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.

Prepare selective summer apps - Junior Year College Admission

Overview

If you're applying to competitive summer programs (RSI, TASP, SSP, etc.), now is the time to gather materials. Being organized reduces stress and improves application quality!

Common Application Components

Academic transcript
Standardized test scores
1-2 teacher recommendations
Personal essays (usually 1-3)
Extracurricular activities list
Some programs require additional materials like research abstracts

Preparation Steps

Create accounts on each program's application portal
Request transcript from your counselor
Ask teachers for recommendations NOW — give them 3+ weeks notice
Draft essays and have them reviewed
Proofread everything multiple times

Essay Tips

Be specific about YOUR experiences and interests
Show intellectual curiosity beyond classroom learning
Explain what unique perspective you'd bring
Generic responses don't stand out — be authentic!

Timeline

Aim to complete applications 3-5 days before deadlines to allow for technical issues.

Encouraging Reminder

These programs are highly competitive, so don't be discouraged if you're not selected. The application process itself is valuable practice!

Overview

If you're applying to competitive summer programs (RSI, TASP, SSP, etc.), now is the time to gather materials. Being organized reduces stress and improves application quality!

Common Application Components

Academic transcript
Standardized test scores
1-2 teacher recommendations
Personal essays (usually 1-3)
Extracurricular activities list
Some programs require additional materials like research abstracts

Preparation Steps

Create accounts on each program's application portal
Request transcript from your counselor
Ask teachers for recommendations NOW — give them 3+ weeks notice
Draft essays and have them reviewed
Proofread everything multiple times

Essay Tips

Be specific about YOUR experiences and interests
Show intellectual curiosity beyond classroom learning
Explain what unique perspective you'd bring
Generic responses don't stand out — be authentic!

Timeline

Aim to complete applications 3-5 days before deadlines to allow for technical issues.

Encouraging Reminder

These programs are highly competitive, so don't be discouraged if you're not selected. The application process itself is valuable practice!

Prepare selective summer apps

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Common Application Components

Preparation Steps

Essay Tips

Timeline

Encouraging Reminder

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Prepare selective summer apps

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Common Application Components

Preparation Steps

Essay Tips

Timeline

Encouraging Reminder

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks