diff --git a/src/pages/apply.astro b/src/pages/apply.astro
index 10c904c..d29164a 100644
--- a/src/pages/apply.astro
+++ b/src/pages/apply.astro
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ import '../styles/apply.scss';
   // === PASTE YOUR GOOGLE SCRIPT URL HERE ONCE ===
   const SCRIPT_URL = 'https://script.google.com/macros/s/AKfycby_xG6EGVuLXvgs9ro20rMkK2zSyElPCHeMU_2F2Q_0WE08gtCNzrO-SEyjDAqS46Hr/exec';
 
+  const STATUS_CSV_URL = 'https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRZvHQma9ZHzgyb3tmkCzXKZVpW9esnVAOQEN994ZuUvszO6dhE4fzq0psXLA2lTtDuefUIXNQvvfN_/pub?gid=202325095&single=true&output=csv';
+
   // --- ELEMENTS ---
   const loadingStatus = document.getElementById('loading-status');
   const closedMessage = document.getElementById('closed-message');
@@ -150,24 +152,24 @@ import '../styles/apply.scss';
   const loadingMsg = document.getElementById('loading-msg');
   const successMsg = document.getElementById('success-message');
 
-  // --- STEP 1: CHECK GOOGLE SHEET STATUS ---
-  // Added the protective if-statement here!
+  // --- STEP 1: CHECK GOOGLE SHEET STATUS VIA CSV ---
   if (loadingStatus && closedMessage && registrationContent) {
-    fetch(SCRIPT_URL)
-      .then(response => response.json())
-      .then(data => {
-        loadingStatus.style.display = 'none'; // Hide the spinner
+    // We fetch the lightning-fast CSV instead of the script
+    fetch(STATUS_CSV_URL)
+      .then(response => response.text()) // Parse it as raw text, not JSON
+      .then(csvText => {
+        loadingStatus.style.display = 'none'; 
         
-        // Look at the B1 cell value from the Google Sheet
-        if (data.status === 'OPEN') {
-          registrationContent.style.display = 'block'; // Reveal the portal!
+        // CSV text usually comes with a newline at the end, so we use .trim() to clean it
+        // We also check if it includes 'OPEN' just in case there are other headers
+        if (csvText.trim().includes('OPEN')) {
+          registrationContent.style.display = 'block'; 
         } else {
-          closedMessage.style.display = 'block'; // Show the closed message
+          closedMessage.style.display = 'block'; 
         }
       })
       .catch(error => {
-        console.error("Status check failed:", error); // Added this to clear the warning
-        // If the internet is down or script fails, fail gracefully by showing closed
+        console.error("Status check failed:", error); 
         loadingStatus.style.display = 'none';
         closedMessage.style.display = 'block';
       });