College Application Checklist 2025–26: What to Do Every Month

September–October: Meet with your school counselor. Understand which courses colleges look for — AP, IB, dual enrollment. Start taking the hardest courses you can handle. Course rigor is the number one factor in college admissions, more than GPA alone. Join 1–2 activities you genuinely care about. November–May: Maintain strong grades — 9th grade GPA counts. Explore interests outside school. Read about colleges casually — no pressure yet.

September–December: Take the PSAT 10 for practice. Start a spreadsheet tracking your activities, hours, and any awards. Attend a local college fair to get a feel for the process. January–May: Consider taking a baseline SAT or ACT practice test. Research summer programs — many have January–March deadlines. Notable programs: Johns Hopkins CTY, MIT PRIMES, RSI, Governor's schools (often free), community college dual enrollment.

Junior year grades and test scores matter most to colleges. September–October: Take the PSAT/NMSQT — the qualifying test for National Merit Scholarship. Cutoff scores vary by state, typically 1400–1520. Start a college list of 10–15 schools across reach, match, and safety tiers. November–December: Take SAT or ACT for the first time. Request letters of recommendation before winter break. January–March: Apply to competitive summer programs. Retake SAT/ACT if needed. April–May: Finalize your college list. Visit campuses. Take AP exams. June–August: Write your Common App essay first draft in June, revise through August. Start supplemental essay research. Check your admission chances at every school on your list.

September: Finalize Common App essay and get feedback. October 1: FAFSA opens — file immediately. CSS Profile opens for private colleges — file immediately. Submit Early Decision or Early Action applications by November 1–15. November–December: Submit remaining applications. Follow up with recommenders. December: ED and EA decisions released. January: Many RD applications due — do not wait until midnight. February–March: Compare financial aid award letters. Appeal awards that seem low. April: Regular Decision decisions released. May 1: National Decision Day — submit your enrollment deposit to one school.