College Admissions Guide
A comprehensive guide to navigating the college admissions process from start to finish.
College Admissions Timeline
Key milestones and deadlines throughout the college application process.
Freshman Year
- Focus on academics and establish strong study habits
- Explore extracurricular activities and interests
- Begin researching potential career paths
- Meet with your high school counselor to plan your courses
Sophomore Year
- Take the PSAT for practice
- Continue building your extracurricular profile
- Start researching colleges and their requirements
- Consider taking SAT Subject Tests in your strong subjects
Junior Year
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October
- Take the SAT or ACT in spring
- Visit college campuses
- Create a preliminary college list
- Begin researching scholarships
- Ask teachers for recommendation letters
Summer Before Senior Year
- Finalize your college list
- Work on your personal statement and supplemental essays
- Retake the SAT or ACT if needed
- Visit more colleges
- Create a spreadsheet to track application requirements and deadlines
Senior Year: Fall
- Submit Early Decision/Early Action applications (November)
- Complete the FAFSA (opens October 1)
- Submit CSS Profile if required by your colleges
- Finalize and submit regular decision applications
- Request official test scores be sent to colleges
Senior Year: Spring
- Review financial aid award letters
- Make your final college decision by May 1
- Submit enrollment deposit
- Apply for housing
- Attend orientation
- Send final transcripts to your chosen college
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