Application Timelines
Freshman Year
(for a full downloaded copy, please see pages 5-7 on the College Guidance Handbook.)
- Get to know your teachers.
- Begin to explore your interests and passions. Get involved in those areas. Invest in extracurriculars. Volunteer in areas of interest to you.
- Try something new!
- Look into summer academic opportunities and service projects.
- If you are interested in applying to a military academy, begin researching the process.
Sophomore Year
(for a full downloaded copy, please see pages 5-7 on the College Guidance Handbook.)
Fall
- October: Take the practice PSAT in October. Use the results to strengthen areas of weakness before taking the test next year.
Winter
- December/January: Consider how you will spend your summer. Use it well! Look into job opportunities or summer academic programs.
- Meet with your college guidance counselor to discuss your initial thoughts about college.
- Visit the websites of your dream colleges. Look at their admissions requirements to begin getting a feel for what they require.
- Attend a college fair.
- Determine whether you will take any SAT Subject tests and register.
Junior Year
(for a full downloaded copy, please see pages 5-7 on the College Guidance Handbook.)
Summer
- Make the best use of your time in the summer. Find a job or internship, volunteer, or participate in a summer academic program. Do something that interests you!
- Study for the PSAT - work on strategies, take practice tests, or take a prep class.
- Read for pleasure (reading is one of the best ways to prepare for the PSAT).
- Begin visiting colleges and researching scholarship opportunities.
- Plan out your standardized testing schedule for your Junior year.
Fall
- September: Take a PSAT prep class. Practice with sample tests.
- October: Take the PSAT.
- Register for a spring offering of the SAT.
- Meet with your college guidance counselor.
- Continue to research colleges and build your interest list.
- Attend local college fairs.
- Research scholarships and make a list of deadlines (Some scholarship deadlines may be during your Junior year).
- Research and apply for summer academic and research programs hosted at colleges.
Spring
- Study for the SAT or ACT - work on strategies, take practice tests, or take a prep class.
- Take the SAT or ACT.
- Attend a local college fair.
- Visit 2-3 colleges. Spring break is a great time for this!
- Meet with your college guidance counselor to continue developing your college list.
- Plan an interesting summer! Look into internships, jobs, or volunteer opportunities.
- Ask for letters of recommendation from teachers before summer break.
- Take AP tests or SAT Subject tests.
Senior Year
(for a full downloaded copy, please see pages 5-7 on the College Guidance Handbook.)
Summer
- Take initiative - do something that interests you! Find an internship, a volunteer opportunity, or a job. If you know what you want to study in college, do something related to that field.
- Research scholarships and begin applying.
- Visit colleges!
- Become familiar with the Common App when it becomes available on August 1.
- Begin writing your college essays.
- Study for the SAT or ACT by working on strategies, taking practice tests, or taking a prep class.
- Get organized! Create a master calendar of deadlines (applications, test registration, test dates, scholarship applications, financial aid, housing).
- August 1: Register for ACT/SAT If you plan to take or retake.
September
- Study applications of all colleges you are interested in attending to ensure you submit the correct documents and know the deadlines.
- Begin applications. If applying early decision, keep in mind the deadlines for those applications.
- Schedule an appointment with your college guidance counselor to discuss your plans.
- Request letters of recommendation by end of September.
October
- October 1: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available. Submit it as soon as possible after this date.
- Retake SAT/SAT Subject Tests or ACT if necessary.
- If you are applying “Early Decision” your application may be due as early as November 1. Complete your application.
- Apply for scholarships.
- Meet with your college counselor throughout the semester.
- Visit additional colleges you are interested in.
- Attend college fairs in the area.
- Meet with your college guidance counselor to confirm the list of colleges to which you are applying.
November
- Submit the CSS Profile if required by your school.
- Retake SAT/SAT Subject Tests if necessary.
- Nov. 1 and 15: Deadlines to submit for Early Action and Early Decision.
- Continue submitting applications with rolling deadlines.
- Begin working on applications with January deadlines.
December
- Retake ACT if necessary.
- Retake SAT/SAT Subject Tests if necessary.
- Receive early decision/early action decisions.
- Dec. 15 - Feb. 1: Begin submitting additional applications to schools with these deadlines.
- Thank teachers who wrote recommendations on your behalf.
January
- Submit the CCS Profile if required by your school.
- Jan. 1 and 15: Submit additional applications by required deadlines.
February
- February 1: Submit additional applications.
March - April
- Colleges begin releasing admissions decisions.
- Inform you guidance counselor if you have been wait-listed or rejected by an institution you hoped to attend.
- Visit colleges where you have been accepted.
May
- May 1: National Candidates’ Reply Date
- Make your decision on where to matriculate by this date. Inform all schools where you have been admitted of your decision.
- Your final transcript will be mailed to your college choice.
- Thank teachers who wrote you letters of recommendation.
College Guidance Calendar
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