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Course selection, grades, and academic planning
Grade drops risk rescission
Any significant grade drops can result in rescinded admissions
Complete senior requirements
Complete all senior year requirements
Continue full engagement
Continue full engagement in classes and activities
Maintain second semester performance
Maintain strong second semester performance
Review AP credit policies
Review AP credit policies for your college
Complete summer assignments
Complete any summer reading or assignments
Senior grades matter
Senior year grades MATTER - maintain rigor and performance
Complete placement tests
Complete any required placement tests
Third quarter grades matter
Maintain grades as third quarter reported to some schools
Finalize class schedule
Finalize class schedule
Continue strong academics
Continue strong academic performance
Register for fall courses
Register for fall courses if required over summer
First quarter grades important
First quarter grades sent with applications - keep them strong
Strong final exam performance
Strong final exam performance as semester grades matter
Maintain grades to end
Maintain grades through end of year as colleges can rescind admission for significant drops
Avoid senioritis
Don't get senioritis as colleges can and do rescind offers
Extracurriculars, leadership, and community involvement
College applications and submissions
National Merit app materials
Semifinalists: Complete application materials by mid-October deadline
UC/CSU priority deadline
December 1: UC and CSU priority deadline
Double-check all apps
Double-check all applications submitted and complete
Finalize college list
Finalize college list: Include safety 2-3 target 4-6 and reach 4-6 schools
Decide on ED school
Decide on Early Decision school if applying as this is binding
UC application window
November 1-30: UC Application window at $80 per campus with fee waivers available for 4 campuses
RD deadlines January 1-5
January 1-5: Most Regular Decision deadlines including Columbia Dartmouth Harvard Princeton January 1 Cornell Yale January 2 MIT January 4 Brown UPenn January 5
Request mid-year reports
Request mid-year reports sent to colleges
Continue demonstrated interest
Continue demonstrated interest activities for target schools
Selective school decisions
Most selective school decisions released late March/early April
ED II deadlines
Early Decision II deadlines typically January 1
Complete remaining interviews
Complete any remaining interviews
Ensure counselor has materials
Ensure counselor has all materials for counselor recommendation
Submit final transcript
Submit final transcript to your committed college
Review all acceptances
Review all acceptances and financial aid packages
Request transcripts sent
Request official transcripts sent to colleges
Handle waitlist
If waitlisted at top choice: accept spot send letter of continued interest provide updates on new achievements but still commit to another school by May 1
Complete Common App core
Complete Common App core sections
Provide final list to recommenders
Provide final college list to recommenders
UC submission opens
October 1: UC Application submission opens
Submit apps early
Submit applications several days early to avoid technical issues
Send deferral updates
Send updates to deferred schools if you have significant new achievements
Complete and proofread apps
Complete and proofread all application sections
Alumni interviews scheduled
Alumni interviews typically scheduled January-March - check email regularly prepare thoughtful questions and send thank-you note within 24-48 hours
National College Decision Day
May 1: National College Decision Day - submit enrollment deposit to ONE school withdraw other applications accept financial aid package
Send recommender reminders
Send gentle reminders to teachers 2-3 weeks before deadlines
Verify materials received
Verify all application materials received by checking portals
State university decisions
State university decisions typically released March-April
Identify EA schools
Identify Early Action schools
ED/EA decisions released
Mid-December: ED/EA decisions released - if accepted ED withdraw other applications and commit; if deferred submit additional materials if allowed; if denied move forward with RD
Respond to info requests
Respond promptly to any additional information requests
Ivy Day decisions
Late March: Ivy Day with all Ivies releasing decisions simultaneously around 7 PM ET with 2026 Ivy Day expected March 26
CSU application opens
October 1: CSU Application Cal State Apply opens
CSU priority filing
October 1-December 1: CSU priority filing period at $70 per campus with impacted campuses closing at priority deadline
Confirm recommender portal access
Confirm all recommenders have Common App/Coalition App portal access
ED/EA deadline November 1
November 1: Most Early Decision and Early Action deadlines including Ivy League ED/REA Stanford REA and MIT EA
UC decisions released
March-April: UC decisions released typically mid-March through early April
CSU decisions released
March: CSU decisions released
Personal statements and supplemental essays
Polish personal statement
Polish personal statement aiming for completion by end of September
Finalize PIQ drafts
Finalize PIQ drafts
Begin RD supplements
Begin drafting Regular Decision supplements due January
Submit PIQs
Finalize and submit PIQs with each at 350 words and 4 of 8 prompts
Draft early school supplements
Draft supplemental essays for EA/ED schools due November
Finalize November supplements
Finalize supplements for November 1 EA/ED schools
FAFSA, CSS Profile, and scholarships
Set up payment plan
Set up payment plan if needed
Verify financial aid received
Verify financial aid materials received by each school
Complete institutional aid apps
Complete institutional financial aid applications
Continue February scholarships
Continue scholarship applications
CSS Profile opens
CSS Profile opens October 1 - required for most private schools at $25 first school $16 additional and more detailed than FAFSA
Complete FAFSA
Complete FAFSA if not done
Review early aid estimates
Review any early financial aid estimates received
Apply institutional scholarships
Apply for institutional scholarships with November deadlines
Submit CSS for ED
Submit CSS Profile for ED schools
Continue scholarship apps
Continue scholarship applications
Compare net costs
Compare net costs using consistent methodology: Cost of Attendance minus Grants minus Scholarships equals Net Price and factor in loans carefully
Final Cal Grant deadline
March 2: Final Cal Grant deadline with FAFSA/CADAA submitted and GPA verification confirmed
Complete loan entrance counseling
Complete loan entrance counseling if borrowing federal loans
FAFSA opens
FAFSA opens typically October 1 - file early for priority consideration using 2024 tax information
Begin receiving aid packages
Begin receiving financial aid packages
Review ED aid package
If accepted ED review financial aid package carefully and can withdraw from binding ED if aid insufficient
Submit remaining CSS Profiles
Submit any remaining CSS Profiles for RD schools
Do not commit early
DO NOT commit until comparing all packages
File financial aid appeals
If financial aid insufficient file appeals documenting changed circumstances requesting reconsideration with competing offers being specific about amount needed and acting quickly
Continue January scholarships
Continue scholarship applications with many January deadlines
Finalize financial aid paperwork
Finalize any remaining financial aid paperwork
College research, visits, and strategic planning
Thank counselors and teachers
Thank counselors teachers and anyone who helped your process
Shop for dorm supplies
Shop for dorm supplies
Complete housing apps
Complete housing applications often due early May
Connect with roommate
Connect with future roommate
Plan move-in logistics
Plan move-in logistics
Attend orientation
Attend orientation
Thank recommenders with news
Send thank-you notes to recommenders with college decision news
Register for orientation
Register for orientation
Submit health forms
Submit health forms and immunization records
Arrange transportation
Arrange transportation to campus
Move in and start college
Move in and start college!
Complete housing questionnaire
Complete housing questionnaires
Graduate and celebrate
Graduate! Celebrate your accomplishments
Join admitted student groups
Join admitted student social media groups
Register for orientation if not done
Register for orientation if not done
SAT, ACT, PSAT, and AP exam preparation
December SAT last chance
December 6 SAT - last chance for Regular Decision applications
National Merit Finalists
National Merit Finalists announced mid-February
Final SAT September
Final SAT: September 13 or October 4 2025
Take senior AP Exams
Take AP Exams May 4-15 as scores can earn college credit
Send AP scores
Send AP scores to your college if not included with score reports
Decide on test submission
Decide whether to submit test scores to test-optional schools submitting if scores are at or above school's 50th percentile
Register for additional tests
Register if additional attempts needed for early deadlines
Last reasonable test date
Last reasonable SAT/ACT for early applications: October
National Merit announcement
National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students announced mid-September
December ACT last chance
December 13 ACT - last chance for most RD schools
AP scores released
Mid-July: AP scores released