Applying
The college application timeline: what to do and when
A month-by-month college application timeline for junior and senior year: when to build your list, take tests, write essays, ask for recommendations, and hit deadlines.
8-minute read
Most of the stress in college applications comes from doing everything at once in the fall of senior year. It does not have to be that way. Spread across junior and senior year, the work is manageable and the results are better. Here is what to do and when, so nothing sneaks up on you.
Step one is your list
The timeline starts with knowing where you are applying. Blueprint's free quiz builds your best-fit college list in ten minutes, so the rest of the calendar has a target.
1Junior year, fall and winter: explore
Start early and low-pressure. Keep your grades up, junior-year grades are the last full year colleges see before deciding. Begin thinking about what you want in a college: size, location, cost, majors. Take a practice SAT or ACT to see where you stand. No commitments yet, just exploration.
2Junior year, spring: build the list and test
This is when it gets real. Build a balanced list of reach, target, and safety schools based on fit and cost, not fame. Take the SAT or ACT, with time to retake in the fall if needed. Line up which teachers you will ask for recommendations, and ask before summer if you can. Start brainstorming your main essay.
3Summer before senior year: write
The most valuable stretch, and the most wasted. With no classes, this is when you draft your Common App essay and get it to a real second draft. Finalize your college list. Fill in your activities list. Every hour here is an hour you are not scrambling for in October.
4Senior year, fall: apply
Now it comes together. Confirm recommendation letters and give recommenders your deadlines and a brag sheet. Finish and revise your main essay, and write the school-specific supplements. Submit early applications, Early Decision or Early Action, in November. Complete the FAFSA and any CSS Profile as early as you can.
5Senior year, winter: finish and file
Submit your Regular Decision applications by their December and January deadlines. Double-check that every college has received your transcript, scores if you are sending them, and letters. Keep your grades up, colleges see your senior-year grades and can rescind offers. Finish all financial aid forms.
6Senior year, spring: decide
Decisions and aid offers arrive. Compare net prices, not sticker prices, across your offers. Visit if you can. Make your choice by the May 1 deposit deadline. Then thank the teachers and counselor who helped get you there.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start my college applications?
Begin exploring in junior year and build your list by spring. The main writing happens the summer before senior year, so you are not rushing in the fall.
When are college applications due?
Early Decision and Early Action are usually due in November; Regular Decision deadlines fall in December and January. The enrollment deposit is typically due May 1.
When should I take the SAT or ACT?
Aim for spring of junior year, with time to retake in the fall of senior year if you want a higher score.
When should I ask for recommendation letters?
Before the end of junior year or at the very start of senior fall, and at least a month before your earliest deadline.
Start the timeline with your list
Blueprint's free quiz sorts your reach, target, and safety schools from real data. Build the list first, then work the timeline. Free for every student.
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