Timeline for Juniors
We know it seems as though you have a whole year to apply to college, but it's really only about nine months away as you want to apply by November to maximum merit aid. Here's a timeline and checklist of what you should be doing and when you should be doing it (and you can download it here for your use):
Spring, Junior year - Research and Preparation
Research colleges and sign up for tours
List extracurricular activities and start building a resume
Brainstorm personal statement
Catalogue supplemental materials
Sit for at least one, if not two, SAT/ACT tests
Sign up for college emails and read them!
Plan summer activities
Brainstorm the Common Application prompts
Visual artists: Develop one work every two/three weeks for a total of 20-25 pieces by October senior year
Film students: Collaborate with others, learn different filmmaking roles, write short screenplays, make short movies
Acting students: Get comfortable performing on Zoom, read plays, start thinking about monologues
Music students: Get comfortable performing on Zoom, video all performances, research programs and professors, start signing up for lessons with them
Clean up your personal social media and develop your creative social media accounts
Select teachers for recommendations and talk to them BEFORE SCHOOL IS OUT FOR THE SUMMER
Summer, Junior year - College visits and fine tuning
Visit colleges
Take final SAT/ACT
Start the Common Application and complete demographic, academics, extracurricular activities sections
Finalize college list
Brainstorm and write supplemental essays
Prepare supplemental creative materials
Continue to open and read emails from schools to which you are applying, follow their social media accounts and comment on their posts
Organize ALL your application requirements (essay prompts, required number of recommendations, creative material requirements) and calendar their due dates
Fall, Senior year - Put all the pieces together
Focus on academics
Finalize college list and decide schools for Early Action and Early Decision applications
Confirm letters of recommendation
Request transcripts
Finalize personal essay
Finalize supplemental essays
Complete/submit supplemental creative materials
Complete the FAFSA and CSS (if needed by school)
Submit Early Decision and Early Action applications
Winter/Spring, Senior year: Congratulations, you're in the home stretch
Send letters of continuing interest (for deferred decisions)
Rescind applications if accepted Early Decision
Analyze acceptances and compare schools
Attend Accepted Students Days
Submit deposit by May 1
Learn how we can help your student stay organized and focused for all steps of their college application process. Set a meeting today, here's our calendar.