College Planning

• Start building a relationship with your guidance counselor and maintain it throughout high school.

• Explore extracurricular activities, such as clubs, community service, team sports, and other in- or out-of-school opportunities, to develop your interests (collectively called “extracurricular activities”).

• Create a log to track all of your extracurricular activities, summer experiences, and honors or achievements throughout high school.

• Develop a flexible course plan that gradually increases in rigor as you progress through high school.

• Enroll in more rigorous or challenging classes as appropriate, keeping in mind the need to build on them in 11th and 12th grades.

• Continue to explore and engage in extracurricular activities that are meaningful to you.

• Attend any meetings at your school related to the college application process.

• Develop a tentative timeline for taking the ACT/SAT.

• Begin a family dialogue on college financing.

• Start exploring different types of colleges and available options.

• Finalize your 11th-grade course schedule (including AP classes, if appropriate).

• If your summer schedule allows, visit a few colleges to get a feel for campus life.

• Discuss your college goals and needs with your school counselor and family.

• Build relationships with teachers who may write your letters of recommendation (LoRs).

• Attend college planning meetings, presentations by school representatives, and local college fairs.

• Stay actively involved in meaningful extracurricular activities and seek leadership or growth opportunities.

• Research and visit colleges, either in person or virtually.

• Follow (or adjust, if necessary) your ACT/SAT preparation timeline.

• Pursue enriching summer experiences that reflect your values and interests.

• Finalize your 12th-grade course schedule (including AP classes, if appropriate).

• Hone in on your passion and explore potential career paths.

11th Grade Summer

• Participate in a meaningful summer experience that aligns with your interests or goals.

• Continue researching and visiting colleges, either in person or virtually.

• Refine your college list based on your research and visits.

• Begin and work on your college applications.

• Start drafting and refining your personal statement.

• Complete as many application supplements as possible.

12th Grade - 1st Semester

• Maintain strong grades—your senior year performance matters too!

• Finalize all applications, personal statements, and supplements.

• Complete any required testing and decide if you will apply test-optional (for relevant schools).

• Complete your college visits, either in person or virtually.

• Finalize your college list, focusing on schools that are a good personal fit and academic match.

• Communicate your final college list to your school counselor and ensure your school organizer (e.g., Naviance, SchoolLinks) is up to date.

• Confirm that all letters of recommendation are complete, your transcript is correct, and everything is received by the schools on your list.

• If applicable, decide whether you are applying Early Decision or Early Action.

• Complete and submit college applications—including essays and supplements—at least two weeks before the deadlines, even for regular decision schools.

• Check your email regularly for updates from colleges and set up admissions portals for each school.

• Submit your FAFSA (and CSS Profile, if required).

12th Grade - 2nd Semester

• If admitted through Early Decision, withdraw all other applications.

• If deferred from Early Action or Early Decision, respond appropriately based on the college’s instructions.

• Conduct post-application campus visits as needed after receiving decisions.

• Choose which school to attend (weighing financial packages as needed) and decline all other admissions offers.

• Stay on top of all communications from colleges for admitted students.

• Write thank-you notes to your school counselor and teachers who wrote recommendation letters.

• Set up school portals and complete all new student forms required by your chosen college.