Can my junior start working on the common app in June?

[Anonymous]

Or does he have to wait until August?

[Anonymous]

It will reset, and he'll have to start over on Aug 1. It's not that much work.

Focus on creating the 10 activities list in google docs and the 5 honors/awards. Do it in google docs. It takes a while.

[Anonymous]

He can start working on the easy parts of the beginnig (like entering his name, parents name, etc.)

The stuff like activities/honors and awards will reset in August. Don't do that yet.

[Anonymous]

Good heavens there is just no need. Better off volunteering somewhere during that time. Set aside a couple hours every day for a week in August to bang it out.

[Anonymous]

Our college counselor had our D start filling it out last June - I believe she said that some portions would be retained after the reset in August, but not others. All I know is that our D completed portions of it (activities list, demographics maybe?) in June and July and had no problems after the reset in August.

[Anonymous]

Finish it, print it out. If it resets, all you have to do it refill it. You don't have to look around for the data.

Stuff like the exact name of each subjects and what they are designated as - DE, Honors, AP - etc - should match what they will send in the transcript.

Actually, there is a practice common app also and the students and parents should look at it even before they come to HS. That way, they can target their efforts based on what the common app is looking for.

Work smarter. Not harder.

[Anonymous]

If you work on the activities list, award list, and main essay in Google docs (keeping in mind max character/word counts) you’ll be in great shape. No need to go into the common app till August. It resets Aug 1.

[Anonymous]

The essays reset, but the demographic info can be done now. Things like activities list should really be done outside Common App first, so they can be edited, then pasted into Common App once it resets in August.

[Anonymous]

Common app essay question topics for next fall are now posted online. You can do almost everything and it will save during the reset August 1 however it will not save any supplemental essays (those vary by college and get deleted in August since colleges change those from year to year.) All this is explained by CommonApp online.

[Anonymous]

The college-specific info resets, which includes the list of colleges, any answers to college questions, supplemental essays, recommendations and counselor form.

What does not reset: the Common App tab with demographic info, activities, and the personal essay.

Still, I agree with the PP to keep that info saved, in the event something happens to it. You could print a PDF.

Always draft essays in a word processing document, save, and then paste responses into the app.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good heavens there is just no need. Better off volunteering somewhere during that time. Set aside a couple hours every day for a week in August to bang it out.

You are making an assumption here. Some kids will be quite busy in August due to sports, final SAT prep, etc.

[Anonymous]

Not necessary. Spend the summer thinking about activities to really hone in on, and get the general essay theme/drafts done. Their teacher should be giving them time these last few weeks to focus on the essays especially, that’s how it was done at my top public back in the day.

Then work on the Common App once school starts.

[Anonymous]

The big thing to focus on is the essays.

[Anonymous]

Let him have his summer. FFS. Wait until at least 8/1

[Anonymous]

Yes. Especially if they have a fall sport/band. The basic info will save (name, address, etc). They can write essays and work on activities in a google doc.
People do not properly estimate how long it takes to write a good activities list. Fitting your life into a tiny little space to a total stranger is challenging.