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.

Research competitive summer programs - Junior Year College Admission

Overview

Selective summer programs can be transformative experiences. If you're interested, now is the time to research — many applications are due December through March!

Top Programs with Early Deadlines

| Program | Focus | Deadline | Cost | |---------|-------|----------|------| | RSI | STEM Research at MIT | ~December 10 | Free | | TASP | Humanities Seminars | ~December 3 | Free | | SSP | Astronomy/Biochem | February 19 (domestic) | $9,800 (aid available) | | MITES/MOSTEC | MIT STEM | February 1 | Free | | COSMOS | UC System STEM | February 6 | $5,518 (aid available) |

Also Consider

Governor's Schools (by state — usually free, January deadlines)
University pre-college programs
Local research opportunities with professors
Meaningful internships or jobs

Realistic Expectations

Programs like RSI and TASP accept only 3-5% of applicants. Apply if you're genuinely interested, but don't stress if you're not selected — there are many paths to a great application!

Overview

Selective summer programs can be transformative experiences. If you're interested, now is the time to research — many applications are due December through March!

Top Programs with Early Deadlines

Also Consider

Governor's Schools (by state — usually free, January deadlines)
University pre-college programs
Local research opportunities with professors
Meaningful internships or jobs

Realistic Expectations

Programs like RSI and TASP accept only 3-5% of applicants. Apply if you're genuinely interested, but don't stress if you're not selected — there are many paths to a great application!

Research competitive summer programs

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Top Programs with Early Deadlines

Also Consider

Realistic Expectations

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Research competitive summer programs

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Top Programs with Early Deadlines

Also Consider

Realistic Expectations

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks