College application season is in full swing, and the school year has begun. This means seniors are now balancing school work with researching colleges and writing application essays, all while maintaining their extracurricular commitments. Between sports, family obligations, homework assignments, and trying to maintain a social life, it can be overwhelming for a teen. Luckily, Aristotle Circle has guided countless families through the college application process, and we’ve got some tips to help you through this stressful time.

1. Make a plan.

While it may sound silly, it’s important not to skip this step. Familiarize yourself with what it means to apply in Early Decision, Early Action, Restricted Early Action, and Regular Decision rounds. Note the deadlines on a calendar. Fill in your application round on the Common App. Make sure that if you are applying Restricted Early Action, you are following the rules about where else you can apply early. By knowing which deadlines come first, you’ll be able to prioritize those schools’ essays.

2. Gather prompts and word counts in one document.

Many schools ask very similar – or even the same – questions. By pulling all the prompts together in one document, you can see which essays can be re-used or recycled for a different school. For example, Barnard’s prompt states: “In college, you will encounter others with diverse viewpoints and experiences. Describe an instance where you engaged with someone who held a different opinion and explain how it shaped your perspective on the issue.” Likewise, The George Washington University prompt reads, “Describe a time when you engaged others in meaningful dialogue around an issue that was important to you. Did this exchange create change, new perspectives, or deeper relationships?” These two prompts are nearly interchangeable, and most responses can be used in both instances – after being adjusted for word count, of course.

3. Divide and conquer.

Count up all your essays and divide them by the number of weeks remaining before the early action deadline, less one. At this point, there are six full weeks remaining before ED and EA applications are due for most universities. If you have twelve essays, that’s two essays per week, which is a much more manageable figure.

4. Set aside the time.

If you are waiting for your schedule to open up to begin working on the applications, you’ll find yourself canceling Halloween and holiday events, missing out on the last Christmas or Hannukah with your family before you move out for college because you didn’t plan ahead. Take a block of time – maybe an hour on Saturday mornings, or Thursday nights at 7PM – and dedicate it to college application work. Turn your phone on airplane mode, resist the urge to scroll TikTok, and get it done.

Overwhelmed?

Aristotle Circle has the college admissions process down to a science. We’re professionals at keeping busy kids on track. Our Comprehensive College Admissions Package includes unlimited one-to-one meetings with NACAC-certified college admissions counselors with a long track record of success. Our students have matriculated to the top schools in the US and abroad, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, St. Andrews, and many more. Call (212-360-2301) or email (info@aristotlecircle.com) today for a free consultation.

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