College application season is not what it used to be. Historically, due dates were in January. Now early application and early decision deadlines begin in the fall, as early as October 15. Some of my students were able to apply to colleges in the summer after 11th grade and got acceptance notices before their senior year began. 

Whether a student applies early or not depends on their ability to get applications and essays ready by fall and when they want to know their admission decisions. Early applicants find out early if they are in or not. That gives them more time to apply to other colleges during regular decision, if desired. Early admission applicants also have the luxury of having the time to get the best grades in their senior year and have time to apply for scholarships.

Students who are planning on taking it easy during their senior year need to compare their college goals to that plan. The higher their ambitions with regard to middle and top tier colleges, the less likely a light senior year is a good idea.

College admission officers at competitive schools are not impressed by senior year schedules that are less than full time...unless there is some other academic activity filling the gap where the missing classes should be. Some students take a less than full time load during senior year to take college classes, for example.

The acceptance letters have arrived and students are elated to make a choice and finally have closure about where they will go to college. Right? Well mostly right. Colleges have already begun notifying students on the wait list that they are offering admission to them. This means the student who thought he had closure has to make another decision. Do I stay or do I go?

The benefit of deciding to take the offer is that the student is getting in to his first choice college. The drawback is that the student will have to give up the deposit at the college to which they committed just days ago.