Why do the days crossover with the new application cycle, and why do schools have varying CTE dates.

The process is so dragged out, it should not take 1 year to finalize a decision. Makes it so difficult to move forward with a school and sort out apartment timelines + roommate finding. I feel like I have been flip-flopping for the last month and a half on where I am going/living, and what I am going to do.