The Early Bird Gets the Worm

Have you ever heard the expression "if you're on time, you're late"? The idea is that if you're late, you're late, but if you get somewhere just on time, you're still late -- you're harried, your hair is out of place, and you've probably forgotten something.

Well, I don't know if it's how I was raised, or nature, or a combination of the two, but when left to my own devices, I tend to run late. Regular late, not "on time" late. And if so, I arrive flustered. My hat gets left at home. I have time for mascara but not lipstick. I submit the project by the deadline, but without that last read-through I wanted to do.

So, I had to learn. I had to learn how to be on time, whether to a meeting or with a deadline. I learned all about building in time-error pillows. And planning ahead. And thinking through the steps for getting somewhere or getting a project completed. And then I figured out that the adage was true. It wasn't enough to arrive to a meeting on time. I was better off being a little bit early. I could catch my breath. I could smooth my hair. I could go over my talking points in my head. I could review my submission one last time.

Why am I talking about all of this? Because, for all the natural latecomers and late-bloomers and procrastinators out there, I want to say that in college admissions, early is better. You can be early. I will help you be early.

What are the benefits of early?

• Early Action applicants enjoy better admittance rates, sometimes markedly so.

• Some competitive merit scholarships, whether or not they require a separate competitive application process, require an early action application. Sometimes, they have deadlines even a few weeks ahead of early action.

• Having your test scores, if you're doing testing, early helps make the process less stressful, and gives you a better sense of your admissions chances.

• Starting your college research process early gives you lots of time to make wiser, more informed choices about which colleges to apply to.

Am I always on time now? No. I let my late freak fly in situations when it doesn't matter. At a dinner party at my house, the cake may come out of the oven halfway through dinner. I might start my book for book club the day before we meet. It doesn't matter, and I enjoy that extra little frisson of "will I make it?," and the relaxation of not planning ahead.

But otherwise, I'm a little bit early, and the benefits are undeniable.

That's especially true in college admissions, and I'll help you plan everything out and get it all done early to give you the best chance at admission and scholarships.

Click here to schedule a free introductory meeting to discuss how I can help you and your family.