When do most high school seniors apply to college?

I'm feeling a bit behind and I'm worried. When do most seniors start sending out their college applications? Is there such thing as too early or too late? Any advice would be awesome right now.

Most high school seniors start their college application process in the early days of their senior year, with many aiming to submit their applications by mid to late fall.

There are several different application deadlines to keep in mind depending on the application strategy you're using:

1. Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA): These applications are typically due between November 1st and November 15th. Since ED is binding, you should only choose this option if you're 100% certain about attending the particular college. EA is not binding and gives you more flexibility, but the deadlines are usually the same.

2. Regular Decision: These applications usually due between January 1st and January 15th of the senior year. This grants you more time to work on your applications, polish your essays, and strengthen your application overall.

3. Rolling Admissions: These admissions don’t have a fixed deadline and review applications as they come in until all spots are filled. However, applying early still offers an advantage, as there will be more open spots.

Remember, applying early can demonstrate interest to the college and even improve chances of acceptance at some schools, especially those offering ED. The key is to balance the advantage of applying early with the need to submit a well-prepared application. So, while "too early" isn't usually a concern, "too late" can be if you miss the deadlines. You should aim to complete your applications well before the due dates to avoid any last-minute tribulations.