By the time we get to the end of July, most rising seniors are in one of two places.

Some have a list that is mostly set. They know where they are applying, or at least the range they are working within. Testing is either done or clearly planned. They have something started on the essay that they can work with.

Others feel like they are just about to get going.

When I meet with families in Brookfield, Wauwatosa, St. Francis, and the surrounding communities at this point in the summer, that difference is usually pretty easy to see. It is not about how strong the student is. It comes down to timing.

What tends to happen next is fairly consistent.

In August, there is a push to pull the list together. Schools get added and dropped fairly quickly, not because the decisions are wrong, but because there is not much time to sit with them. The student ends up with a list, but it often feels like it came together fast.

If testing is still in play, it becomes one more attempt to see if the score can move. Sometimes that helps. Sometimes it just adds another thing to think about as everything else is picking up.

The essay is usually where this shows up the most.

If there is not something solid in place by August, students are trying to figure out what they want to say at the same time that school is starting and other deadlines are getting closer. The work itself is not any different. It just feels heavier because it is all happening at once.

Once senior year begins, the pace changes. Classes start. Activities pick back up. Applications and supplemental essays start to stack.

For students who used June and July to move things forward, the fall is more about refining and finishing.

For students who are just getting started, the fall is when everything has to come together at the same time.

If you have a current junior in Waukesha, Cudahy, Racine, or nearby communities, this is a good point to take a step back and look at where things actually are.

Is the list in place in a way that makes sense?
Is there a clear plan for testing, or is that still open?
Is the essay something that can be worked with, or something that still needs to be figured out?

If those pieces are not there yet, it is still very manageable to fix.

It is just easier to do it now than it will be a few weeks from now, when everything else is starting to move again.