Timeline for the College Application Process
We have created the most comprehensive timeline available. Scroll to the year that applies to you or get your exact year in “Student Resources.” Some of our resource links are repeated because they help in several categories and apply for more than one year. Go here for over 100 resources:
+100 College Flight Plan Resources
FRESHMAN YEAR
Academic Preparation
- Practice good study habits and work hard to keep your GPA high. You do not want to spend the next three years trying to improve your poor freshman-year grades.
- Get help from tutors in classes where you are struggling. Catch it early, especially in math and foreign languages.
- Check with your college counselor to ensure you meet all the college-bound requirements. Your school’s college counselor has many students to help prepare for the application process. Don’t wait for them to come to you. The national student-to-counselor ratio is 424:1, and in California, it is 900:1. The recommended ratio is 200:1.
- If you plan to play a sport in college, research the requirements of the NCAA.
- Research the practice PSAT that will take place in October of your sophomore year. Take a practice test before to know what to expect. This test is vital to prepare for the actual PSAT in your junior year, which can qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
- Practice taking the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. Here are the books and courses we recommend.
- Ask your counselor if you qualify to take AP (Advanced Placement) courses.
Personal Development
- Keep all your social media accounts positive and clean. Expect college admissions officers to look you up in the future.
- Develop a plan to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. Define your values and purpose in life. 87% of 17 to 29-year-olds say they have no purpose. Find yours!
- Improve your time management skills and eliminate bad habits. Time management is one of the main struggles of first-year college students. The sooner you perfect your skills, the better.
- Spend your summers productively. Apply for summer internships, job shadowing, college camps, etc. Ask professionals about their jobs. Do they like what they do? How much education is required? Ask if you can shadow them for a few days sometime in the future.
- Take career assessments to narrow the areas that fit your skills.
- Order thank-you notes with your full name on them. Develop the skill of writing thank-yous to show gratitude: a much-admired trait.
Extracurricular Pursuits
- Get involved in extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities that fit your strengths and interests. Colleges look for students with dedicated interests in a few activities rather than surface interests in many.
- Work with friends to develop entrepreneurial endeavors and find volunteer opportunities that meet a need in your community or another location. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate or time-consuming.
Application Awareness
- Keep good records in a safe place of activities, jobs, awards, honors, etc. Start from the summer before your freshman year. Keep an activities journal.
- Visit universities in your area and places you travel to over the summer.
- Get to know your teachers and the faculty. You will be asking some of them to write recommendation letters for your college applications, so they need to know you.
Financial Awareness
- Talk with your parents about college funding. Create a plan. Get a job and save money, if necessary. Explore possible scholarship opportunities.
Finish your year strong and sign up for challenging courses for your sophomore year.
Good for you for starting this process early. You will see some of these suggestions repeated in this full timeline
for those who did not begin preparing in freshman year.
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Academic Prep and Goals
- Pursue a quality curriculum and improve your study habits. Work hard to keep your GPA high. Your grades and test scores give you permission to play in your college application. Your extracurricular activities and essays will help you get across the finish line.
- Get help from tutors in classes where you are struggling. Catch it early, especially in math and foreign language.
- Meet with your college counselor to ensure you are on the right track with your courses for entrance requirements into college. Remember: Do not depend on your school college counselor to totally prepare you for the college application process. If you need answers, be the squeaky wheel. The national student-to-counselor ratio is 424:1, and in California, it is 900:1. The recommended ratio is 200:1. Use other resources in addition, if possible.
- Register for the practice PSAT that takes place in October. Take several practice tests before you go to know what to expect. This test is vital to prepare for the actual PSAT in your junior year, which can qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
- Meet with your counselor to ask about AP (Advanced Placement) and Honors courses you should take.
- Take AP subject exams after completing each course while the information is fresh in your mind.
- If you still plan to play a sport in college, make sure you meet the NCAA requirements. Contact coaches of the schools you want to attend. It is essential to let them know you are very interested in their schools. Research the requirements of the NCAA.
- Get help EARLY from professionals for SAT and ACT preparation. There are specific strategies to follow when taking these tests. Take as many practice tests as possible to learn where you need to improve. Plan which dates you will take the SAT or ACT. Register before the deadlines to avoid late fees.
Personal Development
- Keep all your social media accounts positive and clean. Expect college admissions officers to look you up.
- Stick with your plan to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. Take assessments to clarify them. Live by your values and pursue your purpose in life. College admissions officers are looking for students who know what they stand for and have a plan for their lives.
- Continue to improve your time management skills and break bad habits. (Time management is one of the main struggles of college freshmen.) Perfect this sooner rather than later.
- Take career assessments to narrow in on areas that fit your skills.
- Take assessments to determine what you want your college experience to be. What type of university would you like to attend?
- Ask professionals about their jobs. Do they like what they do? How much education is required? Ask if you can shadow them for a few days sometime in the future.
- Order personalized note cards to send thank-you notes during the next few years. Develop the skill of writing thank-yous to show gratitude: a much-admired trait.
Extracurricular Goals
- Stay involved in extracurricular activities. Strive for leadership positions in the activities that best suit you. Remember: Colleges are looking for a student with a dedicated interest in a few specific activities rather than a surface interest in many.
- Work with friends to develop entrepreneurial endeavors and find volunteer opportunities that meet a need in your community or another location. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate or time-consuming.
- Plan ahead for your summer activities. Don’t wait until the last minute or many opportunities will be lost. Apply for summer internships, job shadowing, college camps, etc.
Application Readiness
- Set up an email account with your full name on it to be used for all college-related correspondence.
- Form a list of colleges you think you might be interested in attending. 10-20 schools.
- Visit universities in your area and places you travel to during breaks or for sports competitions.
- Get contact information from each tour guide, admissions person, professor, or coach that you meet during your visit.
- Keep a journal with all the details of your visits to compare them later.
- Send hand-written thank-you notes on personalized stationery (a rare effort these days) to those who helped you better understand the university.
- Refer to your visit details in your application essays using the notes in your journal.
- Research the universities you cannot visit.
- Attend college fairs and ask interesting questions to the representatives.
- Continue to record all activities, jobs, awards, honors, etc. Keep them in a safe place to use for college, scholarship, and job applications.
- Strengthen your relationships with teachers and faculty. You will be asking some of them to write recommendation letters for your applications, so they need to know you.
Financial Goals
- Talk with your parents about college funding. Create a plan. Get a job and save money, if necessary. Continue to explore possible scholarship opportunities. Find professionals who can help in these areas.
Finish your year strong and sign up for challenging courses for junior year.
JUNIOR YEAR
Academic Achievement
- Pursue a quality curriculum with AP and Honors courses. Work hard to earn competitive grades. The quality of your curriculum and your GPA are the first two qualifications universities require to be considered for admission. Your extracurricular activities and your essays will be what can keep you in the “yes” pile.
- Study for and take the PSAT (in October), which qualifies students for National Merit Scholarships. Ask your counselor for dates if you don’t have them.
- Get help EARLY from professionals for SAT and ACT preparation. There are specific strategies to follow when taking these tests. Take as many practice tests as possible to learn where you need to improve. Plan which dates you will take the SAT or ACT. Register before the deadlines to avoid late fees.
- If you are sure about your college list, you can use the college codes to send your results directly to the universities when you register. Become knowledgeable about the Super Score option first.
- Meet with your counselor to ask about AP (Advanced Placement) and Honors courses you should take.
- Take AP subject tests after completing each course while the information is fresh in your brain.
- Schedule meetings with your college counselor, but remember, he is so busy. You must take charge of this application process and be proactive in getting answers to your questions. (The national student-to-counselor ratio is 424:1, and in California, it is 900:1. The recommended ratio is 200:1.) Get outside help, if possible.
- If you still plan to play a sport in college, make sure you meet the NCAA requirements. Contact coaches of the schools you want to attend. It is essential to let them know you are very interested in their school. Research the requirements of the NCAA.
Personal Development
- Keep all your social media accounts positive and clean. Expect college admissions officers to look you up.
- Take more assessments to narrow in on the careers you will pursue.
- Stick with your plan to develop your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. Take assessments to clarify them. Live by your values and pursue your purpose in life. College admissions officers are looking for students who know what they stand for and have a plan for their lives.
- Hone your time management skills and eliminate bad habits. (Time management is one of the main struggles of college freshmen.)
- Ask professionals about their jobs. Do they like what they do? How much education is required? Ask if you can shadow them for a few days sometime in the future.
- If you haven’t done so already, order personalized note cards to send thank-you notes during the next few years. Develop the skill of writing thank-yous to show gratitude: a much-admired trait.
Extracurricular Activities
- Stay involved in extracurricular activities. Strive for leadership positions in the activities that best suit you. Remember: Colleges are looking for a student with a dedicated interest in a few specific activities rather than a surface interest in many.
- Work with friends to develop entrepreneurial endeavors and find volunteer opportunities to meet a need in your community or another location. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate or time-consuming.
- Plan ahead for your summer activities. Don’t wait until the last minute or many opportunities will be lost. Look for college programs in the areas you want to study. Apply for summer internships, job shadowing, college camps, etc. Some will require essays.
Application Prep
- Set up an email account with your full name on it to be used for all college-related correspondence.
- Attend college fairs and ask interesting questions to the representatives.
- Start to consolidate your college list. Narrow your list down to 10-15 schools with the majors you want to study.
- Visit universities in your area and places you might be vacationing over the summer or for sports competitions. Ask intelligent questions to show your interest in the school.
- Get contact information from each tour guide, admissions person, professor, or coach that you meet during your visit.
- Keep a journal with all the details of your visits to compare them later.
- Send hand-written thank-you notes on personalized stationery (a rare effort these days) to those who helped you better understand the university.
- Refer to your visit details in your application essays using the notes in your journal.
- Research the universities you cannot visit.
- Keep recording any activities, jobs, awards, honors, etc. Keep them in a safe place to use for college, scholarship, and job applications.
- Strengthen your relationships with teachers and faculty. You will be asking some of them to write recommendation letters for your applications next year, so they need to know you.
- Brainstorm ideas for your 650-word Personal Statement for the Common Applications. Start writing your Personal Statement at the end of your junior year and finish by August 1. This gives you time to focus on the supplemental essays many universities require.
- Utilize the college application software your high school uses but don’t rely on it exclusively.
Financial Plan
- Determine the total cost of attending each of the colleges. (Include tuition, books, lodging, and travel.) You can usually find this on the colleges’ websites.
- Talk with your parents about college funding. Create a plan. Get a job and save money, if necessary. Continue to explore possible scholarship opportunities. Find professionals who can help in these areas.
Finish your year strong and sign up for challenging courses for senior year.
SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR
Academic Achievement
- Get help EARLY from professionals for SAT and ACT preparation. There are specific strategies to follow when taking these tests. Take as many practice tests as possible to learn where you need to improve. Plan which dates you will take the SAT or ACT. Register before the deadlines to avoid late fees.
- If you are sure about your college list, you can use the college codes to send your results directly to the universities when you register. Become knowledgeable about the Super Score option first.
- If you still plan to play a sport in college, make sure you meet the NCAA requirements. Contact coaches of the schools you want to attend. It is essential to let them know you are very interested in their school. You will still have to apply and be accepted by the university. Research the requirement of the NCAA.
Personal Development
- Stick with your plan to develop your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. Take assessments to clarify them. Live by your values and pursue your purpose in life. College admissions officers are looking for students who know what they stand for and have a plan for their lives.
- Make decisions about the majors that best fit your natural abilities and interests.
- Be sure to keep all your social media posts positive and appropriate. Expect admissions officers to take a look at them when considering your attendance.
- Hone your time management skills and other positive habits. (Time management is one of the main struggles of college freshmen.)
- Ask professionals about their jobs. Do they like what they do? How much education is required? Ask if you can shadow them for a few days sometime in the future.
- Hopefully, you have ordered personalized note cards to send thank-you notes. Develop the skill of writing thank-yous to show gratitude: a much-admired trait.
Extracurricular Leadership
- Strive for leadership positions in the activities that best suit you. Remember: Colleges are looking for a student with a dedicated interest in a few specific activities rather than a surface interest in many.
- Work with friends to develop entrepreneurial endeavors and find volunteer opportunities to meet a need in your community or another location. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate or time-consuming.
Application Success
Most applications are available to complete starting August 1st. Develop a plan for how and when you will get this application work completed. It takes more time than you think to do it correctly and get a compelling application out the door. Seek guidance in the areas where you need it. +100 College Flight Plan Resources
- Set up an email account with your full name on it to be used for all college-related correspondence.
- Keep all your social media accounts positive and clean. Colleges will research you.
- Finalize your college list. Narrow your list down to 8-10 schools with your major and the qualities you are looking for in a school. Include some more selective schools and a few safety schools.
- Send your ACT or SAT scores to the colleges on your list per their instructions if you did not include them when registering for the test. Review Superscore options before you send them.
- Create your application accounts. The Common App is accepted by over 900 universities. Students applying to a University of California school must open a UC account. Some universities require students to apply on their websites.
- Write your 650-word Personal Statement for the Common Application. Create your essays in Google Docs and cut and paste them into your applications.
- If you are applying to the University of California schools, choose which 4 of the 8 Person Insight prompts you would like to answer. Write the four 350-word essays required. You will be able to adjust some of these essays to fit the supplemental essay prompts from other universities.
- Write your 650-word essay for the Coalition Application if you are using it.
- Create a document with detailed descriptions of your activities, jobs, awards, honors, etc. Describe your leadership roles in each activity. This will make it easier when you have to fill in your applications. Have someone proofread your descriptions before you enter them.
- Common App Activities Section only allows 150 characters (not words) to describe each activity, including what you accomplished and any recognition you received.
- UC Activities Section allows more characters (250-350). It will require you to go into more detail about how you earned an award, program descriptions, your responsibilities, your experience, description of your leadership, etc.
- Create a simple resume summarizing your high school accomplishments and activities. You will use this for job searches, summer pursuits, and people who recommend you.
- Make a list of the people you would like to write Letters of Recommendation for you. Prepare a packet for each one that contains your resume, unofficial transcript, and a description of your strengths, values, goals, purpose, and plans for the future. Don’t forget to thank them for doing this for you.
- Visit universities in your area and places you might be vacationing over the summer or for sports competitions. Ask intelligent questions to show your interest in the school.
- Get contact information from each tour guide, admissions person, professor, or coach that you meet during your visit.
- Keep a journal with all the details of your visits to compare them later.
- Send hand-written thank-you notes on personalized stationery (a rare effort these days) to those who helped you better understand the university.
- Refer to your visit details in your application essays using the notes in your journal.
- Research the universities you cannot visit.
- Call the admissions offices of your universities to request an interview with alumni in your area. Immediately send thank-you notes to interviewers. Same day! You will stand out from the other candidates if you make this effort.
- Call the admissions office with well-thought-out questions. This will demonstrate your interest, and records of these calls will go into your file.
- Attend college fairs and ask interesting questions to the representatives.
Financial Arrangements
- Determine the total cost of attending each of the colleges. (Include tuition, books, lodging, and travel.) You can usually find this on the colleges’ websites.
- Get all the FAFSA information together to make it simple to fill out the form on October 1st.
- Continue to find more scholarships. Most will require you to write an essay. Find professionals who can help in these areas. Search for student loans if necessary.
Get as much accomplished with your application process before
senior year begins. It will lessen your stress.
SENIOR YEAR (Review the “SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR” timeline first)
Academic Success
- Keep pursuing academic excellence. Admissions officers will be looking at how you perform during your senior year.
- Study for and retake the SAT or ACT if you are not satisfied with your previous scores.
- Take AP subject tests after completing each course while the information is fresh in your brain.
- If you still plan to play a sport in college, make sure you meet the NCAA requirements. Contact coaches of the schools you want to attend. It is essential to let them know you are very interested in their school. Even if they give you a verbal commitment or Letter of Intent, you will still have to apply and be accepted by the university. Go on Official Visits in the Fall.
Personal Development
- Stick with your plan to develop your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. Take assessments to clarify them. Live by your values and pursue your purpose in life. College admissions officers are looking for students who know what they stand for and have a plan for their lives. Speak about your unique characteristics during college interviews.
- Be sure to keep all your social media posts positive and appropriate. Admissions officers may take a look at them when considering your attendance.
- Hone your time management skills and other positive habits. Get prepared for success in life. This is not a dress rehearsal.
- Ask professionals about their jobs. Do they like what they do? How much education is required? Ask if you can shadow them for a few days sometime in the future.
Extracurricular Success
- Stay involved in extracurricular activities. Strive for leadership positions in the activities that best suit you. Remember: Colleges are looking for a student with a dedicated interest in a few specific activities rather than a surface interest in many.
- Work with friends to develop entrepreneurial endeavors and find volunteer opportunities to meet a need in your community or another location. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate or time-consuming. Staying involved will be very helpful if you are waitlist by a school. They will ask you to answer: “What have you been doing since you applied?”
- Plan ahead for your summer activities following your senior year. Don’t wait until the last minute or many opportunities will be lost. Look for college programs in the areas you want to study. Apply for summer internships, job shadowing, and jobs.
Application Success
- Attend college fairs and ask interesting questions to the representatives.
- Visit universities in your area and places you might be traveling to in the Fall. Ask intelligent questions to show your interest in the school.
- Get contact information from each tour guide, admissions person, professor, or coach that you meet during your visit.
- Keep a journal with all the details of all your visits to compare them later.
- Send hand-written thank-you notes on personalized stationery (a rare effort these days) to those who helped you better understand the university.
- Refer to these visits in great detail in your essays using the notes in your journal.
- Research the universities you cannot visit.
- Call the admissions offices of your universities to request interviews with alumni in your area. Send thank-you notes to the interviewers immediately following. Same day! This will help you stand out from the other candidates.
- Call the admissions office with well-thought-out questions. This will demonstrate your interest, and records of these calls will go into your file.
- Make decisions about the majors that best fit your natural abilities and interests.
- If you have not done so already, create your application accounts. Over 1000 schools accept the Common App. Students applying to a University of California school must open a UC account. Some universities require students to apply on their websites.
- Review and finalize your college list and record the deadlines for applications to be submitted. Remember: the deadline is the LAST day to submit an application. Shoot for submitting at least two weeks before the deadline.
- If you plan to do Early Decision (ED: binding) or Early Action (EA: non-binding), be aware of the earlier deadlines (usually November 1st.) If you are accepted for ED, you must withdraw your applications from all other schools. If deferred ED or EA, follow their instructions.
- Complete all the general information on your applications.
- Review all the supplemental essays required by your universities. Put the prompts into a Google Doc along with the word limit and deadline. Create your essays on the docs and cut and paste them into your applications. Some supplemental prompts are similar and may be adjusted to fit more than one school. Write your supplemental essays in early September. Seek help and have others proofread your work.
- Remind and thank the people who are writing your Letters of Recommendation. A hand-written thank you note will speak volumes about you.
- Send your ACT or SAT scores to the colleges on your list per their instructions if you did not include them when registering for the test. Review Superscore options before you send them.
- Create portal accounts for each college to check your application status.
- If a university waitlists you, you may be required to write a short essay stating what you have accomplished since submitting your application. Follow the exact instructions the university gives you. The waitlist is not a bad thing. It means you have the qualifications needed, but their first-round acceptances have been handed out, and they are waiting for those responses. There is still hope!
- Write appeal letters to universities that rejected your application if you are still interested. Follow the specific instructions the school gives on what they will accept.
Financial Arrangements
- Determine the total cost of attending each of your colleges, including tuition, books, lodging, personal expenses, and travel. This info can usually be found on the colleges’ websites.
- Meet with your counselor to get a fee waiver if you cannot afford the application fees. It averages about $50 per application, but some can be as high as $90.
- Fill out and submit the FAFSA, which is available on October 1 and may be due as early as November 1. If necessary, fill out the CSS Profile.
- Apply for financial aid well before the deadlines. The schools have limited funds, so applying early can make a difference. Apply for scholarships by the deadlines. Most will require you to write an essay. Investigate college loan options. Find professionals who can help in this area.
- Compare the financial aid offered by each college. Call the university with questions.
Before You Make the Big Decision
- Review all acceptance packages.
- Review financial aid packages.
- Make your decision by May 1 if you are not doing Early Decision.
After You Make the Big Decision
- Send an acceptance letter with a tuition deposit before the deadline.
- Graciously inform the other colleges of your decision not to accept their offers.
- Don’t delay submitting your housing application for schools that do not guarantee a room. Research other housing options if necessary.
- Sign up for orientation sessions at your college.
- Ask your high school to send your final transcript to the college you choose.
- Visit your college if you have not already.
- Send your AP Exam scores to the college you choose after receiving them in July.
- Write thank-you notes to all of your supporters. You could not have done this without them! An attitude of gratitude will get you far.
- Prepare for college life as much as possible. First-Year College Life Survival Books
Finish the year strong and celebrate a job well done!!
CONGRATULATIONS!
