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.

Review family finances - Junior Year College Admission

Overview

Financial aid applications are due January-February for many schools. Getting organized now makes the process much smoother for everyone!

Documents to Gather

2024 federal tax returns (1040) for both parents
W-2 forms from all employers
Records of untaxed income (child support, housing allowances, etc.)
Current bank statements (checking, savings)
Investment account statements
Business/farm records if applicable
Home value estimate (for CSS Profile)

Family Discussion Topics

What's our realistic budget for college?
Are we willing to take out loans? If so, how much?
Are there special circumstances to report (job loss, medical bills, divorce)?

FSA ID Reminder

If you haven't already, both student AND parent need to create separate FSA IDs at studentaid.gov. Verification takes 1-3 days.

Overview

Financial aid applications are due January-February for many schools. Getting organized now makes the process much smoother for everyone!

Documents to Gather

2024 federal tax returns (1040) for both parents
W-2 forms from all employers
Records of untaxed income (child support, housing allowances, etc.)
Current bank statements (checking, savings)
Investment account statements
Business/farm records if applicable
Home value estimate (for CSS Profile)

Family Discussion Topics

What's our realistic budget for college?
Are we willing to take out loans? If so, how much?
Are there special circumstances to report (job loss, medical bills, divorce)?

FSA ID Reminder

If you haven't already, both student AND parent need to create separate FSA IDs at studentaid.gov. Verification takes 1-3 days.

Review family finances

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Documents to Gather

Family Discussion Topics

FSA ID Reminder

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Review family finances

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Documents to Gather

Family Discussion Topics

FSA ID Reminder

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks