by Irene Chung

Seniors, the college application season is officially here! On August 1st, both the UC Application and the Common App officially opened. This is an exciting milestone, but it’s also a time when organization becomes your best friend.

1. Create Your Accounts (But Hold Off on Filling Them Out!)

Go ahead and create your UC and Common App accounts so you can explore the platforms and get comfortable navigating them. However, don’t start entering your information just yet.  We’ll be using GradMap to autofill your applications to save time and ensure accuracy. 

2. Check Your High School’s Senior Protocols

Every high school has its own process for supporting seniors during college application season. Make sure you know exactly what’s required and when. This may include:

• Requesting Letters of Recommendation (and giving teachers plenty of notice)
• Completing a Brag Packet or other forms for recommenders
• Signing the FERPA Release in your application portal
• Requesting Official Transcripts from your school’s registrar or counseling office
• Meeting Internal Deadlines for early applications and counselor forms

Some schools have earlier internal deadlines than the colleges themselves, so check your school calendar now to avoid last-minute stress.

3. Set Up Your Application Calendar

Mark important deadlines for each college you’re applying to, including early action/decision dates, scholarship deadlines, and financial aid forms. Color-code them or use separate reminders for each type of task. Your CPSI counselor will also help you stay organized using the College Application Tracking tab in your Student Profile. This tool is designed to keep all your deadlines, requirements, and progress in one convenient place.

4. Gather and Organize Your Materials

Have your transcript, test scores (if applicable), activity list, essays, and recommendation requests ready. Keeping everything in one place will make the process smoother.

5. Work on Your Essays

Whether you’re tackling the UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs), your Common App Personal Statement, or supplemental essays, start now. Great essays take time – from brainstorming, to drafting, to revising. Aim to have your main essay completed early so you can focus on supplements without feeling rushed.

Start now by getting organized, checking your school’s protocols, and making steady progress on your essays. Also, let GradMap do the heavy lifting when it comes to entering your information 🙂