We get it. Applying to college and going through the college application timeline is excruciatingly overwhelming, especially if you don’t have someone like a parent or older sibling who’s been through it to guide you.
With so many steps involved—like writing your essay and asking for recommendation letters—it’s easy to feel lost. That’s why we suggest starting with a simple to-do list during your junior year of high school. It’s a great way to keep everything organized and tackle the process one step at a time.
Curious if you’re keeping up with everything you need to do for college applications during senior year? This easy-to-follow timeline breaks down what you should be working on and when so you can stay on track and stress less.
- A Simplified College Application Timeline
- Important College Application Deadlines You Need to Be Familiar With
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Takeaways
A Simplified College Application Timeline
If you’re heading to college, you’re probably asking the same questions that plenty of other students have had before:
- When do I start preparing for my college applications?
- What summer programs or extracurriculars should I take?
- How do I get the money for my college education?
A good starting point? Check out a timeline that lays out what you need to tackle as you work through the college admissions process.
Most students start focusing on college application tasks during the summer between junior and senior year, though there’s often some prep work beforehand. Scroll through the sections below, see what steps you might have missed, and focus on catching up where you can. And don’t stress about the things that are already out of your control—you’ve got this!
| Junior Year – Fall (September to November) | |
| Take the PSAT. | |
| The PSAT, or Preliminary SAT, is a standardized test that gives you a sneak peek at what the SAT will be like. It’s typically taken during your junior year and is a great way to practice and see how you might score on the actual SAT.
Plus, taking the PSAT puts you in the running for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which could help you earn some serious scholarship money for college. Including it in your college application timeline is a smart move. It helps you prep but also opens up opportunities for recognition and financial aid. |
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| Prepare for the SAT and ACT. | |
| Kick off your college application timeline by getting ready for the SAT or ACT at the start of junior year. A great way to begin is by taking a full-length practice test for both. This will help you figure out which one feels like a better fit for you.
Most students take their chosen test two or three times to improve their scores, with the last attempt happening in the early fall of senior year. Starting early gives you time to study and feel confident when test day rolls around! |
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| Explore as many colleges as possible. | |
| Start exploring your college options by using online search tools, going to college fairs, chatting with college reps, and even asking friends who are already in college about their experiences. These are all great ways to get a feel for what different schools offer and start forming an idea of where you might want to go.
Keep this process going throughout your junior and senior years to fine-tune your list. For a solid starting point, check out the guide we have prepared on researching colleges. |
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| Arrange visits to local college campuses. | |
| In the fall of your junior year, take some time to visit local colleges. Even if these schools aren’t on your wish list, touring them can give you a better feel for what college life is like. It’s a great way to start shaping your preferences and getting a clearer idea of what to look for as you build your college application timeline. |
| Junior Year – Fall (December to February) | |
| Take the SAT or ACT. | |
| Plan to take the SAT or ACT for the first time during the winter of your junior year. Most students see an improvement on their second try, so consider testing again in the spring of junior year or early fall of senior year. Worried about the cost? Don’t sweat it—talk to your guidance counselor about getting a fee waiver to cover the expense! | |
| Take SAT Subject Tests for any courses you’re finishing up in the fall. | |
| SAT Subject Tests, which some colleges require, are a smart move to tackle right after finishing the related class. That way, all the material is still fresh in your mind, and you’re more likely to do your best. These tests let you show off your strengths in specific subjects, like math, science, or history, so timing is key. If you’ve just wrapped up a course in the fall or spring, it’s the perfect moment to sign up and knock it out while everything’s still crystal clear! | |
| Create an initial draft of your target schools. | |
| As you work through your college application timeline, aim to create a list of 10 to 15 colleges you’re interested in. Make sure to include a mix of schools: a few “probables” (or “safety schools”), some that are a good “match,” and a couple of “reach” schools. Keep this list flexible—update it throughout your junior year and even early senior year as your preferences and goals become clearer. | |
| Schedule visits and meet with reps from your target colleges when you can. | |
| Give the admissions offices of the colleges you’re planning to visit a call ahead of time to set things up. Some schools even offer “fly-in” programs that help cover travel costs for students who qualify based on financial need—definitely worth asking about! Keep scheduling visits throughout your junior and senior years if you can, but don’t stress if visiting your target colleges isn’t an option. There are plenty of other ways to learn about schools! | |
| Begin searching for scholarships. | |
| By the time you’re halfway through your junior year, it’s a good idea to start looking into traditional scholarships designed for high school seniors. Keep searching throughout your junior and senior years to maximize your opportunities. To stay on top of your college application timeline, check out College Board’s BigFuture for helpful financial aid tips and resources. We also compiled 100 scholarships that can help you pay for college. |
| Junior Year – Spring (March to May) | |
| Retake the SAT or ACT (only when necessary). | |
| If you think you can do better on your winter SAT or ACT scores, plan to retake the test in the spring of your junior year. It’s a great chance to boost your results and feel more confident! | |
| Take the AP exams. | |
| AP Exams, held every May, are a great way to earn college credit while you’re still in high school. These exams are tied to Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which are college-level classes you can take in subjects like English, history, math, and science. Scoring well on AP exams, like AP Psychology or AP Physics, could save you time and money by allowing you to skip certain college courses. |
| Junior Year – Summer (June to August) | |
| Identify and take note of your target schools’ application deadlines. | |
| Early decision and early action applications usually have deadlines in November of your senior year, while most regular decision applications are due between January 1 and March 1. To keep things simple, we have organized all the deadlines – early action, early decision, and regular decision – for you in one place, making it easier to stay on track. If you’re juggling multiple applications, it’s a huge time-saver! | |
| Start drafting your application essays. | |
| Senior year can get pretty hectic, so the summer after junior year is the perfect time to get a head start on your college application essays. It’s a smart way to lighten your load and stay on top of your college application timeline! | |
| Identify potential teachers for recommendation letters and gather the materials they’ll need to write them. | |
| The summer after your junior year is the perfect time to start thinking about who to ask for recommendation letters. Focus on teachers from your core classes—like math, science, history, English, or world languages—who know you well and can speak to your strengths.
To make it easier for them, jot down a few bullet points explaining why you picked them and how you stood out in their class. It’s a thoughtful way to help them write a strong, personalized recommendation for you! |
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| Draft your financial aid plan. | |
| As part of your college application timeline, check out the financial aid calculators or net price calculators on college websites. These tools give you an estimate of how much your family might need to contribute toward your education. While you’re at it, make a list of all the financial aid options you want to apply for, along with their deadlines, to stay organized and on top of things. | |
| Start applying for scholarships. | |
| A lot of seniors apply for more than 30 scholarships, so don’t hold back! Local scholarships and ones that require essays are definitely worth a shot—since fewer people go for them, your chances can be much better. Start applying during the summer between junior and senior year and keep going throughout your senior year. Every bit of effort counts! | |
| Bonus: If you can, visit your target colleges and start prepping for your interviews. | |
| The summer after junior year is a great time to visit your top target colleges if you can. Take a look at dorms, classrooms, and recreation centers to get a feel for campus life. Check each college’s website for details on info sessions, tour schedules, and any interview opportunities. As part of your college application timeline, research the schools you’re applying to and find out which ones offer optional interviews. Then, practice with a teacher or friend to feel confident and ready! |
| Senior Year – Fall (September to November) | |
| Rework your application essay drafts. | |
| When senior year kicks off, ask a teacher to review your application essays. Take their feedback to make revisions and polish up your final drafts before those college application deadlines roll around. | |
| Begin requesting recommendation letters. | |
| About a month before the deadline, give your recommenders everything they’ll need to write your letter of recommendation. Include a list of bullet points highlighting how you excelled in their class, along with any required forms and pre-addressed, stamped envelopes for the colleges you’re applying to. This makes the process easy for them and ensures your letters get where they need to go! | |
| Complete all application materials. | |
| As you work through your college application timeline, double-check that you (or your guidance counselor) have all the essentials for your applications—like forms, test scores, essays, recommendation letters, and transcripts. If the application fees are a concern, don’t hesitate to ask your guidance counselor or the college itself about getting a fee waiver! | |
| Submit your early decision application if that’s the route you’ve chosen. | |
| Early decision applications, typically due in November, come with a binding commitment—meaning if you’re accepted, you agree to attend. In return, you get the chance to secure your spot early! | |
| Submit your early action applications. | |
| With early-action schools, you get your decision earlier than usual, but you don’t have to commit right away. You can wait until the regular decision deposit deadline to make your final choice. This allows you more time to weigh your options. | |
| Submit your CSS PROFILE if you’re applying early. | |
| While the FAFSA opens after October 1, some schools require the CSS Profile earlier in the fall if you’re applying through their early admission process. The CSS PROFILE is an additional financial aid form used by certain colleges to gather more detailed information about your family’s finances. As you follow your college application timeline, make sure to check if any of your target schools need it and submit it on time! | |
| Important reminders: | |
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| Senior Year – Winter (December to February) | |
| Hear back from your early applications. | |
| If you apply through an early program, you’ll usually get your decision by December. Plus, if you’ve submitted your financial aid forms on time, you should also receive an estimated financial aid package around the same time. | |
| Submit your deposit if you’re committing to an early-decision school. | |
| If you’re applying early decision and the school’s financial aid package works for you, your enrollment deposit is usually due in the winter of senior year. Worried about the cost? Reach out to the school to see if they offer a fee waiver. It’s an important step to keep your college application timeline on track! | |
| Send in your regular decision applications. | |
| For most colleges, regular decision deadlines fall between January 1 and March 1 each year. | |
| Send your SAT and ACT scores to regular decision schools. | |
| Along with your application forms, essays, recommendation letters, and other materials, don’t forget to send your official test scores. Just head to the College Board (for SAT) or ACT Student (for ACT) websites to submit your score reports to the colleges you’re applying to through regular decisions. | |
| Complete and submit your FAFSA. | |
| As part of your college application timeline, make sure to submit your FAFSA—the main form for federal financial aid—as soon as it opens on October 1 of your senior year. Some schools award aid on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier you submit, the better your chances! | |
| Complete and submit the CSS PROFILE or any other school-specific financial aid forms. | |
| Some schools require the CSS PROFILE along with the FAFSA to figure out your financial aid. Be sure to submit it as soon as possible since many schools award aid on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Senior Year – Spring (March to May) | |
| Update your FAFSA and CSS Profile. | |
| If you estimated your income when filling out your FAFSA or CSS Profile, now’s the time to update those financial aid applications with the actual numbers from your most recent tax returns. Using accurate data helps schools determine the right amount of aid for you, so be sure to revise as soon as you have the info. It’s a small step that can make a big difference in your financial aid package! | |
| If requested, submit your tax transcript for verification. | |
| Some colleges might ask to verify your financial information as part of the process. To keep your college application timeline on track, follow up by sending them copies of your or your parents’ tax transcripts if requested. It’s an important step to make sure your financial aid gets finalized! | |
| Get your regular application decisions. | |
| If you applied through regular decision, you’ll usually hear back with an acceptance, rejection, or waitlist decision in March or April. | |
| Compare financial aid offers from different schools. | |
| After you’re accepted, colleges will send you a financial aid package. It usually includes grants (free money!) along with suggested loans and work-study options.
Options to help you pay for college:
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| Send in your enrollment deposit. | |
| For regular decision applications, May 1 is usually the deadline to submit your deposit and secure your spot. If the cost of the deposit is a concern, reach out to the school and ask about a fee waiver—they’re often happy to help! |
| Senior Year – Summer (June to August) | |
| Finish any remaining enrollment paperwork for your college. | |
| After you’ve chosen your college, you’ll start getting updates about important next steps like orientation, class scheduling, and housing. Make sure to keep an eye on those deadlines and get all the required paperwork submitted on time! | |
| Look for a work-study job. | |
| Work with your financial aid office to find work-study opportunities that fit your needs. Try to lock in a job during the summer before college starts or early in your freshman fall semester. |
Important College Application Deadlines You Need to Be Familiar With
As a high school senior, you’ll face several deadlines to consider when applying to colleges. From early decision and early action to regular decision and even rolling admissions, each option comes with its own timeline and benefits. Choosing the right deadline depends on your readiness, preferences, and application strategy.
1. Early Decision
The first big deadline to know in your college application timeline is for early decision (ED), usually in November. If you apply to ED, you’ll get your admissions decision by December—much earlier than regular applicants. Some schools also offer a second round of early decision, called ED II, with deadlines in January and decisions released in February.
Keep in mind, though, that early decision is binding. If accepted, you’re committing to enroll, so make sure it’s your top-choice school before applying!
2. Early Action
Early action (EA) is another type of deadline, usually in November or December, though some schools have even earlier dates, like October 15. Like early decision, applying EA means you’ll hear back sooner, but the big difference is that EA acceptances aren’t binding—you’re not locked into attending.
There’s also something called restrictive early action (REA), which is less common. REA lets you apply early to just one school (with a few exceptions) but still doesn’t require you to commit if you’re accepted. It’s a great option if you’re ready to apply early but want to keep your choices open!
3. Regular Decision
Regular decision is the most common option on the college application timeline, with deadlines usually falling around January 1. If you go this route, you can expect to hear back from schools sometime in mid-to-late March or early April. It’s a great choice if you need more time to perfect your application or weigh your options before submitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When should you apply for college?
You should apply for college based on the deadlines of the application type you choose: early decision (November), early action (October to December), or regular decision (January to March). Starting your applications in the summer before senior year gives you plenty of time to prepare.
2. How long does it take for a college to accept you?
Colleges typically respond within a few weeks to a few months. Early decision and early action applicants usually receive results by December, while regular decision applicants hear back by March or April.
3. What is the latest college application deadline?
Many colleges have regular decision deadlines between January 1 and March 1. However, some schools offer rolling admissions, allowing applications until all spots are filled, which can extend into the summer before the fall semester.
Takeaways
The process of applying to college can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into clear steps can make it much more manageable.
- Familiarize yourself with early decisions, early action, and regular decision deadlines. Your college application timeline will revolve around these deadlines.
- Submit your FAFSA and CSS Profile as soon as they open to maximize your financial aid chances, as some schools award aid on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Draft your application essays during the summer before senior year and choose teachers who can provide strong recommendation letters.
- Once accepted, compare financial aid offers carefully and decide on the school that best fits your needs.
- Your college application is the bridge to your future. As with bridges, you cannot build your application profile by yourself. Partner with a college admission expert to help you create a timeline and build the best version of your college application portfolio.
