The Common App Opens August 1. Here's What I Want My Students to Do (and Not Do).
Every year, August 1 seems to create unnecessary panic.
Students see the Common App open and assume they should immediately start writing essays, filling in every box, and racing to submit applications as quickly as possible.
I actually tell my students the opposite.
The students who submit the strongest applications aren't usually the ones who move the fastest. They're the ones who spend the first few weeks getting organized and making thoughtful decisions before they start writing.
Here's how I recommend using the first week.
Do: Set Up Your Common App
Create your account. Explore the different sections. Add the colleges you're considering.
That's enough.
You don't need to fill out every field this week. The goal is simply to become familiar with the application so it doesn't feel overwhelming later.
Don't: Write Your Personal Statement Yet
This one surprises families.
Yes, the essay matters.
But your first draft shouldn't be written simply because the calendar says it's August 1.
The strongest personal statements rarely begin with a keyboard.
They begin with reflection.
Before my students ever write a draft, we spend time uncovering stories, identifying meaningful moments, and figuring out what they actually want colleges to understand about them. We're not looking for the biggest accomplishment—we're looking for the moments that reveal how they think, what they value, and how they've grown.
A rushed essay almost always sounds rushed.
Do: Start Building Your Activities List
If there's one section of the Common App that students consistently underestimate, it's this one.
Admissions officers learn a tremendous amount from your activities—not just what you did, but how you spent your time, what you prioritized, and where you made an impact.
This isn't something you should knock out in thirty minutes.
A strong activities list takes thought.
It often requires looking back through calendars, resumes, volunteer logs, and even old emails to remember everything you've done. It also means thinking beyond titles. How many people did you mentor? How many hours did you commit? What changed because you were involved?
The difference between a good activities list and a great one often comes down to clarity, specificity, and thoughtful revision—not bigger accomplishments.
Don't: Compare Yourself to Other Students
Every August, social media becomes filled with college application advice.
Some students will announce they've already written three essay drafts.
Others will say they're applying to twenty colleges.
Neither of those things tells you whether they're building a strong application.
Your application should reflect your story—not someone else's timeline.
Do: Build a Plan Before You Build an Application
One of the best things you can do this week is simply map out the months ahead.
Know your deadlines.
Understand which colleges require supplemental essays.
Make a plan for requesting recommendations if you haven't already.
When students have a clear roadmap, they make better decisions because they're not constantly reacting to the next deadline.
One Last Thought
I've been guiding students through the college admissions process for many years, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's this:
The Common App opening isn't the finish line, and it isn't even really the starting line.
It's simply the day the application becomes available.
The real work—the work that leads to thoughtful essays, meaningful activities lists, and authentic applications—happens over time.
So if you're feeling pressure to have everything figured out on August 1, let me reassure you:
You don't need to rush.
You just need to start thoughtfully.