Where are you in the college planning process?

9th Grade

Build Your Foundation

What to focus on

• Choose the most rigorous courses your student can handle well. Colleges want to see an upward trajectory in course difficulty across all four years.
• Get involved in 2 to 3 activities your student genuinely cares about. Depth matters more than breadth.
• Use My School List’s Activity List Builder to start tracking activities, awards, volunteer hours, and jobs or projects from day one. You will need this for the Common App activity list later.
• Understand your school’s course offerings and identify which AP or honors courses make sense to pursue in future years.
• Take the PSAT in October for practice. No stakes, just familiarity with the format.

10th Grade

Explore and Refine

What to focus on

• Take the PSAT in October for additional practice and to continue building familiarity with the format.
• Begin exploring colleges casually. Visit a campus or two if possible to get a feel for size and environment.
• Identify 2 to 3 subject areas your student is genuinely drawn to. This will shape the college list.
• Consider taking your first SAT or ACT in the spring as a practice run with real stakes.
• Continue building the activity record. Leadership roles in existing activities matter more than adding new ones.
• If your student has a sport, art, music, or other special talent they want to pursue in college, start researching how that affects the admissions process now.

11th Grade

Get Serious

What to focus on

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October. This is the year that counts for National Merit Scholarship qualification.
• Take the SAT or ACT in the fall and again in the spring. Most students improve significantly on their second attempt.
• Visit colleges seriously. Use spring break and weekends to see 4 to 6 schools in person.
• Build your working college list. Aim for 10 to 15 schools across safety, match, and reach categories.
• Start thinking about your Common App essay topic. You do not have to write it yet but let ideas develop.
• Request letters of recommendation from teachers who know your student well before the end of junior year so they have the summer to write.
• Research application deadlines, Early Decision and Early Action options, and merit aid deadlines for every school on your list.

12th Grade

Execute

What to focus on

• Submit Early Decision or Early Action applications by November 1 or November 15 deadlines if applicable.
• Complete and submit the FAFSA as close to October 1 as possible. Earlier is better for financial aid.
• Write and revise all application essays carefully. Get feedback from multiple readers.
• Submit regular decision applications by January 1 or January 15 deadlines.
• Track financial aid award letters carefully. Compare net price, not sticker price, across schools.
• Make your final decision by May 1 National Decision Day.
• Send your final transcript to your chosen school after graduation.