Month-by-month college planning calendar for senior year

Senior year of high school is a very exciting time – it’s also a very busy time. Between spending time with friends, researching colleges, and preparing for graduation, there’s a lot going on. To help you stay on top of it, we’ve put together this month-by-month college planning calendar for your senior year.

College planning calendar: Monthly checklist

From August before your high school classes start to August after your graduation, here are must-do tasks you'll need to do over the next 13 months.

August

During August, you'll want to really start focusing on your college list. Applications may not be due until the start of January, but you'll need to start your search early to find the schools that fit you.

• Consider goals for your major and future career
• List "must-haves" and "nice-to-have" college features
• Research potential colleges that meet your goals
• Review Top Colleges and Hidden Gems lists for ideas
• Create your college list, which includes at least 10-15 schools across safety, match, and reach categories
• Attend college fairs and information sessions
• As you compare your options, cross schools off the master list
• Brainstorm college essay topics
• Schedule an SAT or ACT date for September or October
• Set academic goals for your senior year
• Create a professional email, if you haven't already

September

In September, as classes start or ramp up, start finalizing your college list.

• Ask your teachers, advisors, coaches, etc., for letters of recommendation now to give them plenty of time to write them
• Complete the list of colleges you want to apply to (you can always add to it)
• Continue working on college essays or supplemental essays
• Decide if you want to apply to colleges under early action, early decision, or regular decision
• Mark application deadlines on your calendar for each college
• Attend college tours and visit campuses
• Use a Scholarship Search tool to find scholarships
• Prepare for and/or take the SAT/ACT

October

In October, you'll want to continue working on your applications and wrapping them up if you're submitting any under early decision or early action.

• File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after it becomes available on October 1
• Talk to your parents about affording and paying for college
• Continue attending college fairs and visiting campuses
• Keep applying for scholarships and writing your college essays
• Begin filling out college applications
• Submit college applications for early decision and early action before the schools' deadlines
• Prepare for and/or take the SAT/ACT

November

Regular decision deadlines are just a few weeks away. You'll want to continue working on your applications.

• Review your final college lists; you only have a few more weeks to apply before regular decision deadlines
• Continue working on your college applications, essays, and scholarship applications
• Consider signing up for a final SAT/ACT in December
• Complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile (if necessary) if you haven't already
• Work hard in school to maintain or increase your GPA

December

Between the holidays, mid-terms, and college applications, your December will likely be hectic.

• Review any replies from early action and early decision applications
• Proofread and finalize your college essays
• Submit regular decision applications before the deadlines, usually January 1
• Confirm colleges have everything, including transcripts and letters of recommendation
• Take the ACT/SAT a final time
• Continue applying for scholarships
• Study for your mid-terms
• Take some time for you over the holiday break

January

For most students, college applications are behind them, but there are still a few things on your to-do list.

• Complete financial aid applications if you haven't already and submit any requested information
• If you applied to any additional schools, make sure they're listed on your SAT, ACT, and FAFSA, so they get the results
• Keep applying for scholarships
• Note expected dates for acceptance letters from colleges
• Verify your contact information is correct for your decision letters
• Continue working hard in school
• If you were accepted to an early decision school, you likely need to submit your deposit
• Consider opening a student credit card to begin building credit

February

In February, you might start to see some acceptance letters coming in from select schools.

• Check your email and mail regularly for any updates from your college
• Complete any requested tasks from your schools as soon as possible
• Attend college interviews, if required
• Continue applying for those scholarships
• Search for and apply to summer jobs or internships

March

Most colleges and universities start sending decision letters in March.

• Narrow down college choices and make a final decision
• Compare financial aid offer letters from each college
• Send in any required enrollment deposits
• Continue searching for and applying to summer jobs or internships
• Check for any extra paperwork required by the chosen college
• Visit college campuses for schools you've been accepted to

April

You should have all of your regular decision letters by mid-April.

• Review and compare all of your decision and financial aid offer letters
• Reach out to colleges if you haven't received regular decision or financial aid offer letters by mid-April
• Apply to rolling admissions schools if you weren't satisfied with your acceptances
• Review finances with your parents and discuss the plan for paying for college
• Visit college campuses you're accepted to, and take accepted student tours, if available
• Prepare for AP and final exams
• Choose the college you'll be attending in the fall

May

By the start of May, you need to choose a college. By the end, you'll be wrapping up (or have wrapped up) your senior year.

• Notify colleges of your decision by May 1 (National College Decision Day)
• Let other schools where you've been accepted know your decision to attend elsewhere and thank them for their offer
• Send in your required college deposit to secure your spot
• Submit any additional documentation your college needs
• Choose an orientation date
• Plan for graduation and any related activities
• Take or prepare for your AP exams and finals
• Graduate! (if you have a May graduation)
• Select or start thinking about your dorm room
• Start creating a packing list for college

June

In June, you'll either have graduated from high school or your graduation is fast approaching. Congratulations!

• Graduate—and celebrate!
• Set up your college account and email, if you haven't already
• Complete any leftover college paperwork
• Make sure your college received your final transcripts and any other necessary information from your high school
• Work a summer job to save money for college
• Attend college orientation (if your college offers it at this time)
• Think about or select your first semester courses

July

By July, high school is in your rearview mirror – and college is straight ahead.

• Make sure your college receives all of your AP exam scores and transcripts
• Take any required placement tests for college-level courses
• Submit your medical records, housing deposit, and any other required documents
• Select a meal plan
• Review all emails you receive from your college
• Finalize any other required college tasks
• Accept your financial aid offer
• Take some time for yourself, and spend time with family and friends
• Open savings and checking accounts for college, and set up direct deposit for any extra financial aid you might receive
• Talk to your parents about finances, college life, and your goals
• Introduce yourself to your roommate
• Learn life skills and maintain healthy habits

August (Incoming college freshmen)

The start of classes is just a couple of weeks away! There are a few last-minute things you need to do.

• Finalize your class schedule
• Finish your packing list, and pack
• Make sure you don't bring any prohibited items to your dorm
• Talk with your roommate and discuss who is bringing what, so you don't have duplicates of major appliances or large furniture
• Discuss when you'll come back home to visit your parents, when they can visit, and when you'll call
• Buy books and supplies for your classes
• Review course syllabuses
• Receive financial aid and pay for college
• Move in!

This August-August list of your senior year and the summer after you graduate covers a whole host of tasks you need to complete before you can go to college. You might have a few things to add, though, so we recommend creating a duplicate of this document, adding your tasks, and crossing off items as you finish them.

Wondering what you need to do before senior year?

• Freshman College Planning Checklist
• Sophomore College Planning Checklist
• Junior College Planning Checklist
• Senior College Planning Checklist

Looking to get started on your college search? Use our college planning platform's College Match tool and let us help match you to colleges based on GPA, major, location, test scores, and culture!