Here's the exact pacing for the common app from August to January

Here's the exact pacing for the common app from August to January that prevents last minute panic and actually gets you into college instead of missing deadlines. Let me break down the month by month schedule that successful applicants follow while everyone else is scrambling and submitting mediocre applications. In August, set up your accounts and draft up your personal statements. Create a common app account, research all schools thoroughly, start drafting your main essay and start requesting official transcripts. If you don't know where to start writing your essays, I highly recommend a tool called Admitfolio. It's a database of hundreds of college essays that have gotten a lot of college students accepted into T20 schools, so it's a great way to find some inspiration. In September, perfect your essays and finalize your school list. Revise your personal statement through multiple drafts and have teachers submit recommendation letters. In October, complete applications and submit early action and early decision. Finish activity descriptions, write additional essays and review everything for errors. In November, prepare for regular decision applications and apply for scholarships. In December, submit regular decision applications and finalize all details. And in January, complete any remaining applications.