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.

Submit RSI application - Junior Year College Admission

Overview

The Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT is one of the most prestigious summer programs for STEM students. If you're applying, here's what you need to know!

Program Details

Duration: 6 weeks at MIT
Cost: Completely free
Acceptance rate: ~3% (~80 selected from ~3,000 applicants)
Deadline: Approximately January 8, 2026 (confirm at cee.org)

Application Components

Demographic information
Academic transcript
Test scores (PSAT, SAT, or ACT)
3 essays about STEM interests and experiences
Extracurricular activities list
Two recommendations (math/science teachers)

Essay Tips

Be specific about YOUR research interests and experiences
Show depth, not breadth
Demonstrate independent exploration beyond school requirements
Explain what makes you uniquely suited for this opportunity

Who Gets In

Students with exceptional STEM achievements - research experience, olympiad performance, significant independent projects, or publications. Strong academics alone typically aren't enough.

If Not Selected

RSI is extremely competitive - rejection is completely normal and says nothing about your potential! Other excellent alternatives include SSP, COSMOS, MOSTEC, or local research opportunities.

Overview

The Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT is one of the most prestigious summer programs for STEM students. If you're applying, here's what you need to know!

Program Details

Duration: 6 weeks at MIT
Cost: Completely free
Acceptance rate: ~3% (~80 selected from ~3,000 applicants)
Deadline: Approximately January 8, 2026 (confirm at cee.org)

Application Components

Demographic information
Academic transcript
Test scores (PSAT, SAT, or ACT)
3 essays about STEM interests and experiences
Extracurricular activities list
Two recommendations (math/science teachers)

Essay Tips

Be specific about YOUR research interests and experiences
Show depth, not breadth
Demonstrate independent exploration beyond school requirements
Explain what makes you uniquely suited for this opportunity

Who Gets In

Students with exceptional STEM achievements - research experience, olympiad performance, significant independent projects, or publications. Strong academics alone typically aren't enough.

If Not Selected

RSI is extremely competitive - rejection is completely normal and says nothing about your potential! Other excellent alternatives include SSP, COSMOS, MOSTEC, or local research opportunities.

Submit RSI application

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Program Details

Application Components

Essay Tips

Who Gets In

If Not Selected

Helpful Resources

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Submit RSI application

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Program Details

Application Components

Essay Tips

Who Gets In

If Not Selected

Helpful Resources

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks