Freshman Year
- Take challenging classes that interest you. Nothing is more important in applying to college than the courses you take and the grades you get in those courses.
- Explore different clubs and activities. This is your chance to try new things and learn what kinds of activities you really like.
- Get to know your teachers. Stop by after class to ask a question, mention an interesting book you read, or just share something you enjoyed from class that day.
- Register for your sophomore year classes. Continue to challenge yourself academically. If you’re getting an “A” in your history class this year, consider taking an AP, IB, or honors course next year.
Sophomore Year
- Take the PSAT in October. It doesn’t count for anything, but every time you take the test, you get more comfortable with it, and that can boost your score. This will also give you an idea of your baseline score.
- Think about which activities you’re enjoying the most, and get more involved. If you’re not enjoying something, this is a good time to replace it with something you’re more enthusiastic about.
- Say hello to a teacher from last year, and continue to build relationships with the teachers you like this year by going to see them outside of class.
- Fall: For students taking Algebra 2, take a practice ACT. This will help you decide whether to prepare for the SAT or the ACT. You can take a free practice test by contacting your local test prep company.
- Winter: Research summer programs. You can do something as simple as take a class at your local community college, or travel halfway around the world to participate in an archaeological dig.
- Spring: Register for your junior year courses. Academically, this year is the most important. Challenge yourself, but do it sanely. If you’ve been getting “A”s so far, think about taking some AP or IB courses, especially in the subjects you’re most interested in. A “B” in a hard course is better than an “A” in an easy one. If you’re getting “C”s, or struggling to keep up, think about taking a step back. Talk to your parents and your school counselor about adjusting your schedule.
- Spring: Think about taking an SAT Subject Test. These are 1-hour, subject specific tests on topics like U.S. history, foreign languages, and chemistry. If you’re taking an AP or IB class, and doing well in it, think about signing up for the corresponding Subject Test.
summer between sophomore + junior Year
- For students who’ve completed Algebra 2, now is a good time to prepare for the SAT or ACT. Take a class, hire a tutor, get a book, or visit Khan Academy online. Just do something! Your score won’t change if you don’t change the way you’re taking the test.
junior year
- Make an impact in your activities. That might mean taking on a leadership role, or starting a new club. But you don’t have to be the class president to make an impact. Think about the things you’re most interested in, and then look for ways to include other people in that interest.
- Keep building relationships with the teachers you click with. Colleges especially like to see recommendations from your junior year academic teachers. Think about how you can be the type of student teachers write great recommendations about – ask good questions and show enthusiasm.
- Fall: Take the PSAT in October. This one counts for the National Merit Scholarship competition, but colleges won’t see your scores, so don’t put too much pressure on your performance.
- Fall: For students taking Algebra 2, take a practice ACT. This will help you decide whether to prepare for the SAT or the ACT. You can take a free practice test by contacting your local test prep company.
- Fall/Winter: For students who have already completed their test prep, take the SAT or ACT. You will likely need to take it a second or even third time, so plan to retake it in the winter and/or spring.
- Winter: For students taking Algebra 2, now is a good time to prepare for the SAT or ACT. Take a class, hire a tutor, get a book, or visit Khan Academy online. Just do something! Your score won’t change if you don’t change the way you’re taking the test.
- Winter: Research summer programs. Think about what you love to do, and dive more deeply into it.
- Winter/Spring: Start researching colleges. Online resources like Big Future can help you narrow the wide range of colleges based on a number of specifications. Learn more about schools on sites like Unigo, Wikipedia, and the colleges’ YouTube channels.
- Spring Break: Take a trip to visit some of the colleges you’ve been researching. If you can’t travel, visit some schools in your area that will give you an approximation. For example, if you’re interested in small, liberal arts schools, check out St. Mary’s College of California.
- Spring: For students who have completed their test prep, take the SAT or ACT. Plan to retake the test later in the spring or the fall of your senior year.
- Spring: Think about taking an SAT Subject Test. If you’re taking an AP class, and doing well in it, sign up for the corresponding Subject Test.
summer between junior + senior Year
- Finalize your college list. Make sure you have a good range of reach, target, and safety schools.
- Start working on your college essays. The more you get done before school starts, the easier it will be to balance your schoolwork and your applications.
- August 1: The Common App and the UC applications go live! Open them up, and start filling them out.
senior Year
- Ask your teachers for letters of recommendation. Think about who will be able to share the best new information about you as a student, not just that you got an “A.”
- Keep your senior year grades up. Many colleges request a midyear grade report as part of your application to see how you’re doing senior year. And second semester counts too!
- Take the SAT or ACT one more time if you need to, and take any necessary Subject Tests. You can’t take the SAT and a Subject Test on the same day, but you can take up to 3 Subject Tests at once. Send all the required scores to your colleges by visiting either the SAT or ACT website.
- Request transcripts. Listen up for important announcements at school, or talk to your high school counselor about their preferred method for requesting transcripts. Make sure you turn in all forms on time.
- October 1: The FAFSA goes live. Parents should complete this as soon as possible. Although this is one of the least fun parts of the process, it usually doesn’t take more than an hour.
- Complete and submit all your college applications. Pay close attention to deadlines and give yourself a good head start. Be aware that some schools have earlier deadlines for scholarships. When in doubt, go to the admissions page of the college’s website.
- Schedule interviews. Some schools require interviews for local applicants, and many offer interviews as a way for you to learn more about the school.
- Celebrate every acceptance letter! Choose the very best school for you, and make your deposit by May 1st.