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.

Meet counselor on timeline - Junior Year College Admission

Overview

Senior year starts soon! Meeting with your counselor now ensures you're aligned on deadlines and processes.

Topics to Discuss

Review your final college list
Confirm application strategy (which schools EA/ED/RD)
Discuss counselor recommendation process
Clarify transcript procedures
Review school-specific requirements
Confirm financial aid timeline
Discuss any special circumstances

Questions to Ask

"What's your process for recommendation letters?"
"When should I submit transcript requests?"
"Do you see any issues with my application plan?"
"Are there opportunities I should know about?"
"How should I communicate with you this fall?"

What to Bring

Updated college list with deadlines
Brag sheet/resume
Your questions
Test scores and current GPA

After the Meeting

Send thank-you email summarizing what you discussed
Add all deadlines to your calendar
Note any action items

Encouraging Note

Your counselor is here to help! This meeting sets you up for a smooth application season.

Overview

Senior year starts soon! Meeting with your counselor now ensures you're aligned on deadlines and processes.

Topics to Discuss

Review your final college list
Confirm application strategy (which schools EA/ED/RD)
Discuss counselor recommendation process
Clarify transcript procedures
Review school-specific requirements
Confirm financial aid timeline
Discuss any special circumstances

Questions to Ask

"What's your process for recommendation letters?"
"When should I submit transcript requests?"
"Do you see any issues with my application plan?"
"Are there opportunities I should know about?"
"How should I communicate with you this fall?"

What to Bring

Updated college list with deadlines
Brag sheet/resume
Your questions
Test scores and current GPA

After the Meeting

Send thank-you email summarizing what you discussed
Add all deadlines to your calendar
Note any action items

Encouraging Note

Your counselor is here to help! This meeting sets you up for a smooth application season.

Meet counselor on timeline

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Topics to Discuss

Questions to Ask

What to Bring

After the Meeting

Encouraging Note

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Meet counselor on timeline

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Topics to Discuss

Questions to Ask

What to Bring

After the Meeting

Encouraging Note

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks