Getting college applications finished
What I’m telling seniors and parents as November 1 approaches.
I can usually tell how close we are to application deadlines by the conversations I’m having with families.
A school nobody mentioned in September suddenly appears on the list because someone brought it up in a group chat. A senior who went quiet in August sends three drafts at once. A parent asks whether we can submit everything tomorrow and finally be done.
Then we spend twenty minutes discussing a sentence that was fine when we started.
If any of this sounds familiar, you have plenty of company. I’m having versions of these conversations every day. Families are worried about missing something, and adding another school or asking one more person to read an essay feels like it might help. Often, it just leaves the student with more work.
Here’s what I’m encouraging families to do over the next couple of weeks.
1. Look for a school you can take off the list.
In September, I sat down with a senior who had 18 schools on his list and no personal statement. One of the first things we did was drop an October application. The school was a reach, he had no particular connection to it, and it wasn’t near the top of his list.
He already had plenty of applications to finish. That one was taking time away from schools he cared about.
Before adding a college now, ask your kid what interests them about it. Have they looked at the program? Does it fit what your family agreed on for cost and distance? Would they actually want to go?
Sometimes a late discovery is worth pursuing. Hearing that a friend is applying is a reason to look into a school, but I’d want more than that before adding another set of essays.
Then look at the schools already on the list. If there’s a long shot your kid can barely explain wanting to attend, consider taking it off. Keep the affordable schools where admission is more likely and they would be happy to enroll.
2. Help them choose something they can write about honestly.
One of our seniors had been putting off her supplements because she didn’t know what she wanted to study.
“I’m just so indecisive,” she told our team. “I don’t know any majors.” When we sat down together, I reminded her that being unsure at 17 is pretty reasonable. We could start with subjects she liked and look at what the colleges actually offered.
She settled on economics for one school, where she could write about her interest in math and markets, and accounting for another, where her mom had found a program.
Accounting worried her. She pictured herself sitting at a desk all day. I told her about a friend who works in accounting for a sports company and travels around the world helping open stadiums. I also suggested asking a chatbot about accounting careers that involve work beyond spreadsheets, then looking into the jobs that sounded interesting. She started writing that week.
For students who are stuck here, reading a few course descriptions can help. What would they enjoy learning? What have they already done that connects to the subject? Those answers give them somewhere to begin an essay.
Before submitting, check how each college handles admission to the major and changes after enrollment. Some programs have limited space and a separate admissions process. The University of Washington, for example, explains those restrictions by major. Choose something your kid would genuinely want to study, with a clear understanding of their options if their interests change.
3. Bring in someone else when the conversation keeps becoming a fight.
We’re working with a senior who has his heart set on one business school. His dad is worried about his chances and keeps bringing it up. They’ve reached the point where neither of them is getting much out of the conversation.
A parent can have a reasonable concern and still struggle to get it heard. “Let’s look at some other schools” can sound to a teenager like “I don’t think you can do this.”
If you’re having the same argument every night, ask someone your kid trusts to help. That might be a school counselor, a teacher, an older cousin, or us. An advisor can walk through the application and help identify other schools worth getting excited about. Sometimes the conversation goes better simply because it’s with someone else.
Essays can turn into a similar source of friction. Give a draft a careful read and tell your kid where you’re confused or want a specific detail. Ask yourself whether someone who has never met them would learn something meaningful about them.
Once the essay answers the prompt, sounds like your kid, and has been checked for errors, be careful about reopening it. Changing a word because you prefer another one can keep a finished essay in circulation for days.
A few useful jobs for parents
There’s still plenty you can help with. Agree on who is checking each item so your kid knows what you’re handling.
Check recommendation status together. Make sure the required teacher and counselor materials have been requested, and identify anything that needs a follow up.
Review each college’s checklist. Confirm what it needs for transcripts and testing, how those materials should be submitted, and when they’re due.
Get the financial aid paperwork moving. The FAFSA for the 2027 to 2028 academic year is open. If your student is eligible, start it together and complete your parent section. Check whether any colleges also require the CSS Profile, and put each school’s financial aid deadlines on the calendar.
Aim to submit November 1 applications by Wednesday, October 28. Give yourselves a few days to deal with a missing item or a submission problem. Earlier deadlines still come first.
Tonight, try asking your kid which essay they’re happiest with and what they like about it. Let them talk you through it before offering any edits. You may hear something about the past few months that hasn’t come up in all the conversations about what’s left to finish.
🗓️ NYC Opportunities
Every issue, we'll point you toward specific NYC programs, deadlines, and events that help your student explore what they're actually curious about and build the kind of depth colleges are looking for. Here's what's worth your attention this week:
1. Free Tours of the Conference House, Staten Island
Deadline: Fall 2026 applications due August 31, 2026; free
When: October 16–18; the event listing gives a noon start on Friday and a 4 p.m. finish on Sunday—confirm daily tour hours before visiting
Where: 7455 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island
History feels different when you can walk into the room where it happened. During Open House New York Weekend, the Conference House is offering free tours of the stone manor built around 1680. In 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge met Lord Howe here for a peace conference intended to end the Revolutionary War. Today, the house overlooks the Arthur Kill and Lower Raritan Bay.
Why it matters: In the 250th anniversary year of that meeting, this is a memorable outing for anyone interested in history or government—and a chance to learn about a consequential moment close to home. See the event details
2. It’s My Park Volunteer Days, City Parks Foundation
When: Check the calendar for October 17–18 opportunities; Jackie Robinson Park is listed for Sunday, October 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Who can go: Check with the individual host about participation and any signup requirements
A few hours in a neighborhood park can be a simple way to get involved close to home. City Parks Foundation’s It’s My Park calendar lists volunteer projects where local groups care for shared outdoor spaces. On October 18, the Jackie Robinson Park Conservancy is scheduled to spread mulch in garden areas at Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem.
Why it matters: Start with a project nearby. If you enjoy it, returning to the same group can help you build relationships and take on more responsibility over time.
Before you go: The calendar currently displays a weather-related cancellation or postponement notice without clearly identifying the affected dates. Confirm your event with the host before heading out.
3. Regeneron Science Talent Search Webinar: Advice from Past Winners
When: Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. ET
Who it’s for: Anyone interested in Regeneron STS, especially seniors preparing an application and juniors thinking ahead
Working on a research application can bring up plenty of questions. Society for Science is hosting a webinar where past Regeneron Science Talent Search winners will share advice from their own experiences. The STS 2027 application is due November 5, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET. It includes an original research report, short essays, recommendations, and other application materials.
Why it matters: Seniors will have about two weeks to put the advice into practice before the deadline. Juniors can get an early sense of what preparing a research application involves.
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