The Common App application portal officially opened on Aug. 1, 2025, giving students a chance to get ahead of the application process. Although it may seem early, most early decision and early action deadlines fall Nov. 15. Additionally, some schools, like Virginia Tech, may have a deadline for Nov. 1 due to the new AI-assisted admissions process.
Starting your college preparation early is more than simply beating deadlines. It comes down to carrying less pressure on your shoulders and improving your chances of acceptance by having more time to revise your personal statements, research schools, and gather recommendations. Rushing through your application process could increase the risk of finishing with weak essays, missed deadlines and scholarship opportunities.
A handful of students enter their senior year of high school unaware of how the college application process works.
The easiest way to officially start the application process is to start your Common App account now; start filling out the general information whether you’re ready to submit or not. Completing steps such as getting respectable recommendation letters and handling scholarship opportunities quicker.
“It’s a process where you wanna be proactive, don’t wait to start the application process, ” guidance counselor Melinda Nearpass said.
Secondly, don’t drop the ball by missing your ideal college deadlines. Become aware of them. Next, write your personal statements as early as possible, this gives you months to edit and receive feedback, instead of weeks or days.
The application process can feel overbearing, but the sooner you put more effort in, more time will be given to ask questions and polish your essay, ultimately giving you more control over your chances of acceptance.
