When should I start preparing for college admission?

You should start preparing in freshman year of high school. This includes focusing on grades, exploring extracurricular activities, and beginning to think about your interests and potential career paths.

What are the most important college admission deadlines?

Key deadlines include: Early Decision/Early Action (November 1-15), Regular Decision (January 1-15), FAFSA opens (October 1), and CSS Profile deadline (varies by school). Our timeline tracker helps you never miss a deadline.

How many college admission tasks are there?

There are 374+ tasks across all four years of high school, including academic preparation, standardized testing, extracurricular activities, college research, applications, and financial aid.

What is included in the admission timeline?

The timeline includes tasks for: A-G requirements tracking, standardized test prep (SAT/ACT/AP), college research and visits, application essays, letters of recommendation, financial aid (FAFSA/CSS), and scholarship applications.

Begin UC PIQs - Junior Year College Admission

Overview

It's time to start drafting your UC Personal Insight Questions! You'll choose 4 of 8 prompts, 350 words maximum each.

Quick Reminders

Same essays for all 9 UC campuses
Be direct — no lengthy introductions needed
Be specific — include concrete details
Be reflective — show what you learned
Be yourself — write in your natural voice

The 8 Prompts

Leadership experience
Creative skill
Greatest talent or skill
Educational opportunity or barrier
Most significant challenge
Academic subject that inspires you
Making school/community better
What makes you a strong candidate

Selection Strategy

Choose 4 prompts that showcase DIFFERENT aspects of yourself. Avoid overlap!

July Drafting Schedule

Week 1: Outline all 4 chosen PIQs
Week 2: Draft PIQs 1-2 (first drafts, not perfect)
Week 3: Draft PIQs 3-4
Week 4: Self-edit all 4, prepare for feedback in August

Helpful Resource

UC PIQ Official Guide

Overview

It's time to start drafting your UC Personal Insight Questions! You'll choose 4 of 8 prompts, 350 words maximum each.

Quick Reminders

Same essays for all 9 UC campuses
Be direct — no lengthy introductions needed
Be specific — include concrete details
Be reflective — show what you learned
Be yourself — write in your natural voice

The 8 Prompts

Leadership experience
Creative skill
Greatest talent or skill
Educational opportunity or barrier
Most significant challenge
Academic subject that inspires you
Making school/community better
What makes you a strong candidate

Selection Strategy

Choose 4 prompts that showcase DIFFERENT aspects of yourself. Avoid overlap!

July Drafting Schedule

Week 1: Outline all 4 chosen PIQs
Week 2: Draft PIQs 1-2 (first drafts, not perfect)
Week 3: Draft PIQs 3-4
Week 4: Self-edit all 4, prepare for feedback in August

Helpful Resource

UC PIQ Official Guide

Begin UC PIQs

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Quick Reminders

The 8 Prompts

Selection Strategy

July Drafting Schedule

Helpful Resource

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Begin UC PIQs

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Quick Reminders

The 8 Prompts

Selection Strategy

July Drafting Schedule

Helpful Resource

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks