What do you mean, I can’t have a lazy summer? Getting a jump on the college application process.
Most rising seniors I talk to in April are looking forward to a break. And they've earned one. But lazy days in May mean frantic days in October. The Common App opens August 1, and many colleges (including UT Austin and other state universities) begin accepting applications that same day. UT's early action deadline is October 15, which sounds far away until you're staring down a supplemental essay in early October with three others still to write. Some schools also use October deadlines to decide their top merit scholarships, which is the kind of thing nobody mentions until it's too late to matter.
The case for starting now isn't about getting ahead. It's about giving yourself room — to retake a test if the first score isn't what you want, to write an essay you’re proud of instead of one you settle for at 11 pm, to have a senior year that isn't entirely consumed by applications.
Get started — now — your future self will thank you.
Want the longer version? My Senior Summer Planning Guide walks through everything in this post in more detail, with checklists you can work from.
Now (April–May)
Take a hard look at your extracurriculars and coursework. Where are the gaps? What would meaningful summer work (a job, an internship, volunteering, a class) look like for you?
Register for tests. The June 6 SAT registration closes May 22; the June 13 ACT closes May 8. Testing in June leaves time for a fall retake if needed. Plan any prep now.
Contact your recommenders before they scatter for the summer. (How to get an effective letter)
If you can manage college visits, schedule them.
June and July
Draft your activities list for the Common App. This takes longer than students expect, and doing it early means you can paste it in cleanly when the Common App opens. (How to fill out the activities list)
Research schools and build your preliminary list. Write down every deadline — or use my free planning tool.
Draft the Common App essay. The prompts barely change year to year, so there's no reason to wait for the application to open. Aim to have a finished essay by August 1 — not to be staring at a blank document on August 2.
August 1 onward
Create your Common App account and start entering information. The biographical and family sections take longer than anyone expects. Upload the essay. Decide whether to retake the SAT or ACT in the fall.
Get started on supplemental essays. They are an important part of your application that deserves as much time and attention as your Common App essay.
Check on rec letters early in the fall. Your writers may need a (very polite) nudge.
One last thing: summers get busy in ways you can't predict — jobs, family obligations, last-minute trips, the odd emotional weight of a final summer before college. Leave yourself a buffer. Everything takes longer than you think.
Also, starting now leaves you time to get the help you didn’t know you’d need. I’m always available to answer questions. And, you can enjoy a few lazy days next summer!