As many of you know, the Common Application goes live on August 1st. It isn’t exactly Christmas morning, is it? The day does present its own level of anticipation, however, as prospective applicants think about where and what they want to study. And every year, more and more colleges are accepting the Common App, so there is a good chance you will need to complete it for at least one of your schools. If the thought of filling out applications feels way too early, which is understandable considering you’re still on summer break, there are a few other things you can do in instead. Here are my recommendations:

 #1 - Work on your essays – This is sort of cheating on my part, but you can do this without actually opening a Common App account. The Common App essay topics were revealed months ago, with only one change from last year. You have an opportunity to start earlier on your essays, and in many cases, it’s an opportunity to start over earlier too. I see students change their essay topics all the time and it’s much better to go through the brainstorming and second-guessing process sooner than later. The University of California Personal Insight Questions are also available to work on in advance. At the time of this posting, no changes to the UC prompts have been announced. 

#2 - “Why that school?” – This is related to essay writing, but it’s more directly related to the research process, which I assume you’re also in the midst of. For any college that is currently on your official list, go ahead and write a short paragraph on why you’re interested in that school. Even bullet points are fine. I recommend this exercise because the college might ask you this question in some form anyway as a supplemental essay, and if you’re having trouble articulating your interest, it could be a sign that you are more interested in the idea of the school rather than the reality. Or maybe you just need to do a little more research. 

#3 - Have a family meeting – Do people have family meetings anymore? Well, all I mean by this is that students and parents should have a conversation to get on the same page. Maybe negotiate a house rule on how often you are allowed to talk about college or have an open dialogue about what is financially feasible. Transparency from both sides goes a long way here. DO NOT wait until Thanksgiving dinner to have this conversation. 

#4 - Check your email – Let’s ignore the junk mail for a second. Some colleges will share their supplemental essay topics in advance or give insight into their application process. Many others will announce if there will be a virtual or live info session in your area. These are often hosted by the admission counselor who will be the first to read your application, so don’t miss out. As for the junk mail? Maybe there’s a school that is less appealing to you on the surface that could actually be a good fit. Give some schools a chance. Here’s another way to think about it—colleges will eventually have their inboxes flooded with applications from students hoping they are given a close look. Oh, and yes, many colleges can track who is clicking the links they send out. 

#5 - Get organized – Students, the best thing you can do to help your parents relax (i.e. get off your back) is to be organized and to show them what you are doing or planning to do. Whether that’s in the form of a to-do list, a spreadsheet, those cartoonishly large wall calendars, or all of the above, your parents will feel a lot better about your process. You don’t have to bare your soul to them. Just let them know you’re on top of things. This will also help you from a practical and mental perspective.

Good luck with your preparation and I wish you a very merry August 1st.