College application season officially starts August 1.
But if you’re like us, you might be staring at that date wondering:
Are we already behind? Are we supposed to be doing something?
You’re not alone—and you’re not too late.
We’re starting this process right now too.
So here’s the post we wish someone handed us:
What actually matters this week—and what can wait.
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🧭 What Opens August 1?
- The Common Application goes live
- Many colleges’ individual applications open (especially public universities)
- Some competitive scholarships start accepting applications
If your son or daughter is applying to multiple schools, chances are they’ll use the Common App. But not all schools do—some have their own apps.
🧩 What the Common App Does (and Doesn’t) Do
The Common App is a huge time-saver—but it’s not the whole picture.
✅ What it does:
- Lets your kid apply to multiple colleges with one application
- Reuses basic info (name, grades, activities, essay) across schools
- Keeps everything organized in one place
⚠️ What it doesn’t do:
- Not all schools accept it (some have their own apps)
- Many schools require extra questions or supplemental essays
- Honors Colleges and scholarships often require separate applications
Bottom line: the Common App is the starting line, not the finish line.
🧠 What Actually Matters This Week
You don’t need to apply to every college on August 1. But you do need to:
- ✅ Create or log in to the Common App account
- ✅ Start organizing a college list
- ✅ Add colleges to the dashboard
- ✅ Review essay prompts and any extra “supplementals”
- ✅ Start a brag sheet or resume (for both essays and rec letters)
- ✅ Decide who to ask for recommendation letters
Colleges don’t expect everything to be done in week one. But having a system early makes all the difference.
📅 Want the full August game plan?
We put together a free, parent-first checklist for the entire month of August—deadlines, to-dos, and what to actually focus on week by week.
👉 View the August Senior Checklist
🔍 What Most Families Get Wrong
They treat August 1 like a deadline. It’s not.
It’s an opening bell. A green light.
Some schools—especially large public universities—review applications on a rolling basis. That means earlier apps can get earlier answers, better housing, or even priority scholarship consideration.
Other schools—like competitive private colleges—wait until fall to review applications. But those usually require more work (essays, recommendations, honors supplements), so starting now is still smart.
Not sure what all these terms mean? Here’s a helpful glossary from NACAC.
📝 Week One Parent Checklist
If you’re trying to keep it simple (and not spiral), here’s what we’re doing this first week:
- [ ] Talk about the college list—reach, match, and safety
- [ ] Create the Common App account
- [ ] Fill in the basic info (name, school, contacts)
- [ ] Check which schools require recommendation letters
- [ ] Update or build a brag sheet
- [ ] Bookmark deadlines for apps and scholarships
📌 Need tools? Start here:
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💬 College Application FAQs (Stuff We Wish We Knew Up Front)
📌 Is it better to use the Common App or the university’s own application?
Use the Common App if:
- You’re applying to multiple schools that accept it
- You want to reuse essays and manage everything in one place
- The school treats both applications equally
Use the university’s app if:
- You’re only applying to that one school
- They offer scholarships or fee waivers tied to their own app
- You’ve confirmed it gives an advantage for priority programs
Some schools reward students who apply through their site—but many treat both options equally. Always check.
🕰️ Do I wait to use the university app until we’ve picked a school?
No—you usually apply to all schools around the same time, in the fall of senior year.
The only reason to use the university’s app instead of Common App is if:
- You’re only applying to that school
- Their app gives access to scholarships or perks you can’t get through Common App
It’s not about “deciding”—it’s about applying smart.
🎓 How do Honors College applications work?
Honors Colleges usually require a separate application—even if you use the Common App for the university.
You might need to submit:
- An extra essay or statement
- A resume or brag sheet
- A recommendation letter
- Your application by an earlier deadline
Honors programs often include scholarship opportunities, smaller class sizes, and priority registration—don’t skip them just because they’re extra work.
❤️ Real Talk From Right Now
There’s no perfect timeline. No gold star for getting it all done in week one.
But doing something—even just logging in and making a list—can shift the whole feeling.
Panic turns into a plan.
We’ll be walking through the rest of it right alongside you.