Just like the calendar year, the admissions year can be divided into seasons. For admissions officers, the winter is file-reading season and the fall is recruitment season. It’s helpful to think of your own college prep journey in terms of seasons so that you can stay on track and take advantage of informative and strategically-useful admissions offerings. Below is a sample timeline to help you do that. It’s not prescriptive, but we hope it will help you stay on track, manage stress, focus your college search and identify best-fit options, and eventually enhance the quality of the applications you submit.
Spring - 1.5 years before applications are due
- If you are new to the college search, fear not! You still have plenty of time to develop a list of schools and submit a competitive application. Start by asking yourself some questions: Would you prefer a big school or a small school, or something in between? Do you prefer cities, suburbs, or rural areas? What are your academic areas of interest? Liberal arts college or research university? Thinking about grad school? You might not know the answer to all these questions yet, but keep them in mind as you navigate this process. While so much of the discussion about the college application process is about what institutions are looking for in an applicant, it’s really important to think about what you are looking for in a school. At this stage, it might also be worthwhile to keep a journal to record your thoughts and your accomplishments throughout high school that might influence your ambitions or the competitiveness of your application. This will help as you fill out the application later on!
Fall - 1 year before applications are due
- Think carefully about which teachers, mentors, and/or peers you might want to ask to write recommendation letters on your behalf. Because institutions may differ in how many letters they require and from whom, start to think about 2-4 teachers whose classes you’ve done well in and 1-2 mentors who have witnessed your development and growth over a period of time. You have time to refine this list later, but the key is to ask those who have contributed to your success (academic, athletic, extracurricular, etc.) and also know you well enough to write about your personal characteristics.
- Consider resources, classes, or online materials that might support your preparation for the SAT and/or ACT, which you will likely take in the spring of your 11th grade year. Many institutions require test scores, and they will carry significant weight in your application!
- Begin to schedule campus tours at the schools you have been thinking about. Atour will speak more loudly about the culture of the campus than the school’s website will, and tours are great opportunities to see the school in action. Approach campus tours with an open mind, and come prepared with questions about the school! The tour guides are typically current students, and they can answer questions authentically about student life on campus, which admissions officers are less in touch with.
Spring before applications are due
- Before the end of the school year, confirm which teachers and mentors you would like to write your letters of recommendation, and ask them! Explain why you chose them to write your letter, and provide information about what schools or programs you are thinking about applying to. Some teachers might even ask for a copy of your resume if they do not already know what your extracurriculars entail. While recommendation letters may not take very long to write, some teachers might get asked by many students, and other teachers may be getting asked to help with college essay revisions. It is important to stay ahead of the game and ask teachers for this favor before their time becomes stretched too thin.
- Most college campuses love to open their doors to prospective students and families in the spring time, so take advantage of campus visit offerings! The classic campus tour + information session is a great way to become introduced to any institution, but there are a plethora of other ways to dive deeper into an institution’s academic community and campus life to truly see if it’s a good fit for you. Speak with an admissions officer or browse admissions websites to see if an institution you’re interested in offers overnight programs on campus, opportunities to visit an in-person class or take an online course open to high school students, meetings with alumni and/or current students, coffee shop chats with admissions officers, college fairs or admissions visits at your high school, college application workshops, ways to interact on social media platforms, and so much more! Pursue these opportunities at as many institutions as possible - it should not only be enjoyable, but also a time of data collection! Take notes, snap some photos, and speak with as many campus representatives as possible so that you can remember what you like (or dislike) about particular institutions.
- After receiving your SAT and/or ACT scores, consider whether or not you would like to retake the test and get a new test date scheduled. Look to institutions’ admissions websites where they report average standardized test scores of admitted students to determine if your score would be competitive if submitted at that institution.
Summer before applications are due
- Finalize the list of institutions you are going to apply to. The fall can become busy quickly, and it may be challenging to figure out what schools you’re applying to as you’re applying to them. Use your time in the summer to organize the “data” you’ve collected on institutions’ websites, visit opportunities, and other ways you might have interacted with an institution to determine which ones are the best fit for you and you think you have a good chance at getting admitted to.
- Once your list is finalized, begin to dive into each institution’s application requirements deadlines. Document which institutions require or recommend interviews, supplemental essays, additional recommendation letters, test scores, and so on. Then, add to your list the application deadlines of each institution. Depending on your goals and preparation, you might want to apply in an Early Action or Early Decision round at an institution. Keep those early deadlines on your radar as they can sneak up!
- Get started on your personal statement! The summer is a perfect time to brainstorm essay topics and even jumpstart a draft, especially if you are planning to apply to colleges early!
Fall / Early Winter when applications are due in 1-3 months
- Work diligently on your personal statement, writing multiple drafts and seeking advice from your English teacher, guidance/college counselor, or 7Sage admissions advisor! Similarly, work on your supplemental essays for the institutions that require or recommend them.
- If any institutions you are applying to require or recommend interviews, be sure to get those scheduled at a time that will make sense given the institution’s policy and when you plan to submit your application.
- Put together your application via the Common App, Coalition, QuestBridge, or institution-specific application, depending on what the institution accepts and your own preferences/circumstances. A 7Sage admissions advisor can help with this!
- Once your essays have been written, reviewed and proofread, interviews conducted, and application completed, go ahead and submit! Then pat yourself on the back and take a breather. It’ll be a while before you hear back from institutions with decisions, so take time to treat yourself to well-deserved rest.
Spring of decision release
- Attend the admitted student days at the institutions you’re accepted to. They’re high-energy, enthusiastic, jam-packed days where you can meet lots of people from campus and see the institution in a new light.
- Evaluate your acceptances and financial aid packages (if applicable), and draw on the “data” you collected earlier in the college search process to determine which institution you want to enroll in!
- If you are waitlisted at an institution and would like to remain on the waitlist, check with the institution to see if they will accept a letter of continued interest––a letter in which you can express your interest in attending the institution should a seat open up for you.
