Do October-You a Favor This Summer

You're almost there. Final projects, maybe a last round of test prep, the finish line is right in front of you. And when you finally cross it? Rest. Decompress. You've earned it!

But at some point this summer, probably sooner than feels necessary, I want you to think about October-you. October-you is juggling schoolwork, extracurriculars, and a pile of college applications with deadlines that are closer than they look right now. The question is whether October-you is frantically starting from scratch or finishing something June-you already started.

Here's the good news: the summer breaks down pretty naturally into two acts, and neither one requires you to sacrifice your break.

Act One: June and July

The new Common App won't roll out until August 1st, so this is your low-pressure window to get the background work done quietly and at your own pace.

• Create a Common App account if you haven't already. Take some time to fill out the first three sections — Profile, Family, and Education — making sure everything is complete and accurate. You'll likely need a parent's help with the Family section, so set aside some time together for that.

• Start working on the Activities section (here are some tips). Don't rush this — it's one of the best places to show admissions officers who you actually are outside the classroom.

• Brainstorm and start drafting your Personal Statement. Don't get too caught up in finding the perfect topic — focus instead on what you most want an admissions officer to know about you. Bonus: many English teachers assign this early in the fall, so imagine showing up with a draft already in hand. Here are some thoughts on approaching it.

• Check out the two optional additional essays now available on the Common App (here) and consider whether either applies to you.

• Keep working on finalizing your college list if you haven't already. Nothing will slow down your fall more than still waffling over where to apply when deadlines are approaching. Aim for 8-12 schools, with no more than a third being reaches, and make sure you have a few likely options you'd genuinely be excited to attend!

Act Two: August

This is where it gets real and where June and July's work starts paying off. On August 1st, the new Common App goes live and most schools will have their finalized supplemental essay prompts in the system. This is your starting gun.

• Add the schools you're applying to in the Common App so you can see exactly what supplemental essays you're working with.

• Start knocking out those shorter supplementals. Many of them — the "why this major," the extracurricular essay, the community essay — follow predictable patterns. Here are some strategies for tackling the most common ones.

• Set a goal of one school per week. It's amazing how much you can get done when homework isn't competing for your attention!

Students who work consistently through the summer show up to fall in a completely different position than those who don't: calmer, more confident, and way ahead of the game when those early action deadlines in October and November start approaching.

June-you has the time; use it and October-you will be grateful!