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.

Intensive test prep begins - Junior Year College Admission

Overview

If you haven't started consistent test prep yet, now is a great time to begin! With the PSAT/NMSQT in October and SAT/ACT in spring, you have a perfect runway to improve.

Creating Your Study Plan

Daily commitment: 30-60 minutes, 4-5 days per week
Duration: 2-3 months before your target test date
Focus: Spend 80% of time on your weakest areas

Free Resources (These Are Excellent!)

Khan Academy SAT Prep: khanacademy.org/sat — personalized practice linked to your PSAT scores
ACT Academy: academy.act.org — free official ACT prep
Bluebook App: Official digital SAT practice tests

Practice Test Strategy

Take a full practice test every 2-3 weeks to track progress
Simulate real conditions: timed, quiet space, no phone
Review every wrong answer — understanding WHY matters more than just doing more problems

Realistic Expectations

Most students improve 100-200 points on SAT or 2-4 points on ACT with focused preparation. You can do this!

When to Consider Extra Help

If you're not seeing improvement after 4-6 weeks, a tutor or prep class might provide the boost you need.

Overview

If you haven't started consistent test prep yet, now is a great time to begin! With the PSAT/NMSQT in October and SAT/ACT in spring, you have a perfect runway to improve.

Creating Your Study Plan

Daily commitment: 30-60 minutes, 4-5 days per week
Duration: 2-3 months before your target test date
Focus: Spend 80% of time on your weakest areas

Free Resources (These Are Excellent!)

Khan Academy SAT Prep: khanacademy.org/sat — personalized practice linked to your PSAT scores
ACT Academy: academy.act.org — free official ACT prep
Bluebook App: Official digital SAT practice tests

Practice Test Strategy

Take a full practice test every 2-3 weeks to track progress
Simulate real conditions: timed, quiet space, no phone
Review every wrong answer — understanding WHY matters more than just doing more problems

Realistic Expectations

Most students improve 100-200 points on SAT or 2-4 points on ACT with focused preparation. You can do this!

When to Consider Extra Help

If you're not seeing improvement after 4-6 weeks, a tutor or prep class might provide the boost you need.

Intensive test prep begins

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Creating Your Study Plan

Free Resources (These Are Excellent!)

Practice Test Strategy

Realistic Expectations

When to Consider Extra Help

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Intensive test prep begins

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Creating Your Study Plan

Free Resources (These Are Excellent!)

Practice Test Strategy

Realistic Expectations

When to Consider Extra Help

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks