College Planning Timeline

Use this planning timeline to keep yourself on track. You can also sign up for Ed Alert and receive important college planning dates such as college fair dates, SAT & ACT registration deadlines & more right in your inbox.

Freshman & Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors

Freshman & Sophomores

Take challenging courses and keep your grades up. Meet with your guidance counselor to make sure your course curriculum is putting you on a path to meeting college admission requirements.
Start researching careers you think will interest you.
Get involved in school activities, athletics or join a local club or organization. Maintain a running list of what you do. It will make it much easier once it is time to apply to college.
Prepare for and take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) or American College Test (PLAN) in preparation for the SAT or ACT. Taking the PSAT will also give you a chance to win a National Merit Scholarship.
Consider getting a part time job and start a college savings plan if you don’t already have one.

Juniors

Fall

Make visits to colleges that interest you. Getting an early start will cut down the stress level during your senior year.
Work to save money for college, if your schedule allows for it.
Take the PSAT in order to prepare for admissions tests.
Start preparing for the SAT, SAT II or ACT. Prep books, online tools and classes can be used to help you get ready. Check with your high school to see if they offer a prep class.
Research overnight and weekend college visitation programs.
Begin researching both government and private sources of financial aid.
Attend a financial aid night sponsored by your school

Spring

Sign up to take the SAT, SAT II or ACT.
Think about where you would like to apply to school and discuss what your college budget is with your family. Request information from colleges on your list. View a list of factors to consider during your college search.
Visit colleges you are interested in while you are on spring break. Call the admissions offices to schedule an appointment - many colleges have special programs for visiting high school students.
Look into the possibility of taking a college-prep summer course.
Talk to your high school guidance counselor about your plans for college.
Plan your academic course schedule for your senior year. Remember to make all of your courses count! Ensure that you will meet your high school’s graduation requirements and course requirements for colleges in which you are most interested.
Prepare for Advanced Placement exams, if applicable.
Look for a summer job or internship. Earnings from a job/internship can help cover your college expenses.

Summer

Take the SAT, SAT II or ACT if you haven’t already.
Create a list of colleges you would like to visit over the summer. Check out college tour dates and inquire about interviews with admissions representatives.
Look into financial aid offered by local businesses, your church or community. Many scholarships have deadlines in the early fall. Go to RIscholarships.com to search our local database of scholarships.

Seniors

July - August

Educate yourself about the colleges that interest you. Visit campuses, attend financial aid events and take college campus tours to narrow your choices. Don’t let cost be the only factor in determining to where you apply. The “sticker price” at a school is often offset by the financial aid you receive.
Request applications and financial aid information from colleges.
Work to save money for college.
Complete any scholarship applications that have a fall deadline.
Polish your resume.
If you are interested in athletics, contact the coaches at colleges you think you might apply to.

September

Meet with your guidance counselor to review your college plans. Ask your counselor about guidelines your guidance office has for applying to colleges.
Contact the College Planning Center if you would like assistance with the college selection process.
Create a filing system for all of your financial aid documents and college applications.
Create a schedule of college admission, scholarship and financial aid deadlines. Develop a plan of action that will help keep you on task. Remember to get all of your application materials to your guidance office well before the application deadlines.
Begin writing your college essay. Click here for tips.
Take the SAT, SAT II or ACT.
Prepare a resume to help you complete your college admissions applications. Admission deadlines will soon be approaching.
Get letters of recommendation from your teachers, employers or coaches.
Search and apply for outside scholarships.
Decide if you are going to apply early decision or early action at any schools.

October

Have someone proofread your college essay.
Submit early decision/early action applications with upcoming deadlines.
Research overnight and weekend college visitation programs.
Work on your college applications.
Apply for more scholarship opportunities.
Make sure you know which financial aid forms you are required to complete.

November

Obtain financial aid information from each of your prospective college financial aid offices. Ask if the school has any financial priority deadlines.
Complete and submit college essays and applications. Make a copy of everything you send for your files.
Request that your ACT, SAT and SAT II scores to be submitted to your colleges of interest.
Confirm that your transcript will be sent to your colleges of choice.

December

Start collecting financial records you will need to complete financial aid forms (W-2s, 1099s, bank statements, benefit forms from Social Security, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, etc.)
Submit college applications with upcoming deadlines.
Attend a financial aid workshop, usually sponsored by your high school.

January

Prepare and file your taxes as soon as possible. Information found on your tax forms is used to calculate your financial need.
Register for a Federal Student Aid Personal Identification Number (PIN) for you and your parents.
Apply early for financial aid: don’t wait for your acceptance letter. Complete all financial aid forms (FAFSA, CSS Profile, other forms – check with your school to see which ones you must complete) accurately and legibly. Any missing information could lead to a delay in receiving your financial aid package. Learn about the financial aid application process here.
Ask your high school to send a copy of your first semester transcript to the colleges you have applied to.

February

Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) for accuracy when it arrives. Correct any errors and notify college financial aid offices of changes.
Notify schools of special circumstances that might affect your family’s ability to fund your education.
Follow up with colleges to make sure they received all necessary application materials from you and your high school.

March

Look into Advanced Placement (AP) exams, if applicable.
Apply for more scholarship opportunities.
Search for a summer job or internship. Earnings from a job/internship can help cover your college expenses and gain you career experience.

April

Your financial aid award letters and college admission acceptance letters should start arriving soon! Determine which package best meets your financial and personal needs. Call the College Planning Center for help.
Make an enrollment decision at the schools to which you were accepted. Remember to send your deposit to the school you choose. Inform schools you will not attend of your decision.
Sign and return financial aid forms to the school you have chosen to attend.
Prepare for Advanced Placement exams, if applicable.

May

Look into low cost financing options that can help cover your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or to fill the gap between your family’s costs and EFC.
Take Advanced Placement tests, if applicable.
Send final transcript to the college you have chosen.
Follow up on pending scholarship applications.

June

Ask your high school to send a final transcript to the college you will attend.
Find out when your tuition payments are due and investigate whether your college offers a tuition payment plan.
Work to help save for college.
If you need to borrow to pay for school, make sure you understand your education financing options.
Start planning for college orientation!

back to top