High school seniors have a lot of important decisions to make. Our timeline offers 12th grade college prep information, tips, and insights, month-by-month, to help parents help their high school seniors navigate the tests, essays, and applications necessary for college admission, without missing a single step. For example, our timelines advise students and parents about how and when to prepare for college admissions tests, how to make a college list, how to figure out which colleges would be the right fit, the pros and cons of applying early, and more.
The road to college can be complicated and confusing. We鈥檝e gathered unbiased and comprehensive information from multiple expert sources to create an inclusive timeline to help all aspiring college seniors — and their families — stay on top of the steps involved in applying to college.
12th grade college prep timeline
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September 鈥� October 鈥� November 鈥� December 鈥� January 鈥� February 鈥� March 鈥� April 鈥� May 鈥� June
August college prep to-do’s
Get organized for college application season
Create a calendar with all relevant deadlines for tests, letters of recommendation, financial aid, scholarships, and applications. Use labelled folders for the information you receive about each school.
Many schools don’t require the SAT or ACT!
Many colleges and universities do not require the SAT or ACT for admission.
3 things to know if your child will take the SAT or ACT this year
First, it’s almost always a good idea if kids take these tests more than once and try to improve their score. Have your teen in the fall, so that scores are in before applications are due. Second, read about these strategies for raising SAT and ACT scores. Finally, learn how to get a fee waiver for these tests (yes, even the second time).
Get together and make a plan
Make an evening of sitting down with your child and going over your mutual strategy for the year ahead. Some talking points: your teen’s goals, what to do when things get stressful, and how to make sure you鈥檙e communicating well.
Check out a book on college admissions
There are lots of titles out there and you don’t need to read them all. But browsing one or two is a good way to prepare for college admissions season. Here are our 5 favorites.
Help your teen make a college list
Work with your teen to make sure the schools on the list meet their criteria in terms of location, size, cost, majors and/or courses of study. Feel free to suggest schools for your child鈥檚 list, but don’t disregard schools they are interested in out of hand. And remember that the most expensive schools often have more financial aid money. Here’s how to make a college list.
Prioritize early applications
Does your child have a top choice or two? Investigate whether or not those schools have Early Decision or Early Action admissions programs and determine if early admission is a good strategy for your teen. Admission rates are often better, but your teen may lose the ability to compare financial aid offers from multiple schools in the regular admissions cycle.
Make contact and show interest
Private colleges tend to weigh signs of interest (e.g. visiting the campus, interviews, even reaching out to ask questions) positively. If you can, it’s a good idea to visit schools your teen is considering applying to. If teens can鈥檛 go in person, they can take a virtual tour. Teens can also email the admissions office to express interest and ask thoughtful, sincere questions.
Talk to your teen about reach schools
If your child is dreaming of a 鈥渞each鈥� school (one where the chances of being accepted are slim), you want to encourage your teen to aim high and work hard, while also being open to other options and resilient to rejection. These talking points may help.
September college prep to-do’s
\Meet with a college counselor or private admissions advisor
Whether it’s the college counselor at your child’s high school or a private college admissions advisor, make an appointment to review your teen鈥檚 college list, set expectations around reach schools, target schools, and safety schools, and discuss application timelines and strategies with a professional. Ask the counselor for historical admissions data (the number of applicants from your child’s high school admitted each year and their GPAs and test scores) for each of the colleges on your teen鈥檚 list and any other schools the counselor recommends.
Teach your teen how to ask for letters of recommendation
There’s an art to requesting letters of recommendation — determining who to ask, how to ask, and, crucially, when to ask.
Early action/early decision applications are due soon
If your teen is applying early, it鈥檚 time to get to work on the application! Your teen should ask teachers to write recommendations and be sure to let teachers know they’re applying early and what the deadlines are. If your teen hasn鈥檛 yet (but plans to), they must take (or retake) the SAT by October for early applications.
Squeeze in some pre-application campus visits
Fall is a great time for your teen to visit colleges. Classes are in session, so your teen may get the chance to talk to current students and even professors. Check with the college to see what they offer and to plan your visit. Your teen may get to sit in on a class or two.
Get ready to file for FAFSA and PROFILE
is the application for federal student aid (grants, federal work-study, and student loans). PROFILE is an for non-federal financial aid and scholarships. Both are available starting October 1. It鈥檚 a good idea to be an early bird, as grants and other aid are typically offered on a first come, first served basis. This month, register for a so you have one when FAFSA filing opens on October 1st.
Understand federal student loans
Learn 4 big reasons to choose federal student loans over private loans (when you can).
Ease college admissions anxiety
Let鈥檚 start with the good news: Nearly seven out of every 10 seniors who apply to a 4-year college get in. Knowing the latest college admissions trends can help ease your teen鈥檚 anxiety about the process ahead.
October college prep to-do’s
Fill out the FAFSA
You can now complete the , which is the application necessary to receive federal grants and loans, using last year鈥檚 tax return and forms. Some schools and states use the FAFSA to determine their grants and scholarship awards, too.
Finalize that college list
Work with your child to nail down where they plan to apply — and what their early decision/early action, second round ED/EA, and regular decision application plans are.
Find out if (and when) you need to fill out PROFILE
Is your teen applying to to determine financial aid? If so, look up the deadlines associated with each of the schools your child is applying to — you don鈥檛 want to miss financial aid deadlines.
Create an application checklist
It鈥檚 time to create one giant checklist — with deadlines — for your child鈥檚 college applications. Remember to include things like: filling out the FAFSA and/or the PROFILE, having transcripts sent, asking for recommendations, delivering recommendation materials, making sure recommendations are sent on time, having test scores sent, finishing short-answer questions, and timelines for writing drafts (and finishing) their college essays.
Have your teen look at their social media presence
It’s time for your teen to clean up their social media presence, if necessary; college admissions advisors will be looking at it to get an idea of who they are and what they’ll bring to campus culture if admitted.
Encourage college essay rewrites and revisions
Your child has worked hard on a draft (or a few drafts) of their college essay. Encourage your teen to take another pass at it before deciding it’s ready to submit. Here are six tips for helping your child hone, strengthen, and polish their essay.
13 surprising tips for applying to college
Though it may seem like there’s a lot on your teen’s plate already, now’s the time for them to consider applying to the honors colleges at large public universities, apply for scholarships, consider free colleges, and more.
November college prep to-do’s
Another shot at the SAT or ACT?
don’t require the SAT or ACT for admission anymore. But if your teen is thinking about taking the SAT or ACT again (if students do take these tests, it’s often best to retake them to try for a higher score), then or is your child’s last opportunity for consideration for admission next year. If your teen plans to give either test another go, they need to register for these final tests now.
Scholarships your teen should consider
Your teen has a lot on their plate right now, but applying for these scholarships could save a lot of money down the road.
Plan a college visit
Can your child visit any of the local (or not-so-local) colleges on their list over the holiday weekend? Keep in mind that most colleges offer virtual tours, too. Visits help your teen envision life on campus and schools prefer to admit students who they think really want to go there.
Interview prep 101
Will your teen be interviewed by an alum or admissions officer as part of the application process? If so, help them practice. Do a couple of mock interviews with your teen so they can practice answering questions about what they like about the school, why they’re interested in attending, and what they plan to study. Remember, practice makes perfect!
Consider community college
Community colleges were developed to be a bridge from high school to college and to prepare students for the job market. Four out of 10 college-bound high-school graduates go this route. Here’s how to decide if community college is a good choice for your child, plus one family’s story of how community college gave their son a second chance at his first-choice college.
December college prep to-do’s
It’s crunch time
Your teen is likely preparing for finals and college application deadlines are coming right up. Check in and see how you can support your teen through this final push.
Was your child accepted early decision?
If so, congrats! Remind your teen to withdraw any applications they have submitted elsewhere.
Last chance at the SAT
If your teen is taking the SAT this month, take a moment to check the application deadlines for the schools your teen is applying to. Will your teen need to request (and pay for) “rush” scores? Now’s the time to find out.
Apply early to schools with rolling admissions
If your teen is applying to any schools with rolling admissions, encourage them to get their applications in now, rather than waiting until the last minute. Since these schools admit applicants on a continuous basis, the earlier your teen applies, the better their chances of getting in.
How to talk to your teen about their reach school
Here’s expert advice on how to support your child’s dream even though they might not get in to that dream school.
January college prep to-do’s
Emotional and organizational support matters
As college application deadlines loom, continue to check in and see how you can support your teen as essays and applications come together.
Visit schools on your teen’s short list
Has your senior visited their top-choice schools yet? It鈥檚 a good idea for teens to see schools in person before making a final decision to attend (or not). Here鈥檚 how to make the most of a college visit.
Submit a midyear grade report
If any of the colleges your teen has applied to require a midyear grade report, your teen should check in with their high school counselor to make sure those grades are reported as soon as they鈥檙e available.
February college prep to-do’s
Remind your teen that grades still matter
Now’s a good time for a gentle reminder, if your teen needs one, that even though applications are done they still need to keep their grades up. Some colleges require a mid-year grade report. Others may revoke an offer of admission if a student’s grades on their final transcript don’t meet the school’s expectations. So as tempting as it may be, now’s not the time to slack off.
Talk about a gap year
Although the term is generally used to mean taking time off after high school, technically, a gap year is when students who鈥檝e been admitted to college formally request to delay their start date for a year to travel, work, or volunteer. If your teen is thinking about (or would benefit from) a gap year, talk it over. These questions can help you decide if a gap year is right for your child.
Does your teen have data skills?
Take a peek at the analytic, graphing, and data-driven decision-making skills teens need to build in high school so they’re ready for college and work.
March college prep to-do’s
Have a talk about alcohol, e-cigarettes, drugs, texting while driving, sexting, sex, and consent in college
If you don鈥檛 already have ongoing communication with your teen about these important topics, make it a part of your conversations about college culture and being an adult. Talking with your teen about sex, safety, and consent is an essential parenting responsibility.
Support your child as decision letters arrive
Accepted? Rejected? Here’s how parents can help their high school seniors put college admissions decisions in perspective.
Understand the benefits of living on campus in college
Wondering whether or not your child should live in the dorms freshman year? Research shows there are academic benefits to living on campus in college.
April college prep to-do’s
Acceptances are due soon!
Most final decisions are due, in writing, by May 1st — and most need to be accompanied by a deposit. Check your teen’s school’s deadlines and requirements. Also, remember that your child needs to decline any schools where they were admitted but won’t be attending.
It鈥檚 almost AP exam time
If your child has taken an IB or AP class this year, encourage them to register for and take the IB or AP exam next month. A score of 4 or 5 on an AP exam qualifies for college credit at most schools. Similarly, a high score on an IB exam qualifies for college credit at most schools.
On a wait list?
If your teen was waitlisted at a school they really want to go to, they should politely reach out to the admissions office on a regular basis. Encourage your teen to write a positive, upbeat letter or email about why they want to go there, ask a teacher to write an additional letter of recommendation, and let the school know about any new accomplishments. Persistence really can pay off.
Compare financial aid offers
Help your child compare financial aid offers to choose a school that鈥檚 truly the best fit. If your child has an incredible offer of aid from one school but has their heart set on another school that offered less, reach out to the financial aid office of your child’s top choice. Explain the dilemma and ask if there’s anything they can do.
Beware of for-profit colleges
For-profit colleges have been criticized for deceptive marketing, targeting students from low-income households and veterans for the federal tuition money they鈥檙e eligible for, offering poor-quality programs, low graduation rates, and for leaving students with staggering debt and few job prospects. If your child is considering a for-profit college, here’s what you should know.
To choose or not to choose… a freshman college roommate
Some schools, like Duke University, are no longer letting incoming freshmen choose their first college roommates. Here’s why.
Considering a college less academically rigorous than high school?
The concept of “undermatching“, or choosing a college that’s less academically rigorous than the student’s high school, can be bad for mental health, according to a study.
May college prep to-do’s
Congrats, it鈥檚 time to enroll!
Together with your teen, complete enrollment forms for the college your teen will attend. Your teen should have received info on enrolling in courses, orientation sessions, on-campus housing, health insurance, and other important forms.
Suggest thank you notes
Encourage your teen to write short, heartfelt thank-you notes to anyone who was particularly helpful in the college application process — the counselor, the teachers who wrote letters of recommendation, and anyone else who really helped your teen.
Does your teen have these 14 life skills?
The end of high school will be here before you know it. How prepared is your teen for adult life?
When your teen鈥檚 peers are headed to college, but your child isn’t
Help your teen formulate post-high school plans so they feel confident talking with family and friends who ask about their future.
June college prep to-do’s
Make a list of supplies to take to college
Help your high school graduate pack for dorm life with this handy list of items they’ll need.
7 things to teach your teen about credit cards
College students are flooded with credit card offers on and around campus. Here’s what to tell your teen now, before they get a card and a big balance.
12 tips for helping college students avoid theft at college
Half of all campus crimes are thefts. Here’s how to help teens keep their laptops, smartphones, bikes, and other valuables safe.
Letting go: tips for parents of new college students
After 18 years of parenting, it can be hard not to micromanage your child’s transition to college. Here is a sneak peek at the challenges ahead and some advice for how you can start preparing now.
Don’t hover
In recent years, colleges have reported that helicopter parents are making their presence felt on campus. These well-meaning parents intervene in roommate disputes, register their adult children for classes and question professors鈥� grades. Experts agree that this behavior has negative consequences for students. Here’s how you can avoid hovering.
Thank you for letting us join you on this journey
Whether you’ve used 樱桃视频.org to choose your child’s schools from a young age, subscribed to our grade-level newsletters, or simply used this timeline, we are proud to have had you as a reader. We hope that you, your child, and your family have benefited from the information, advice, and stories that we have shared over time.
