It’s Time to Get Organized! College Application Timeline for Juniors and Seniors 2024-2025
Many high school juniors are busy with school work, extracurricular activities, and other responsibilities. Here is a timeline to stay on track and, hopefully, make the college admissions process a little easier. Please note that this is a general timeline, and students should adjust it to fit their specific needs.
JUNIOR YEAR
September - January
Schedule and sit for ACT or SAT tests if the student is taking them.
Here is a list of colleges and universities that are standardized test-optional. There are also universities that are “test blind” and will not consider scores in the current admissions cycle, including the colleges that are part of the UC system. Many colleges announce their policies annually so be sure to check all of the colleges on your list.
Begin to put together a list of colleges that you are interested in applying to. Read this advice on how to create a college list.
Families should discuss the cost of college at this point and determine if the student will need to apply for financial aid.
Research and visit colleges.
Prepare a resume.
You will need it for summer jobs, and it can be helpful when meeting with people about your college applications.
Make summer plans.
The summer after junior year is an important time to get a job, internship, or pursue an area that is of special interest to you through research or a project.
January-April
Apply for working papers with your school, if you need them.
Meet with your college counselor.
Bring your initial college list and resume.
Ask them for insights on your college list and their advice on colleges that could be added to or removed from your list.
Communicate which colleges are your favorites and why.
Ask for advice on which high school teachers to ask for letters of recommendation.
May
Study for and take SAT or ACT tests, if offered.
Study for and take AP Exams, if offered.
Ask two teachers for letters of recommendation.
Offer them your resume if that is helpful to them.
One or both should be teachers who know you well and teach core subjects.
Determine if there is a third person whom you can ask for an additional letter of recommendation, if a specific college allows you to submit one.
This letter can be from a coach, an advisor who has supervised one of your significant extracurricular activities, or an employer.
Make sure the person knows you well and is able to speak about a different aspect of your character than your teachers.
Finalize summer plans.
Begin creating your Common App Activities List for college applications. Here is how to start the list.
June-August
Study for and take SAT or ACT tests, if necessary.
Draft your personal statement for the Common Application.
Brainstorm ideas for the essay that showcase aspects about you that are not fully reflected in other parts of your application (like your Activities List).
Draft and revise your essay.
Find a trusted resource (teacher, advisor, or family member) to read your essay and provide feedback.
Make sure it sounds like your voice.
Sign up for and complete the personal information for all the application accounts that you plan to use, including Common App, Coalition App, or other school-specific apps.
Finalize Activities Section.
Complete the Additional Information section of the Common App, if you are using it.
Complete summer activities.
Visit some colleges in person, if possible.
Try to decide whether and where you will apply Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA).
SENIOR YEAR
September
Plan to take the ACT or SAT one last time, if necessary.
Finalize the list of colleges that you will apply to.
Make a list of each school’s application deadlines.
Finalize which colleges you will apply to EA or ED.
Determine if your EA or ED school offers interviews and schedule one.
Finalize personal statement essay for the Common App.
Complete school-specific essays for colleges where you are applying EA or ED.
Meet with your college counselor to discuss the list of colleges and EA/ED options.
Follow up with teachers and additional recommender, if necessary.
October
Order SAT, ACT, or AP score reports to be sent to colleges on your list if you are submitting them, and the college requires an official report (rather than allowing the applicant to self report their scores).
Submit applications to ED or EA colleges.
Do not wait until the last minute to do this as there are sometimes glitches!
Work on school-specific essays for your Regular Decision colleges.
November
Complete applications for Regular Decision colleges.
Confirm that any score test reports have been sent.
Schedule interviews at colleges that offer them.
December
Receive ED and EA decisions from colleges.
Accept ED college and submit a deposit, if necessary.
Withdraw applications from other colleges if you accept an offer from your ED or EA school.
Email recommenders to let them know if you accept a college and thank them again for their help.
Submit applications to your Regular Decision colleges.
Make sure you know each school’s deadline and submit your application at least 24 hours in advance to avoid issues.
January-February
Receive decisions from some EA colleges.
Complete admissions interviews.
If deferred in the EA or ED round, consider sending an update to the college, if they permit it.
March-April
Receive Regular Decision offers.
Respond to colleges that have waitlisted you as to whether you wish to remain on the waitlist
Visit or revisit colleges that you are considering attending.
Meet with your college counselor to discuss offers and get their insight.
Make the final decision of which college to attend.
Submit deposit.
Inform other colleges that you will not be attending.
May
Inform your recommenders about your college choice. Thank them for their help.
Take the time to thank others who supported you through the process, including family members, counselors, etc.
Spend time packing so that your dorm can feel like a home away from home.
Get excited about college!
If you have questions or would like to learn more about college admissions, please visit Excelsioradmissions.com or click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to learn how I can help with your college admissions process.
