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.

Research competitive summer programs - Sophomore Year College Admission

Overview

The most selective summer programs have December-March deadlines. Researching now gives you time to prepare strong applications!

Programs with December-March Deadlines

STEM-Focused

| Program | Deadline | Details | |---------|----------|---------| | RSI (MIT) | ~Dec 10 | Free, 6 weeks at MIT, ~5% acceptance | | SSP | ~Feb 19 | Astronomy/Biochem, $9,800 (aid available) | | COSMOS (UC) | ~Feb 6 | CA residents, ~$5,500 (aid available) | | Stanford SIMR | ~Feb 21 | Medical research, free with stipend | | MITES/MOSTEC | ~Feb 1 | Free, for underrepresented students |

Humanities-Focused

| Program | Deadline | Details | |---------|----------|---------| | TASP (Telluride) | ~Dec 3 | Free, humanities seminars, ~3% acceptance | | Governor's Schools | Varies by state | Often free, January deadlines |

What Applications Typically Require

Transcript
Test scores (if available)
1-2 teacher recommendations
Essays (usually 1-3)
Activities list

Research Checklist

For each program you're interested in:

☐ Check eligibility requirements
☐ Note application deadline
☐ List required materials
☐ Review essay prompts
☐ Identify potential recommenders

Overview

The most selective summer programs have December-March deadlines. Researching now gives you time to prepare strong applications!

Programs with December-March Deadlines

STEM-Focused

Humanities-Focused

What Applications Typically Require

Transcript
Test scores (if available)
1-2 teacher recommendations
Essays (usually 1-3)
Activities list

Research Checklist

For each program you're interested in:

☐ Check eligibility requirements
☐ Note application deadline
☐ List required materials
☐ Review essay prompts
☐ Identify potential recommenders

Research competitive summer programs

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Programs with December-March Deadlines

STEM-Focused

Humanities-Focused

What Applications Typically Require

Research Checklist

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Research competitive summer programs

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Programs with December-March Deadlines

STEM-Focused

Humanities-Focused

What Applications Typically Require

Research Checklist

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks