It is about that time to start thinking and preparing for the new application season. Starting yourself off right by being organized will help you feel way less stressed and more prepared moving into the application season. 

There are a lot of moving parts in the college application and decision-making process, for every school. If you do not have the right organization then you will likely miss a deadline, not put your best foot forward, or cause yourself more stress. This is why having a plan is very important. Of course, your plan may change and you may add or delete some schools through the process. Opportunities for scholarships or other things may come up along the way. All of these things may cause your plan to change, but it’s still better to start with a plan than not.

Here are some of my favorite tools and tips for creating a plan of organization:

1. Google Drive
   1. Most people use Gmail and google drive. It is a very accessible tool you can use to organize your application materials and share them with a friend, parent, counselor, or coach for feedback. It is also really easy to check the word count. And, your files will be available wherever you have a computer or smartphone. However, if you prefer to keep everything on your desktop be sure to back it up often.
2. Create one folder where you keep everything.
   1. Label the folder with your name and College Applications. This will make it easy to search, find, and share the folder when you are needing feedback or help with your application.
3. Create a spreadsheet for your schedule.
   1. In Google Drive, you can create a spreadsheet and label it Schedule. This is where you will put all of the important dates you need to keep track of for each school. This will include the school name, application due date, interview dates, etc. 
4. Create a Google document for essay questions.
   1. In Google Drive, you can create a google document and label it Essay Questions. This is where you are going to add all your essay questions for every application. Having all the questions in one place will help you determine which questions are similar enough that you can group them and write one essay with small changes to answer them.

These are the first four steps you need to start getting organized for application season. Keep a lookout for my next article where we will go over the next four steps you will need to take. I hope this got you feeling less stressed and more excited about the application process in store for you. 

If you need personal support, feel free to contact me at jessica@impresstheivies.com.

And if you want ongoing support from me then join the Impress the Ivies Membership HERE.