Take a practice ACT and SAT to determine which test may be better for you if applicable

Sign up for SAT/ACT date(s) for next year if applicable - spots at local testing sites go fast (and you can always request partial refund if you decide to cancel)

Explore (or deepen) interests in extracurricular activities (e.g., clubs, sports, community service, fine and performing arts, work, research, and hobbies)

For more information, see the College Essay Guy’s book on College Admission Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide to Showing Colleges Who You Are and What Matters to You.

Make a student college-only email address so all college info goes to one place (including tons of email generated by PSAT/SAT/ACT and college tour registration info)

Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October. This test (only junior fall) qualifies students for the National Merit Scholarship (Guides to the PSAT and National Merit Scholarship).

Take SAT/ACT junior year if applicable

May (After AP exams): Request letters of recommendation from teachers

Research colleges for college list

Explore college majors (some schools ask for intended major); make sure each college on final list has these majors or if unsure, confirm that it’s easy to switch majors 

Visit colleges (virtually and in person)

June: Explore Common App resource guide and UC application, if relevant

June/July: Work on main essay -- Brainstorm topic, write the outline, draft, and revise.

• Check out the essay prompts (e.g., Common App, Coalition App, UC PIQs) which are finalized on 8/1, examples of these main essays, UC Personal Insight Questions, and strategies for how to write the UC essay prompts.

August: Finalize main essay/list of colleges, research early decision and regular decision acceptance rates for final college list, and decide early/regular decision schools. 

August: Write supplemental essays for early schools that don't overlap too much with the main essay (see Essay Writing Timeline).

Application deadlines are typically Oct. 15 to Jan. 1

September: Finalize all supplemental essays and rest of the application -- activities list, resume, addition information/comments, academic history, etc. 

• Common App: How-To Guide and Finishing Common App (including The Common App Activities List and Additional Information Section), and Resume

• UC App: UC Activities List, Additional Comments, and Academic History sections

• Consider 5 Ways to Improve Your College Essays and Application at the Last Minute (including creating an “Almost Done” Document)

September: Enter list of colleges applying to into school platform (e.g., Naviance) to arrange letters of rec, school profile, mid-year grade reports, and end-of-year transcripts to be sent

September: Schedule interview with counselor to request letters of rec (3 weeks before 1st deadline) -- send personal info sheet to counselor and teachers writing recs

October: Apply for financial aid using the FAFSA and CSS/PROFILE (if required)

September-November: 

• Meet with college reps on high school campus

• Demonstrate interest in other ways (e.g., college Interviews), if relevant – to find the importance of demonstrated interest and other admissions factors for particular schools, Google the name of the school + Common Data Set, then go to Section C7

• Send test scores to colleges applying to if relevant

• Research scholarships and requirements; log in to your school platform (e.g., Naviance) to access local and regional scholarships

November 30: University of California/Cal State University Deadline

January-March: College decisions arrive (April 1 at the latest). If deferred or waitlisted, send an email to your regional admissions representative to reaffirm your interest in the school and offer any updates (activities, achievements, awards, etc.)

April: Visit any accepted colleges (and attend admitted student events when possible)

Before May 1: Decide where to attend

May 1: Enrollment deadline (and sometimes housing deadline too)

May 1: Send test scores to enrolled college if relevant

June: Have transcript sent to enrolled college (request by entering college name into school platform, such as Naviance)