What do you wish you had known about the college application process before you started applying?
To current seniors and college students, please feel free to vent and give advice to future college applicants.
I wish I had known the due dates sooner. I think all the ivy league schools are due on January 1st and schools like Duke or Stanford are due on the 3rd. For me it was. I only had a couple weeks to complete my application and get all my recommendations sent. It was very stressful but I only applied to three schools from the common app. Luckily I got into all three of the them. I only chose the schools that fit best for my career: physician. Those schools were Stanford, Duke, and university of Chicago. Start early and don’t do it at the last minute. Deadlines are close than they appear. 
It’s all about the hooks at the most selective schools. If you don’t fill a true need in some form, you won’t be accepted.
Start thinking about grades from day 1. You don’t want to slack off in the beginning of high school- it only gets harder.
Find out how they determine priority for housing. For example, Clemson University determines housing by application date, not acceptance date or deposit date .