By now, many 11th graders (and quite possibly 9th and 10th graders as well) will have begun forming opinions about which colleges are right for them. Perhaps you’ve visited a few places, taken a virtual tour, or attended a summer program in the past at one or more campuses of interest. You’ve likely heard the viewpoints of friends and siblings who have already gone through their own process.As we settle into summer, it’s time to coalesce those opinions into the perfect college list for you. Getting this part of the application process right is the most crucial; if you’ve created a list full of ideal matches for you—from your reaches to your safeties—you all but guarantee your happiness with the outcome, and thus increase your potential to succeed in college.

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Applying to college is a family process; and even for students who want to maintain autonomy over their essays and supplements, parents play a big role in the outcome of the journey and in how enjoyable the experience is. For rising seniors ready to jump into the process headfirst, we think it’s important to begin by establishing the kind of working relationship you will have with your parents or guardians.Keep reading to learn more about the top three issues families face navigating this process and how you can avoid them from adding unnecessary stress to your own.

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Summer is in full swing. And though it might not feel like it, your college admissions process is already revving toward its climax. Before the first semester of your senior year is over, chances are strong that you will already have a sense of many of the colleges to where you’ve been accepted.Successful applicants use the summer wisely to create specific, compelling essays, activity lists, and other components of the process. Backwards planning makes it easier to make mini deadlines that keep you progressing forward on all those fronts. Even if you don’t know your entire college list yet, it’s a great idea to start placing target deadlines on your calendar to keep you on pace.

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There is a reason they call it the application process.Submitting successful applications takes time and planning; nothing happens overnight, but you can make each day count. Now that summer is here, it’s time to think clearly about how your process will take shape.One of the silver linings to the disruptions we’re all experiencing in our routine is the added time to harness skills or work on projects. For rising seniors, your college applications should be at the top of your list of priority work. And by working diligently, you can make tremendous progress and still have time to pursue other interests.Below is a checklist of benchmarks you’ll want to hit before the summer is over. Set yourself up for success in this process by making sure you’re allocating time now to move forward on all these fronts.

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If you’ve gone through the first six prompts given by the Common App and still not found inspiration for what to write about, you’re in luck…kind of. The final prompt reads as follows:Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.The freedom to design and answer your own question opens up every possibility for you to express yourself in the best light. However, with this freedom comes a certain level of risk. You must find an entry point that draws the reader in and hooks her. Though it can feel cathartic to tell whichever story you’d like, keep the main objective in mind – creating an ally within the admissions office.

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Continuing our exploration of the Common App essay prompts, we’ll turn our attention today to the sixth, which reads as follows:“Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?”If you’re the kind of student who has poured all of your intellectual curiosity into one main focus, you might enjoy writing on this topic. It gives you the space to dive deeply into the reasons behind your focus and illuminate how you’ve gone above and beyond your peers to further that knowledge. This prompt is not about an average pursuit or fascination. It is about showing the admissions officer exactly who you are as a thinker.

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In this post we’ll take a closer look at the fifth prompt from the Common App to which students can respond. It reads as follows:Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.Have you had an “aha moment” that helped set your future trajectory? Have you dedicated significant time or energy into a goal or project that finally came to fruition? Perhaps you’ve begun to see yourself in a different light than you once thought.If this is true for you, Common App essay prompt five is a great vehicle for you to share your story. Let’s explore a few strategies to make this answer pop for you.

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Today we’ll continue our investigation into the first-year Common App main essay prompts. As you know, writing a strong personal statement is a critical piece of your admissions success. It’s likely that the people reading your file will not have met you in person; this is your opportunity to speak for yourself in your own words.The fourth prompt reads as follows: Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma — anything of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.Think this might be the most appealing entry point for your personal statement? Read on to learn a few important guidelines to keep in mind as you tackle this prompt.

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Today we’ll continue our dive into sound strategy behind each of the personal essay prompts offered by the Common App. Choosing the one that helps you tell the most persuasive story filled with meaning and subtext is a major step to creating an advocate in the admissions officer who reads it.Here’s how the third prompt reads: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?Do you have a story that fits this scenario? Perhaps one of your proudest accomplishments was convincing someone to change their viewpoint on something that mattered to you. Perhaps the viewpoint that changed was your own. Let’s take a closer look at a few important points to keep in mind as you approach this prompt.

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Today we’ll continue with part two of our series unpacking the Common App main essay questions. Here’s how the second prompt reads:“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”It might seem counterintuitive at first but reflecting on moments of failure or struggle can be a positive addition to an application otherwise dedicated to your accomplishments. Showing the reader how you’ve grown clues them in on your humanity and motivation as well as your ambition.

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Now that the Common App has confirmed this application cycle’s essay prompts, it’s time for rising seniors to begin thinking about how they’ll respond. Your personal statement plays a major role in telling your story to admissions officers; starting early will give you the time you need to do your best.Over the next few posts, we’ll take a closer look at each of the Common App essay prompts and give you a few pointers to keep in mind as your craft your response. Let’s start with the first prompt:“Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story.”This question gives students a lot of freedom to talk about themselves. But this can be a blessing and a curse. Below are some of our best tips for using the space you have to tell your story.

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Over the coming weeks we’ll take a closer look at each of the specific essay prompts you’ll have to choose from as you write your Common App personal statement. Creating a memorable and persuasive body of writing is a critical component of your success in the application process.Before we dive too deeply though, let’s take a quick look at five important dos and don’ts to keep in mind as you’re writing. Following these tips will greatly improve the overall quality of your work and set you up to have a more successful process.

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Though you’ve hopefully been putting some preliminary thought into your college application process, the real work begins in earnest the summer after junior year. Once you are past finals, AP exams, or any lingering school commitments, it’s time to turn your attentions to the essays and other pieces that will comprise your application. That said, you should allow yourself a week or two after summer break starts to rest up, before diving back into deep brain work.

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As you consider your options for college this fall, do not forget about community colleges (CC). They offer general education courses at a much lower cost than traditional universities and many students may find a CC located only a few miles from their home.Despite the popular trend to enroll straight away in a four-year college or university upon graduating high school, this is not a one-size-fit-all solution. No matter how accomplished or intelligent you are, you still may require time to figure out your academic interests and to ease into the process of pursuing a higher education

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Let’s face it, seniors: once you’ve gotten those acceptances from the colleges of your dreams, it’s hard to stay focused the last couple months of high school. And before you know it, your “last summer” will transition into your first year of college.You may feel like you’re ready to start right now. Or you may be looking at the calendar with dread. Transitions are difficult for everyone; but the good news is you’re not alone.

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Almost every student has endured significant disruptions to their classes and extracurricular activities over the past weeks. And while we remain hopeful about life returning to a relatively normal routine sooner than later, chances are high that your summer plans will be impacted as well.

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From the Ivy League to the nation’s top public universities to small liberal arts colleges in far-flung corners of the country, the story you’ll hear from admissions officers is the same: your grades are the most important part of the process.

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From Olympic athletes to first-time sleepaway campers, people all over the world are watching their summer plans—along with many of their life routines—unravel. There is hopefully some consolation in knowing that we’re all in this together and can emerge stronger and more purposeful!

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As admissions decisions begin to pour in, high school seniors everywhere are anxiously waiting for clarity about where they’ll begin their college careers. If you find yourself in this boat, hopefully you’ve already started to receive some good news and are anticipating your next step with joy.

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One of the best ways to learn a little about a lot of colleges and universities is by attending a college fair. Representatives from dozens, sometimes hundreds, of schools set up stations full of colorful material designed to drum up interest in their respective institutions.As social distancing restrictions begin to ease it is likely that this valuable form of information gathering will return in some capacity. We will all have to keep a close eye on state-by-state developments; but being prepared in advance will serve you well, nonetheless.

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