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 supplemental prompts - Junior Year College Admission

Overview

Most schools post new supplemental essay prompts in early August. Get a head start on research now!

When Prompts Release

Common App opens August 1
Most schools post new prompts then
Some schools keep prompts consistent year-to-year

How to Find Prompts

Add schools to your Common App account (August 1+)
Check each school's admissions website
Search "[School name] supplemental essays 2025-2026"
Use databases like College Essay Guy

Common Types of Supplemental Essays

"Why Us?" (200-650 words): Why this specific school?
"Why This Major?" (100-400 words): What draws you to your field?
"Community/Diversity" (200-400 words): What will you contribute?
"Extracurricular" (150-250 words): Tell us more about an activity
"Intellectual Curiosity" (250-500 words): What do you want to explore?
Creative/Quirky: School-specific unique prompts

Preparation

Once prompts are available:

Add them to your tracking spreadsheet
Note word limits and deadlines
Start drafting EA/ED supplements immediately

Overview

Most schools post new supplemental essay prompts in early August. Get a head start on research now!

When Prompts Release

Common App opens August 1
Most schools post new prompts then
Some schools keep prompts consistent year-to-year

How to Find Prompts

Add schools to your Common App account (August 1+)
Check each school's admissions website
Search "[School name] supplemental essays 2025-2026"
Use databases like College Essay Guy

Common Types of Supplemental Essays

"Why Us?" (200-650 words): Why this specific school?
"Why This Major?" (100-400 words): What draws you to your field?
"Community/Diversity" (200-400 words): What will you contribute?
"Extracurricular" (150-250 words): Tell us more about an activity
"Intellectual Curiosity" (250-500 words): What do you want to explore?
Creative/Quirky: School-specific unique prompts

Preparation

Once prompts are available:

Add them to your tracking spreadsheet
Note word limits and deadlines
Start drafting EA/ED supplements immediately

Research supplemental prompts

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

When Prompts Release

How to Find Prompts

Common Types of Supplemental Essays

Preparation

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Research supplemental prompts

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

When Prompts Release

How to Find Prompts

Common Types of Supplemental Essays

Preparation

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks