applications.

Over the summer, the soon-to-be senior edits the personal statement, constantly striving to replace, for example, passive verbs with rich language. Some schools have an essay-writing workshop in August. Don't wait until then. I believe that by August, the student has lost valuable writing time. Once school starts in September, the pressures escalate. I suggest putting in the time when the child is out of school. The student can also write the Common Application 150-word essay over the summer, as well as create a list of past activities complete with number of hours per week, weeks per year, and a description of leadership and responsibilities.  

Rolling Admission:
September/October is a good time to start filling out applications for rolling admission colleges, such as the University of Colorado at Boulder or the University of Arizona. Applying to schools in the fall forces the student to gain experience filling out the applications and typically leads to early acceptance letters. I cannot express to you enough what those early acceptances do for the students’ psyches. This gives a huge boost to the student who now knows he or she is going to college.

Applying Early Action/Early Decision:
November 1st is the deadline for early action/early decision schools. Many times the percentages are higher for admittance for students applying early, so if a student knows that a school is an absolute first choice (early decision candidate) or is highly interested in a school (early action candidate), then the student benefits from applying early. This year, my student applied to the Gallatin School at NYU in hopes of getting into the individualized study program. She applied by November 1st, submitting both the Common Application and the NYU supplement, and was admitted in December. Her stress level has been much lower than that of her peers, who had to wait until March for their acceptance/rejection letters. Another student applied early to Columbia University, but was rejected in December. Although he was devastated, he found out early in the process that he had to shift his plan and put his energy full force into applying to other colleges.

Other Important Deadlines:
November 30th – University of California application due

December 1 – Some schools, such as University of Southern California (USC), consider students for full and partial scholarships if the application is in by December 1.

January 1st through the 15th  – deadline for most colleges

Other Dates Associated With Applying to College:
March – Once students hear back from colleges, they tend to travel during spring break to their various choices in order to make an informed decision.

March/April  – Students write letters of appeal to certain colleges or, if waitlisted, they send compelling new information to the colleges in hopes of getting accepted.

March through May  – There are housing applications to be filled out and orientations to attend.

**Additional deadlines for financial aid candidates and scholarship opportunities.

Julie Firstenberg Kamins (www.thetutorwhisperer.com) shares her tutoring tips, strategies, products, and recommendations. She utilizes alternative methods for reaching children who are not learning traditionally; she also helps guide students through the rigorous college application process.