Are you on track with our College Admissions Timeline?

Middle School

• Build good study Habits
• Start the conversation about college

• Join extracurricular activities
• Begin volunteering
• Build a good base for your GPA
• Take challenging classes
• Begin exploring topics that would interest you
• Get to know your high school guidance counselor

• Take a practice SAT & ACT
• Maintain good GPA
• Aim for honors/AP classes
• Keep taking a foreign language
• Start exploring college options (location, size, public/private, cost)
• Spend summer exploring more college options and desired locations to visit

• Try to take  AP classes, maintain solid GPA
• Visit a few schools
• Start ACT/SAT prep (including when and how many tests you will take)
• Determine additional requirements for your colleges of choice (SAT subject tests, vaccinations, essays, interviews)
• Take PSAT
• Take a leadership role in an extracurricular activity

• Meet with your counselor and design a good list of schools to apply to.
• Take ACT/SAT/SAT Subject tests, each are offered every other month so plan ahead.
• Keep taking challenging courses, and make sure there is at least one foreign language. Sticking with math and science is also important.
• Keep the grades up
• Take AP tests

• Plan final ACT/SAT dates
• Finalize list of colleges to apply to (Safety, match, and reach schools)
• Verify that your classes meet the requirements of each school on your list

• Schedule interviews at schools which require it.
• Request letters of recommendations from teachers, coaches, employers, or other relevant people. (Be sure to send thank you cards)
• Keep track of the deadlines for each school concerning the application, essays, and testing. Use a chart or web calendar.
• Work on application essays, seek help from a counselor or tutor if necessary

• Complete early decision or early action applications
• Visit college fairs
• Finalize essays
• Request high school transcripts early, and make sure you have reviewed it before having it sent to a college
• Update your deadline chart as you complete more tasks

• Begin to research scholarships and financial aid. Learn about the FAFSA
• Finalize applications and essays (most are due next month)
• Double Check that all components of each application have been completed
• You should have completed all college admissions tests at this point - if not, speak with your counselor.

• Turn in all applications
• Confirm receipt of materials by each college to which you applied
• Submit the FAFSA
• Submit mid-year grades to colleges that require a senior year mid-year update
• Do not slack in your classes, these grades still matter
• Start narrowing down the list of scholarships to apply to

• Begin applying for scholarships
• You will start to receive decisions soon (especially early decision, early action, and rolling admissions). Make sure to think about each school very carefully and follow the directions for notifying the schools of your decision.
• Keep working hard in school

• Receive decisions from colleges and return your decision following the directions very carefully (keep track of this in excel or a personal binder or folder).
• Think about housing options
• Review FAFSA student aid report and start making plans for finances
• Continue to apply for scholarships
• Register for AP exams
• Go to accepted students' open houses if availible

• Make a final decision on which college you will be attending
• Make the required deposit by their deadline
• Finalize housing decisions
• Take AP exams
• Send final transcript to colleges that require it
• Continue to work on scholarships and financing your education (including loans)
• Send thank you letter to those that helped you along the way
• Enjoy your graduation and summer!