College Admission Timeline

SOPHOMORE YEAR

October

  • PSAT (for practice)

May

  • Class meeting with the college counselor


JUNIOR YEAR

September/October

  • College Fair at Hargrave
  • Parents Weekend: Junior Parent and Student Workshop

October

  • PSAT

December through May

  • College prep class once a week

January through May

  • SAT Reasoning; ACT; SAT Subject Tests taken for the first time

February through May

  • At least two individual counseling sessions with college counselor

April through May

  • Junior Parent Workshop(s)

May

  • English classes write an experiential essay

By June

  • “Long list” of colleges

SUMMER (on own)

  • Visit college campuses; interview if possible
  • Take SAT prep class or study on own
  • Read!
  • Work on essay(s)


SENIOR YEAR

September

  • Individual counseling sessions with college counselor
  • “Short list” of colleges w/ deadlines & testing requirements
  • “Target dates” set
  • Ask teachers for recommendations
  • Senior English IV classes write experiential essay

Sepember/October

  • Parents Weekend – Senior Parent and Student Workshop

September through November

  • College prep class once a week

September through January

  • At least three opportunities to re-take SAT’s and/or AC

September through April

  • College visits (on own)

October

  • Senior college visits (two days off from school)

October through November

  • Early decision (ED) and other “early” applications completed and mailed

December

  • Colleges mail ED decisions to applicants
  • All “regular” applications to be completed (December 1-15)
  • CC office mails college financial aid packet to families (mid-December)

January through April

  • Colleges mail “rolling” and “regular” decisions to applicants

February

  • Families complete and submit college financial aid applications

May 1

  • Universal reply date for college commitments and deposits