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.

Identify recommender teachers - Junior Year College Admission

Overview

Choosing the right teachers to write your recommendation letters is an important decision. The good news? You probably already have great options in mind!

What Makes a Strong Recommender?

Someone who:

Knows you well beyond just your grades
Has seen you grow and overcome challenges
Can speak to your intellectual curiosity
Genuinely likes working with you!

Selection Tips

Prioritize junior year teachers (freshest memories when they write)
Choose core academic subjects (English, Math, Science, History, Foreign Language)
Aim for one STEM and one Humanities teacher if possible
Avoid teachers where you got an easy A but had minimal interaction

Common App Requirements

Most colleges require 1-2 teacher recommendations plus 1 counselor recommendation. Some schools have specific requirements (like MIT requiring one STEM teacher), so check each school's website.

Timeline

Identify candidates now; you'll ask formally in March or April. Popular teachers fill up quickly, so having your picks ready early helps!

Overview

Choosing the right teachers to write your recommendation letters is an important decision. The good news? You probably already have great options in mind!

What Makes a Strong Recommender?

Someone who:

Knows you well beyond just your grades
Has seen you grow and overcome challenges
Can speak to your intellectual curiosity
Genuinely likes working with you!

Selection Tips

Prioritize junior year teachers (freshest memories when they write)
Choose core academic subjects (English, Math, Science, History, Foreign Language)
Aim for one STEM and one Humanities teacher if possible
Avoid teachers where you got an easy A but had minimal interaction

Common App Requirements

Most colleges require 1-2 teacher recommendations plus 1 counselor recommendation. Some schools have specific requirements (like MIT requiring one STEM teacher), so check each school's website.

Timeline

Identify candidates now; you'll ask formally in March or April. Popular teachers fill up quickly, so having your picks ready early helps!

Identify recommender teachers

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

What Makes a Strong Recommender?

Selection Tips

Common App Requirements

Timeline

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Identify recommender teachers

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

What Makes a Strong Recommender?

Selection Tips

Common App Requirements

Timeline

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks