
College Majors
Practical advice for selecting the right college, nailing your exams, navigating the application process and choosing your major.
Some college applications are due this month.
Submit enrollment deposits for early decision admissions.
Follow up on any applications you’ve submitted online.
Thinking about taking Advanced Placement® exams? Look at previous exams online to get a feel for which ones you’ll be good at.
Not yet sure where you want to go to college next year? Use Spring Break to visit colleges.
Still don’t know where to go? Try to schedule one last tour of your top choices.
Talk to your parents, teachers and counselor about what school is the best fit, and maybe create a spreadsheet looking at the pros and cons of each choice. You have until Decision Day (May 1) to express your intent to attend. Don’t forget to notify the remaining schools that you will not attend.
You did a good job this year! But your mentors, teachers and counselor helped. Make sure to write them thank you letters and deliver them before school is out.
Ask your school to send your final transcripts to your college if required.
If your college offers a summer orientation, you should definitely consider attending. It could make the transition easier in the fall.
If you’re taking AP classes, your exams should be happening soon. Study up, and consider taking a prep course. Good scores mean you might be able to opt out of some required freshman courses.
Orientation can give you valuable information about your school. Register now if you haven’t already. You should also start looking through the course catalog.
Dig in to get a better sense of the facilities, as well as their recommended list of what to bring with you freshman year.
Get in touch and start building a rapport. Discuss shared experiences, study habits and lifestyle preferences.
You might need a lot of supplies for school, from bedding to dishes and a mini-fridge. Talk to your roommate about what they’re bringing so you don’t double up.
By September, college is in session, which means now’s a great time to plan and budget for college visits. Start your list of what campuses you want to check out.
Didn’t love the score you got on your SAT exam, ACT exam or SAT Subject Tests the first time around? There are upcoming tests in October you can start studying for.
Look at requirements for all the schools where you plan on applying. Don’t forget to apply to at least one academic safety school and one easily affordable school that can serve as a financial safety.
Start brainstorming topics for college essays and jotting down notes for early drafts.
Start tracking your college list, application deadlines and requirements in a spreadsheet.
Ensure you are meeting all your requirements for graduation.
Ask teachers and other mentors for letters of recommendation for college. Pick adults that have an intimate knowledge of your work and can write with specificity.
Find out which admissions reps are visiting your high school for informative sessions or college fairs, and set up time to meet with the colleges you’re interested in.
Register now to grab a test date in October.
Whether you’re applying early decision or regular decision, get a start on those applications now.
Applying early action or early decision? Check your due dates (either Nov 1 or 15) and send your applications out before the deadline.
Ask your school to send your transcripts to each college you’re applying to. If your school will let you, keep a few on hand for college applications when your high school administrators are particularly busy.
You should be finishing up your college essays. Once you’ve written what feels like your final drafts, give them to trusted mentors for feedback.
If you’re planning to apply Early Action or Early Decision, the deadlines are typically Nov 1 or 15, but may be open through Dec 1.
December is your last chance to retake the ACT or SAT exam this year. The registration deadline is in early November.
Regular decision applications are due starting in December (though some can be as early as November). Finish them up before the holidays.
Double-check that your transcripts have been sent to any college you applied to.
If you’re signed up to take them, the SAT exam is on Dec 7 and the ACT exam is on Dec 14
If you applied early decision, you might start to hear back. If you got in, make sure to withdraw applications from other colleges you applied to.
Finish the semester strong and study hard for your exams.
Start planning next semester. There’s still time to impress colleges with challenging classes and activities.