Don’t Miss These 7 Things When Submitting College Essays

It’s October—and if you’re a high school student (senior), that means college application season is officially in full swing. Between schoolwork, activities, and looming deadlines, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But with a bit of planning and focus, you can stay on top of things when submitting college essays.

Key Deadlines to Watch when submitting college essays

• Early Action/Early Decision deadlines often fall between November 1–15. If you're applying early, your essays should be nearly finalized now. If you need help or support, contact me or another college advisor to get some support. This can be a nerve-racking time for seniors and their families, and if you need some direction and guidance, that's never a bad thing to ask for.

• Regular Decision deadlines are often January 1–15, but don’t wait until winter break to start—use the fall to your advantage; this way you can avoid or reduce the stress later on.

• Check supplemental essay deadlines for each school. Some programs (like BS/MD or honors colleges) may have earlier or separate dates. As a doctor and college advisor, I keep an eye on special deadlines and scholarship deadlines as well because it's important to keep things organized.

Things to Remember Right Now

1. Create a College Spreadsheet: List your schools, deadlines, required essays, and submission portals (Common App, Coalition, etc.). You can set reminders on your phone with tools such as Google Tasks.

2. Prioritize Essays by Deadline: Focus on early college application essays first. Knock out those personal statements for the common applications and then move on to supplemental essays.

3. Avoid Last-Minute Writing: Essays take time to brainstorm, draft, and revise. Give yourself enough room to reflect and edit.

4. Proofread Everything: Typos or sending the wrong essay to the wrong school can be avoided with a careful final check. Please make sure you double check if you are re-using essays that you have not forgotten to replace the university name as this may lead to an automatic rejection.

5. Ask for Help (Early): Teachers, counselors, or mentors need time to review your drafts. Respect their schedules and plan ahead.

Final Tip: Breathe. This season is intense, but it’s also your chance to reflect on who you are and where you’re headed. Stay organized, stay focused, and trust the process—you’ve got this. If you have already submitted, read and learn more about merit scholarship tips here: Merit Based Scholarships: A Summary of All The Things You Will Need to Know

If you or your student is struggling to get things done in time or need some extra support, contact me via Live Chat so we can see if we are a good fit!

Sincerely, Dr. Khan