Here’s what to do month-by-month, year-by-year, to get your high school student prepped for and successfully through the college application process.
The road to college can be complicated and confusing for students and parents alike. We’ve gathered unbiased and comprehensive information from multiple expert sources to create an inclusive timeline to help all aspiring college students — and their families — stay on top of the steps involved in applying to college.
Getting into college involves so much more than filling out an application. Our college prep timelines begin in 9th grade, helping parents and students understand concepts like the important distinction between classes that count toward high school graduation but not for college admission; the importance of seeking out academic and extracurricular challenges, and the nuts and bolts of helping students learn to manage their time, participate in class discussions, and practice effective study habits. For sophomores and juniors, our timelines go deeper into helping students develop a college mentality, becoming stronger readers and writers, and helping students consider their personal learning and career goals and the different routes they might take to achieve their dreams.
For high school seniors, there are a lot of important decisions to make. Our interactive 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.
Want more? Check out our articles about college prep, being the first in the family to go to college, and saving for college.