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College planning is exciting. It’s also an experience that requires planning. A college planning schedule can help guide you on what to do and when as you plan everything from visiting colleges, taking college admission tests, submitting applications, applying for financial aid, and more.

You’ll start applying to colleges in the fall of your senior year of high school. But don’t put off your college planning until the last minute. Your senior year of high school may be a few years away, but there are things you can start to do now that will help prepare you for success when the time comes for you to start submitting your college applications.

This college planning schedule is a suggested timeline with steps designed to help you navigate the college planning process. Feel free to personalize this timeline around your specific considerations, which might include:

  • Athletics: If you play sports, you’ll need to take into account your game and practice schedules. This can impact college visits during the school year and you’ll need to adjust when you can fit campus tours and visits into your schedule. For example, your fall sports season will impact your availability to schedule campus visits in the fall of your junior or senior years. If you’re interested in pursuing athletics in college, athletic coaches like students they have relationships with and trust. Proactive introductory communications are important. These should begin early in your junior year.
  • Performing Arts: If you are involved in the performing arts, such as band, theater, orchestra, dance, or other performing arts, you’ll need to take into account your rehearsal and performance schedules. This can impact college visits and you’ll need to adjust your schedule accordingly.

Important Milestones:

  • Have the SAT/ACT score that you want by spring of your junior year.
  • Have all visits to your top schools completed by the summer before your senior year.
  • Have your top three schools identified by September of your senior year.
  • If you are applying early decision, have all of the application materials completed by October 1st of your senior year.

Top-down view of two people looking at two computer monitors.

College Planning in Each Year of High School

Fall

  • Meet with your school counselor
    • Talk about what types of classes you like to take and how these can help prepare you for college.
  • Get involved
    • Now’s the time to start exploring clubs or student organizations that interest you most.

Spring

  • Start tracking your accomplishments.

September

  • Register to take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
    • Not only is this good practice for the SAT, your scores may meet requirements to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program and compete for national recognition and college scholarships.

October

  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT.

July/August

  • Register for an SAT prep class or pick up an SAT testing guidebook to begin preparing for the exam.
  • Compile a list of 10-15 schools that you are interested in exploring or potentially visiting. Sort your list by your top 5, middle 5, last 5.
  • Start exploring the websites of your top 5 schools. Consider visiting each (in person or virtually) in the fall of your junior year.

September

  • Register for the November SAT
  • Visit two of the schools on your top 5 list.
  • If you plan to pursue athletics in college, be sure to request meetings with the athletic coaches at the schools you plan to visit.
  • Obtain a letter of reference from your athletic coach highlighting your strengths and potential as a college athlete.

October

  • Continue to prepare for the SAT.
  • Visit one of the schools on your top 5 list.

November

  • Take the SAT.

December

  • Decide on whether you will prepare and take the ACT.
  • Revisit your top 15 list and re-order the list (if needed)

January

  • Depending on your November SAT scores, register for the March SAT

February

  • Meet the Registration deadline for the March SAT exam.

March

  • Take the March SAT Exam

May

  • Get alumni interviews scheduled (if needed)

June

  • Reach out to athletic coaches at all of the colleges and universities in your top 10 list. 
  • Visit 2 of the remaining schools at the top of your list.

July

  • Visit 2 of the remaining schools at the top of your list.

August

  • Make second visit(s) to top school(s) and meet with appropriate people (e.g., coaches, admissions counselors, heads of academic programs, etc.).
  • Start noting application deadlines for Early Decision and Regular Decision.

September

  • Decide on Early Decision I application school (if applying Early Decision)
  • Decide on Early Decision II application school (if Early Decision II is an option)
  • Prepare application materials for all Regular Decision application deadlines.
  • Write an email to your guidance counselor making them aware of your Early Decision target date, your other Early Admission applications, and request a recommendation.  Make some suggestions on areas that you would like your guidance counselor to highlight. Remember, your counselor is also preparing recommendations and academic transcripts for your classmates, so communicate early and often about deadlines.
  • Write emails to teachers kindly requesting a recommendation. In your email make suggestions to things you would like them to highlight about you as a student.

October

  • Finalize all college essays, personal statements, and writing requirements for Early Decision I schools.
  • Submit your Early Decision I application and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

November

  • Establish your Plan B:
    • Will I apply to a school that offers Early Decision II?
    • Finalize list of schools you will apply to if your Early Decision application is not accepted. 
    • Determine if there are additional writing requirements or application materials for the remaining schools on your list.

December

  • Early Decision notifications are made in early December, so watch your email for an admission decision.

January

  • If you are not accepted for Early Decision, submit application materials for your final list of schools.

March/April

  • Regular Decision notifications are made throughout the spring, so watch your email for admission decisions.

April/May

  • Select a school to attend and formalize your choice with your admission deposit.

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