when should you start applying for colleges

The best time to start applying for colleges is typically around August of your senior year in high school (12th grade), with most college applications opening then. Early action and early decision application deadlines usually fall in October or November, while regular decision deadlines are typically in January or February of your senior year. If a college uses rolling admissions, applications can be submitted anytime until the class is filled, usually starting in early fall through spring. It’s important to be ready to apply by November 1 if aiming for early decision or early action deadlines. Regular decision applicants have later deadlines, often around January 1. Starting to prepare application materials like essays, recommendation letters, and test scores several months before applying (like from the summer of senior year or earlier) is highly recommended to meet these deadlines comfortably.