What To Do When:
8th Grade
Late Spring
When your student is completing middle school, it is the right time to discuss how to make the most of the high school experience. In 9th grade, students discover what kind of learners they are and what they are passionate about, in and out of the classroom. Therefore, the impact of the transcript and extracurricular activities on the college application will be the focus of any conversations parents or guardians have with Darren.
During the first year of high school, students should prioritize developing time-management and study skills to enable their academic success.
10th Grade
Late Winter or
Early Spring
The timeline for standardized testing has moved up from the fall of the junior year to the spring of the sophomore year for an increasing number of students. Between February and April of the 10th-grade year, there is sufficient time to develop a testing strategy. This begins with scheduling diagnostic practice ACT and SAT exams in the spring to determine which test best suits your student. Then, test prep will run from late spring through the summer to sit for an exam in the fall of 11th grade.*
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If your student is not ready to begin test prep by the end of 10th grade, waiting until late fall of 11th grade to begin test prep and take the exam in late winter or early spring will not delay your student's college process.
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*Darren is happy to recommend a test prep provider.​
11th Grade
Early Spring
The junior year is when the inquiry or search phase of the college process takes center stage. Understanding the theory and purpose behind building a balanced college list, as well as learning how to research colleges and approach campus visits, is crucial.
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Through self-reflection, your student will identify and articulate their preferred college experience and which institutions they believe offer the best fit.
11th Grade
Late Spring
As your student’s college list begins to take shape, it is time to turn their attention to developing their Personal Statement or Common Application Essay*.
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Late spring is also when a student should ask two academic teachers for letters of recommendation and begin developing their Activities List.​
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*The Essay & Supplements Plan and Complete Package include full support of your student's application writing.
Summer Between
11th and 12th Grade
The summer before the senior year is when students should complete the bulk of the Common Application, continue visiting campuses, and, if necessary, conclude their standardized testing preparation for an exam in the summer or early fall.
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By having much of the application filled out when school resumes in the fall, your student’s energies can be devoted toward excelling in their high school classes, completing their Activities List, and strengthening and solidifying their Personal Essay and any School-specific Supplements they may be required to submit.
12th Grade
Early Fall
The senior year begins with an intense push to complete the application, especially if your student is comfortable submitting any early applications: Early Decision (ED), which is binding, and/or Early Action (EA), which is non-binding. The majority of early application deadlines are November 1st or 15th, but some institutions have deadlines as early as October 15th.
When a student is working toward an early deadline, the Personal Essay should be completed by mid-to-late September, so that any School-specific Supplements can be the focus in early October.
The aim is to have the early applications ready to submit a week or so before the deadline.
If your family will be applying for Financial Aid, now is the time to prepare to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and the CSS Profile, which, alongside the FAFSA, is also required by many institutions.*
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*Though Darren has expertise in supporting families applying for aid, he is happy to suggest an advisor who specializes in this area.
12th Grade
Late Fall
The college list for Regular Decision (RD) should be finalized by Thanksgiving. By establishing a complete and well-balanced list now, the focus can shift to completing any School-specific Supplements before the winter holiday break from school and, if applicable, the receipt of any ED or EA decisions in mid-December.
It is also a good idea to identify an Early Decision II (EDII) school at this time. If your student is not admitted to their ED school, the emotions that accompany receiving such news often make thinking clearly difficult. Therefore, having a plan in place before receiving any early decisions is paramount.
The goal is to have all RD applications completed and ready to submit several days before the winter holiday break.
12th Grade
Early Winter
ED admissions decisions are released in mid-December, whereas the majority of EA decisions are released in late January.
Because RD applications are due on January 1st or 15th, unless a student has applied to one of the few institutions that release EA decisions in mid-December, it is unlikely that the plan for RD will change in response to an EA offer of admission.
If your student applies EDII, they will receive their admissions decision in mid-February.
12th Grade
Spring
RD admissions decisions are released in mid-March, and Admitted Student Events run through April, giving your student sufficient time to decide where to enroll by the May 1st deposit deadline.
When students apply to a well-balanced group of institutions, they often reap the benefits of having many options.
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Should your student be interested in deferring their enrollment to pursue a Gap Year, Darren is happy to recommend an advisor who specializes in this area.
