College Advising

College Advising — Strategic Planning for Thoughtful Applications

College advising here is not about academic degree planning or course schedules. It’s about helping students think strategically about their goals, priorities, and choices as they prepare applications that truly reflect who they are. This page offers tools and timelines to support meaningful reflection and intentional decisions — the same mindset that leads to stronger writing and better fit. 

This page is designed as a resource for students and parents who want a clearer understanding of how the admissions process works, what matters most, and how thoughtful planning leads to stronger applications and less stress.

• This timeline is meant as general guidance, not a checklist. Individual paths may vary.
  
  
  

Key Phases of the College Application Timeline

While every student’s path looks a little different, most successful application processes include the following phases:

Early Reflection (Junior Year / Early Summer)

This is when students benefit most from stepping back and thinking about:

• formative experiences and interests
  
  

• values, curiosities, and growth
  
  

• what they want college to offer them, not just where they want to go
  
  

Early reflection makes later writing clearer and less stressful.

Research & Prioritization (Late Summer / Early Fall)

As students explore colleges, it helps to move beyond surface-level factors like rankings and reputation and consider:

• academic programs and learning environments
  
  

• opportunities outside the classroom
  
  

• campus culture and community
  
  

• what genuinely excites or resonates
  
  

This kind of research supports both better decision-making and stronger “Why Us?” essays.

Writing & Revision (Fall)

Strong applications are built through drafting, reflection, and revision over time—not last-minute editing. Thoughtful pacing allows students to:

• make intentional choices about what stories to tell
  
  

• revise with clarity rather than panic
  
  

• submit work that feels authentic and confident
  
  

I highly recommend having your personal statement done by the end of the summer before senior year. This is also a great time to finalize your college list. Most colleges will post their supplemental essay prompts in August. Answer as many of these questions as possible before schoolwork and extracurriculars dominate your free time.

Plan ahead!

• Complete at least 15 credits per semester. Taking fewer credits could mean needing summer classes or an extra-heavy semester in the future.

• Find ways to overlap your requirements. Most schools have general education requirements for graduation. Check to see which ones your major or minor classes can also fulfill. Some schools even allow one course to fulfill multiple general education requirements.

• Choose your major by the end of your sophomore year. Changing majors could require an extra semester or more to complete the new requirements.

• Speak with your academic advisor and career counselor. They can help you choose a major that is appropriate for you and may point you to courses that meet multiple requirements.

• Seek academic support before it's too late. Failing a class could delay your graduation by a full semester. Look into your school's tutoring, academic coaching, and disability services if needed.

• Don't add unnecessary majors or minors. Most employers won't care whether you have more than one major or minor. The important thing is that you graduate. Speak with an advisor to see if yours is a rare case where adding a second major or minor would help, but I would say that it's almost always a mistake to delay graduation for an extra major or minor.