<p>Does it vary greatly? depend on the school? or is there a generally good time to start?</p>
<p>I started on personal statements at the end of July/beginning of August</p>
<p>It’s probably never too early to start. If you start now, you may find yourself less stressed as the deadlines approach. I was a total procrastinator when I was applying, and I STRONGLY don’t recommend doing that.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that schools with rolling admissions (those schools who accept/reject applicants as the applications come in, rather than processing them all at once) should receive your application as soon as possible, since they may become more selective as more spots are being filled.</p>
<p>If you’re applying anywhere ED or EA, definitely start right away. </p>
<p>For normal, regular decision schools, I’d suggest even filling out the stupid personal information required in the Common App (and other applications too), like your address, family information, parents’ careers, etc. That gets really tedious, and it would be good to knock that easy stuff out of the way so you can focus on the bulk of the application later.</p>
<p>I’m like 90% done the Common App. Just need to do my essay for that, and I think i’m done.</p>
<p>The application isn’t hard to fill out; it’s the essays that take forever to perfect. I have to wait until school starts anyhow because I need my recommendations anyhow.</p>
<p>
how can you find yout if a school is like that ir not?</p>
<p>Dima, there aren’t that many schools like that. The only ones that come to mind are public schools. I believe UMichigan does that, and I think Rutgers and Penn State might as well. I know people who applied to Rutgers and Penn State and were accepted a few months before April 1. I think some second and third-tier schools may operate that way too, but it’s not as common with first-tier colleges.</p>
<p>If you look at the college index in the back of the US News college edition, it will say “Application Deadline: Rolling”.</p>
<p>ok Lisa thanks a lot 
i’m not really planning on going into a top-tier private university anyways so all i’m looking at is public schools.</p>
<p>University of Texas does it as well.</p>
<p>If you look up the school at collegeboard.com it’ll tell you under the admissions section.</p>
<p>Misha</p>