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.

Take notes on visits - Junior Year College Admission

Overview

Campus visits blur together over time. Detailed notes now become invaluable when choosing where to apply and writing essays!

What to Document

Overall impression: What word comes to mind?
Academics: Library, labs, classrooms for your major
Campus life: Dining, housing, student center, recreation
Student vibe: Friendly? Stressed? Collaborative? Competitive?
Location: Safe? Walkable? Urban/rural? Nearby amenities?
Specific programs: Unique opportunities, research, study abroad
Surprises: Both positive and negative
"Why Us" material: Professors, programs, clubs you'd mention in essays

Tools to Use

Phone for photos (campus, buildings, dorms)
Notes app or notebook for observations
Voice memos for immediate post-visit thoughts

Organization

Create a folder for each school containing:

Photos
Written notes
Ratings on consistent criteria (1-10 for Academics, Campus Life, Location, Overall Fit)

Pro Tip

Write notes IMMEDIATELY after leaving campus. Impressions fade faster than you'd expect!

Overview

Campus visits blur together over time. Detailed notes now become invaluable when choosing where to apply and writing essays!

What to Document

Overall impression: What word comes to mind?
Academics: Library, labs, classrooms for your major
Campus life: Dining, housing, student center, recreation
Student vibe: Friendly? Stressed? Collaborative? Competitive?
Location: Safe? Walkable? Urban/rural? Nearby amenities?
Specific programs: Unique opportunities, research, study abroad
Surprises: Both positive and negative
"Why Us" material: Professors, programs, clubs you'd mention in essays

Tools to Use

Phone for photos (campus, buildings, dorms)
Notes app or notebook for observations
Voice memos for immediate post-visit thoughts

Organization

Create a folder for each school containing:

Photos
Written notes
Ratings on consistent criteria (1-10 for Academics, Campus Life, Location, Overall Fit)

Pro Tip

Write notes IMMEDIATELY after leaving campus. Impressions fade faster than you'd expect!

Take notes on visits

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

What to Document

Tools to Use

Organization

Pro Tip

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Take notes on visits

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

What to Document

Tools to Use

Organization

Pro Tip

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks