College Application — Senior Year Timeline
A month-by-month senior year roadmap — from summer brainstorming to Common App submission to financial aid — so no deadline catches you off guard.
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Summer Before Senior Year
- Finalize your college list: 3–4 reach schools, 3–4 match schools, and 2–3 safety schools — use Naviance or College Board's BigFuture
- Request letters of recommendation from 2–3 teachers before school ends for the year — give them your resume and context
- Start your Common App account at commonapp.org and fill in all biographical and activity sections
- Draft your Common App personal statement — choose one of 7 prompts and write a full draft before September
- Research each school's specific supplemental essay requirements — some require 3–4 additional essays
September–October
- Request your official high school transcript — your counselor sends it; make sure they know your full list of colleges
- Register for (or confirm scores from) the SAT or ACT — check if your target schools are test-optional and whether submitting helps you
- Complete and submit all Early Decision or Early Action applications — most EA/ED deadlines are November 1 or November 15
- Finalize your personal statement with at least 3 revision passes and feedback from a teacher or school counselor
- Write first drafts of all school-specific 'Why Us?' supplemental essays — these require genuine research; visit the college's course catalog
November–December
- Submit any remaining EA or ED II applications (ED II deadline is typically January 1)
- Complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov as soon as it opens (December 1 for the next academic year) — file early, not by the deadline
- Complete the CSS Profile at cssprofile.collegeboard.org if any of your target schools require it (most private universities do)
- Follow up with recommenders and your school counselor to confirm all materials have been submitted
January–February
- Submit all Regular Decision applications — most deadlines are January 1 or January 15
- Apply for private scholarships — check Fastweb, Scholarship America, and your local community foundation
March–May
- Compare financial aid award letters side by side — use the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's comparison tool
- Visit your top choices before committing — talk to current students, not just admissions officers
- Submit your enrollment deposit by May 1 (National Decision Day) and decline all other offers promptly
- Accept, decline, or appeal financial aid packages — appeal letters are effective, especially with competing offers
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