How long per app?

[Happydays2]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm applying Fall 2015 (best of luck for everyone who applyed Fall 2014!). Quick questions: as far as you can rememrber, when did applications open for the schools you applied (do they ususally open in October or sooner)? And how long did each application take, aprox (once you finished polishing the WS and SOP)?

 

Thanks

[jamc8383]

Yale admissions opened the earliest (of the programs to which I applied), on August 15th.  Princeton, UMich and UChicago admissions opened in September and I believe that the other state schools followed in late September/early October.  Beginning in the summer, schools will start to post dates for online application availability (some will be very vague and unhelpful, like "fall 2014"), but having a (sometimes rough) idea of when your programs open, will help you with planning; you can work on applications here-and-there, rather than trying to do several at once.  

 

Since you can save your progress on the online applications, I started them as soon as they were available, then I uploaded transcripts, WS and SOP over the course of the fall semester.  Then I just reviewed the application (adding in any recent/updated information) and hit send.  I did a lot of work on the front end of the application process and it paid off.  I got all of mine submitted three to four weeks prior to the deadlines, which was super helpful because there was plenty of time for my scores, transcripts and LORs to get matched up and there was no "Oh-my-god-my-application-is-still-marked-as-incomplete-and-the-deadline's-in-two-days" stress.  

 

I would say that in doing the actual online application, it probably took me about an hour and a half per app (followed by a final review prior to submission).  

Hope that helps 

[shelbyelisha]

Applications opened in late September - October for me.  Once everything was written, the actual filling out the application, uploading documents, and filling out payment info took me about 30 minutes - 45 minutes each.  I was also doing this on Thanksgiving night while watching Christmas Vacation, so I wasn't exactly working diligently...you  may be able to get them done more quickly.  Good luck next year!

[idol.chatter]

I agree with what's above. Once you have your WS and PS down, it only took me about an hour for each individual app, filling in boxes and tailoring my PS. If you get a really solid draft of the PS beforehand, it saves you a lot of time. 

[shelbyelisha]

^I should clarify that my PS had already been tailored to each school by this point, and I was merely uploading documents.

[Happydays2]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I might do Americorps (if accpeted  ) next year. The term begins in at the end of October, so I was looking for an estamite on my chances of finishing all my apps before *hopefully* starting my assigment. The relipes were very helpful, thanks!