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For those of you who have successfully made it through the arduous junior year of high school, summer break will be a huge relief. Enjoy it and take the time to do whatever restores your brain cells and sense of well-being; travel, play sports, hang out with friends, read books for fun (not school), or just plain relax. But, like all good things, summer break will come to an end and you’ll be faced with the next major challenge – the college selection and application process. Get a head start on the process when the 2010-2011 Common Application becomes available online on Aug. 1.  The “Common App” is an online or print application that you can submit electronically or by snail mail, to any of the 415 member colleges and universities that participate. Using the Common App is an expeditious way to get through the application process. The site will be closed between July 15 and July 31; any accounts created before July 15 will be deleted and there will be no further access to them. To apply for the new application season, the student must create a new account for the 2010-2011 application. www.commonapp.org/

How to Get Started

• Before school ends, line up two teachers who are willing to write your college recommendation letters in the fall. (TIP: Choose teachers with whom you have a good relationship and those who are likely to write well) 
• Make a tentative list of approximately 8 to 10 schools to which you’d like to apply: reach/realistic/safe
• Do your research and jot down their application due dates, noting if they offer early decision, early action or rolling admissions
• If you can make the time during your summer break, get a head start on writing your college essay(s), beginning with the “basic” Common App essay, or early decision essay.  Year to year, the Common App essay prompts remain the same, with the good old standby, “topic of your choice” being the last on the list, but a perfectly viable option.

Enjoy your summer break. But remember, the sooner you get started on your applications, the sooner you’ll be done.

Anita Glick is a freelance writer and college essay consultant. She can be contacted at stoa4@aol.com