Responded to the poll for S23. We wouldn’t have done anything differently. Most importantly, our strategy of starting early paid off in terms of having a clear and effective plan. This cut down on some stress.
Our college research started the summer before junior year, so we could have a list of universities to visit that met DS’s needs and preferences. This meant we could visit a lot of colleges during junior year, and leave just a couple for September of senior year. By April of junior year he had an SAT score to submit to even his reach schools, and by May he had clear EDI and EDII choices. His list of likelies, targets, and reaches (16 total) was set by August, and his CA essay was done by the start of senior year. This allowed him to apply to one of his likelies (rolling) in October, and he could work on supplements for his EDI and EA colleges in early fall. He submitted an ED and several EA apps by November and heard back from his rolling likely with merit, so he could relax a bit. Although he was admitted to his ED (reach) university in December, he had his EDII app ready to hit “send” and several other supplements for RD schools completed. Starting early allowed him to have a more relaxed fall than many of his friends. He was so happy that he was accepted to his ED choice that he didn’t even mind that he had completed many other supplements that he never needed to use.
So along with the advice everyone gets about a balanced list, starting early was key for us.