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.

Develop recommender relationships - Junior Year College Admission

Overview

Strong recommendation letters come from teachers who truly know you. Now is the perfect time to build those relationships - you'll be asking for letters in the spring!

Who Makes a Great Recommender?

Teachers in core academic subjects (English, Math, Science, History, Foreign Language)
Someone who has seen you grow, not just earn a grade
Ideally, teachers from your junior year classes
A mix of STEM and Humanities teachers provides good balance

Building the Relationship

Participate actively in class - ask thoughtful questions
Visit office hours, even just to discuss interesting topics
Share your academic interests and goals when appropriate
Ask for help on challenging assignments - this shows intellectual curiosity

Pro Tip

Keep a running list of meaningful moments in each class - projects you're proud of, discussions that inspired you, or challenges you overcame. This will be incredibly helpful when you create your "brag sheet" later!

Timeline

Start building these relationships now. You'll formally ask for letters in March or April, giving teachers plenty of time to write thoughtful recommendations.

Overview

Strong recommendation letters come from teachers who truly know you. Now is the perfect time to build those relationships - you'll be asking for letters in the spring!

Who Makes a Great Recommender?

Teachers in core academic subjects (English, Math, Science, History, Foreign Language)
Someone who has seen you grow, not just earn a grade
Ideally, teachers from your junior year classes
A mix of STEM and Humanities teachers provides good balance

Building the Relationship

Participate actively in class - ask thoughtful questions
Visit office hours, even just to discuss interesting topics
Share your academic interests and goals when appropriate
Ask for help on challenging assignments - this shows intellectual curiosity

Pro Tip

Timeline

Start building these relationships now. You'll formally ask for letters in March or April, giving teachers plenty of time to write thoughtful recommendations.

Develop recommender relationships

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Who Makes a Great Recommender?

Building the Relationship

Pro Tip

Timeline

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Develop recommender relationships

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Who Makes a Great Recommender?

Building the Relationship

Pro Tip

Timeline

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks