At some point this week, most students will log into the Common Application for the first time and think, “Alright, this is happening.”

And it is.

The shift from planning to actually doing the work is real.

What I try to sort out pretty quickly when I meet with families in Waukesha, Milwaukee, Germantown, and the surrounding communities is whether that shift is actually moving things forward or just giving the feeling that it has.

Because opening the application doesn’t really tell you much.

What matters is what’s actually happening once you’re in there.

The easiest place to start is just getting information in. Basic sections, activities, background information. None of that requires a big decision, and it helps students get comfortable with how everything is set up. It also tends to build a little momentum, which is helpful.

Where things get more important is the list.

At this point, I’m not looking for a list that can never change, but I do want it to be settled enough that the student understands where they’re applying and why those schools are there. If the list is still moving around a lot, it makes the rest of the application feel less stable than it should.

The essay is the other piece I’m paying close attention to right now.

I’m not expecting a finished draft. I am looking to see whether there is something real to work with.

Some students have a draft that’s at least pointed in the right direction. It needs work, but it’s moving. Others are still trying to figure out what they want to write about.

If it’s the second, that’s where the time should go this week. It’s a lot easier to sort that out now than it will be once school starts and everything else is back in the mix.

This week isn’t about having everything done.

It’s about whether the process is actually moving.

If you have a current senior in Brookfield, Pewaukee, Franklin, or nearby communities, it’s worth taking a quick look at what “starting” has actually looked like.

Is the application being filled in, or just opened?
Is the list clear enough to move forward?
Is the essay something they can build on, or something they’re still trying to figure out?

Those answers tend to tell you pretty quickly how the rest of August is going to feel.