12 Critical Months for College Application Success

Success in college admissions isn’t just dependent on students doing the right things—it’s critical that students do the right things at the right time. From organizing major components of the application process, such as preparing and sitting for standardized tests, to knowing about the short window for manually scheduling interviews for certain colleges, timing is everything at every step in the process. Too often, students—especially from schools where college counseling offices are hands-off and guidance counselors are stretched too thin—can fall behind, procrastinate, or even miss important deadlines if they are not aware of what they need to be doing and when they should be doing it.?

To expand access to our resources and provide insight into the general timeline that upperclassmen should adhere to for this upcoming admissions cycle, we are excited to launch Command Education’s complete guide to college application prep for juniors and seniors. While underclassmen can prepare for college admissions by earning strong grades, exploring their passions to build their personal “hook,” and thinking about the colleges they are most interested in, juniors truly need to prioritize their college application processes. It is necessary for juniors to begin taking steps months before early and regular deadlines in order to prepare and submit complete, well-written college applications on time. Our guide provides juniors and seniors with a full, detailed breakdown of what they need to prioritize in the spring, summer, and fall before application deadlines. We cover different aspects of a student’s profile and application process, including standardized testing, college research, letters of recommendation requests, drafting the personal statement and supplemental essays, and more. While all students have unique individual circumstances that may alter their personal timelines, the guide lays out the typically optimal times to complete each step of the process. A cornerstone of our guide is having juniors take stock of their personal values and pursue their authentic interests and genuine passions, which will truly stand out in the admissions process. When students are planning out their extracurriculars, leadership, and service activities, or choosing topics for their personal statement and supplements, they should aim to highlight and accentuate those qualities that make them unique.

Whether general or tailored, timelines and checklists can be a useful way for students to understand the tasks they need to complete, but knowledge is still only part of the battle. Even the most motivated and hard-working students can find it challenging to manage the various moving parts of applications, keep track of their materials, communicate with advisors and colleges, and write essays without procrastinating or getting caught up in school and other activities. Having counselors, family members, or mentors stay close to their process—from start to finish—can provide accountability and offer extra insurance against any errors on the student’s part.?

Although college admissions can be difficult to navigate, our aim is always to present clarifying information to students and families that translates the complex requirements of admissions into actionable steps. We hope that this guide will be a useful resource that serves students, empowers them to feel confident about completing what they need to do in their college application process, and keeps them on track to meet their higher-ed goals.?