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College Planning Timeline

three young women stand under cherry trees in front of a Gothic stone building

JUNIOR YEAR

October – December

  • Visit colleges during fall break. If you can’t travel far away, visit local colleges.
  • Attend local college nights, where many colleges come together to meet informally with students.
  • Purchase college guide books such as The Princeton Review or Colleges That Change Lives.
  • Use the college search engine at collegeboard.org

January – March

  • Register to take one ACT, one SAT by the end of June. Rhodes has a permanent test-optional policy.
  • Meet with your college counselor to draft a prospective college list.
  • Investigate schools on your prospective college list.
  • Visit prospective colleges over spring break, if possible.

April – May – Early June

  • Create a resume for yourself, so when you begin to apply to colleges, you will remember your activities and honors.
  • Take AP Exams.
  • Work hard to make your junior-year grades as good as possible!

Mid-June – Mid-August

  • Continue to research schools on your prospective college list.
  • Participate in an internship, summer research project, outdoor adventure, or travel. Colleges are looking for students who take initiative and have creative ideas. Start something good this summer!
  • Visit colleges over the summer, if possible.
  • Read college literature, college guide books, and college websites.
  • Call, write, or email to get on mailing lists of all prospective schools.
  • Begin working on a college essay if your colleges require an essay.

SENIOR YEAR

Mid-August – September

  • If you have one, meet with your college counselor to finalize your college application list.
  • If you don’t have a college counselor, check out resources (videos, webinars, etc.) offered by The Common Application, College Board, and Princeton Review.
  • Re-register to take ACT, SAT I and SAT II, if needed. Rhodes has a permanent test optional policy. 
  • Work on college application essays.
  • Decide which teachers you’ll ask to write your recommendation letter.
  • Complete your to be considered for early scholarship opportunities.

October

  • Give your college counselor his/her portion of application at least two weeks early.
  • Confirm plans for your teacher recommendation.

December 1

  • Priority deadline for merit scholarships

February 15

  • Typical “priority” deadline for the financial aid application (FAFSA).

April 1: 

  • Traditional admission notification deadline for selective, non-rolling admission cycles.

May 1: 

  • Candidate Reply Date. Make sure you have committed to go to ONE school by this date, and that you have notified all others who accepted you that you will not be attending.