A Parent & Student Timeline for Choosing & Applying to College

When it comes to college applications, it’s no secret that starting early can help make the entire process more manageable — but how early do you actually need to start? Whether you’ve been thinking about college or not, you’ve actually been preparing for your college applications since freshman year. Every class you’ve taken, extracurricular activity you’ve joined, and challenge you’ve faced has laid the groundwork for a strong, well-rounded application.

While you can’t submit applications until the fall of your senior year, you can set yourself up for success much sooner. Here’s a timeline to help you navigate the college admissions process throughout your 9th-12th grade years.

9th/10th Grade

Use the first half of high school for exploration. As you try different classes and discover new interests and passions, college may be the furthest thing from your mind. However, familiarizing yourself with the college application process can help you feel more prepared as an upperclassman.

• Research your school’s courses. Explore required, advanced, and elective classes. Talk to a guidance counselor about your four-year plan to ensure you meet all graduation requirements. Complete any prerequisites for advanced honors or AP courses in your junior or senior year.
• Do extracurriculars. Sign up for school clubs, look into volunteer opportunities, try out for sports teams, or work on a skill or hobby. 
• Get to know your school counselor. Most colleges require letters of recommendation from your guidance counselor, so start building a relationship by 10th grade. Ask them about your school’s college application resources.
• Develop good study habits and keep your grades up. While you may not have much flexibility in choosing some of your classes, you can still strengthen your work ethic, improve your study habits, actively engage in class and work toward earning good grades.
• Begin researching potential colleges. Even without a clear preference, exploring options can help you refine your choices when you're ready to apply. During your search, you might even find a fun summer program for a sneak preview of college life.
• Get involved in summer opportunities aligned with your interests. Maximize your summer breaks with programs, internships, classes, and other extracurriculars. Staying involved will make it easier to jump back into classes come fall, and you’ll have more to share in your college essays.

11th Grade

By junior year, start zeroing in on your goals. You probably have a good sense of your strengths and weaknesses, topics or classes that spark your curiosity, and activities you love. Double down on the foundation built in 9th and 10th grade by setting and sticking to academic and personal goals.

• Enroll in more challenging courses. Honors and AP courses look great on your transcript and can make transitioning to college-level coursework much easier. If you take any AP tests and earn a high enough grade, your college could award credit and save you some money.
• Take the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT. The PSAT helps identify the areas or skills needing improvement as you prep for the SAT or ACT. Taking the PSAT during the fall of your junior year also qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Take the SAT or ACT in the spring of 11th grade, so you have plenty of time to study and retest later, if necessary.
• Become a leader in your extracurriculars. Colleges seek students with demonstrated leadership experience in clubs, sports, or student groups. Taking on more responsibility fosters personal growth and strengthens your apps.
• Keep your school counselor on your goals and progress. Connect with your counselor periodically to keep them in the loop. Use meetings to discuss specific college goals, questions about the application process, or concerns about your grades.
• Build relationships with teachers and potential recommenders. Many students ask for letters of recommendation from their junior-year teachers. Participate in class and cultivate personal relationships with your favorite teachers — especially those teaching classes related to a potential major.
• Keep refining your college list; plan your college visits. To alleviate the stress of juggling senior year and college applications, consider planning some early college visits during the spring of 11th and the summer before 12th grade. This approach helps you avoid missing school or scheduling many visits in quick succession.
• Apply to summer opportunities related to potential college majors. Take advantage of summer break before senior year and application season begin by dedicating yourself to a research project, summer course, or other activity showcasing your interest in a particular field or subject.
• Research scholarships. Over $1 billion in scholarship and grant aid goes unclaimed annually — you’ve got many options, but you’ll have to do some legwork to find ones that work for you. Create a spreadsheet or document to track potential scholarships, noting their requirements and deadlines. 
• Start thinking about your plans for early apps. Don’t wait until senior year to start your applications. Talk to seniors applying now and ask for tips.  Use the spring and summer to compile your accomplishments, brainstorm and draft your personal statement, and prep for the SAT or ACT.

12th Grade

Things ramp up in senior year. While juggling coursework, extracurricular activities, and social life, it’s college application time. Most deadlines fall in January, so the first semester of 12th grade can feel like a relentless sprint. Applying early decision or early action further compresses this timeline, shrinking prep time. Try to remain calm, focused, and organized.

• Stay engaged in your courses and extracurriculars. Colleges look for strong academic records and continued engagement, especially in your senior year. Keep prioritizing your grades and following through on your commitments.
• Take/retake any standardized tests if necessary. Many students take or retake the SAT or ACT in 12th grade. If you’re applying early, your last testing date falls in October; otherwise, you have until December to raise your score.
• Finalize your college list and any early application plans. Honestly assess how many applications you can realistically complete within the given deadlines. To meet early application deadlines, typically in November, finalize all application components in advance.
• Develop a checklist to manage your application materials. Start a spreadsheet, use a calendar, tape lists on your bedroom walls — do whatever you need to do to stay organized and on track to meet those submission deadlines.
• Ask for letters of recommendation. To get strong letters of recommendation, identify your preferred recommenders and approach them early in the school year so they have at least 4-6 weeks to write and upload the letter.
• Request official score reports for the SAT/ACT be sent to colleges requiring them. You must select which colleges receive your scores. The first four colleges receive the scores for free, but SAT charges $14 per additional school. 
• Keep your high school counselor updated and request any relevant paperwork. Your counselor submits your transcript and, in some cases, a letter of recommendation to your chosen schools. When requesting letters of recommendation, share your list of target schools and provide relevant information highlighting your strengths.
• Continue applying for scholarships. Don’t deprioritize your scholarship search while applying to colleges. Use the summer before 12th grade — and the spring after you’ve sent your apps — to keep submitting scholarship apps, too.
• Draft, edit, and finalize your personal statement and supplemental essays. Writing essays is the most time-consuming part of the college application process. However, the personal touch that comes from your essays differentiates a good app from a great one. Give yourself ample time to polish your essays so your final drafts are ready at least a week before your deadline. That way, you have time for one last read-through before submitting.
• Complete all financial aid forms, including the FAFSA and CSS Profile. If you’re applying for financial aid, submit your forms by each school’s financial aid deadline. Work with your parents to gather all the information; try to submit your financial aid forms when you submit your application.

Once all your application deadlines pass, you’ll have officially survived admissions season! All that’s left? Keeping your grades up and waiting for your “Congratulations on your admission” email.

Want more tips and insights? Check out our full Guide to College Admissions here.