August 1: Common Application and college-specific supplements go live for 2023/2024.

August 1: University of California application opens for applicants for fall 2024.

Rising seniors, reach out to your counselor or a trusted teacher to review a draft of your college essay. Make necessary edits by the end of the month.

August 4: Registration deadline for September 9, 2023 ACT.

August 15: Late registration deadline for August 26, 2023 SAT.

August 18: Late registration deadline for September 9, 2023 ACT.

Rising seniors, add colleges to your “My Colleges” list on the Common App. Review supplements for all colleges on your list to determine what additional work is required.

August 26: SAT. 

End of August: Submit all Rolling Admissions applications. Many state and public colleges/universities have Rolling Admissions programs. The sooner you get the application submitted to these schools, the better!

Rising seniors, continue to visit colleges and do virtual tours.

Rising seniors, consider applying Early Decision and/or Early Action.

Rising seniors, begin working on supplements for Early Decision and/or Early Action programs.

Rising seniors, email your counselor and the teachers writing on your behalf about summer experiences, your college list, and any updates on your college search.

Seniors set up a formal meeting with your counselor to review your final college list.

For students submitting test scores this year for the colleges that require official score reports, send score reports now for Early Decision and Early Action programs. This will ensure the scores arrive in plenty of time before the deadline.

Seniors visit colleges in person or virtually.

See your counselor to review and sign off on your high school transcript. Make sure all grades and courses listed are accurate. If you are applying to test-optional colleges, request that all test scores are removed from the transcript.

September 1: Standby deadline for September 9, 2023 ACT.

September 7: Registration deadline for October 7, 2023 SAT.

September 9: ACT.

September 22: Registration deadline for October 28, 2023 ACT.

September 26: Late registration deadline for October 7, 2023 SAT.

CHECKPOINT: Seniors send thank you notes to the counselor and teachers writing for you.

October 1: CSS Profile (financial aid form) available.

October 1: University of California and California State University: Cal Grant Verification Form opens for CA applicants (filing period open through March 2, 2024).

October 1: University of California fall 2024 admission application filing period begins for all applicants (filing period open through November 30, 2023).

TIP: The Net Price Calculator is available on most colleges’ financial aid websites to help families determine estimated costs.

October 2: PSAT/NMSQT testing begins.

October 5: Registration deadline for November 4, 2023 SAT.

October 6: Late registration deadline for October 28, 2023 ACT.

October 7: SAT.

October 14: PSAT/NMSQT Saturday test date.

October 20: Standby deadline for October 28, 2023 ACT.

October 21: Around this date, the CSS Profile applications will be submitted to participating colleges and scholarship programs for the 2024-25 school year.

October 24: Late registration deadline for November 4, 2023 SAT.

October 28: ACT.

October 31: PSAT/NMSQT testing ends.

November 1: Early Decision and Early Action deadlines.

November 2: Registration deadline for December 2, 2023 SAT.

November 3: Registration deadline for December 9, 2023 ACT.

November 4: SAT.

November 15: Early Decision and Early Action deadlines. 

November 17: Late registration deadline for December 9, 2023 ACT.

November 21: Late registration deadline for December 2, 2023 SAT.

November 30: University of California fall 2024 admission application deadline.

Remind your counselor to send first quarter grades from senior year to any Early Decision and/or Early Action school. These grades are typically not required for Early Decision and Early Action programs. However, if they are very strong, it can make a positive impact on a student’s application.

If admitted to an Early Decision program, immediately withdraw all other applications.

TBD: FAFSA available (Note: While each U.S. state may have a final deadline, individual college and universities will have a school specific deadline usually earlier than the state's final deadline.)

December 1: Standby deadline for December 9, 2023 ACT.

December 2: SAT.

December 9: ACT.

Mid-December: Most Early Action and Early Decision programs notify.

Regular Decision and Early Decision 2 deadlines are typically January 1st through January 15th.

January 5: Registration deadline for February 10, 2024 ACT.

January 19: Late registration deadline for February 10, 2024 ACT.

Send enrollment deposit if admitted to an Early Decision school.

Mid-January: Send an email update if you were deferred from your first choice college. Let them know that it remains your first choice and explain the reasons why.

Early February: Seniors contact your counselor and update them on your top choices. 

February 2: Standby deadline for February 10, 2024 ACT.

February 10: ACT.

Mid-February: Seniors follow up with your counselor to ensure first semester grades/mid-year reports are sent to all colleges.

Students taking the digital SAT who need to borrow a device from College Board will need to register and request their device earlier than the registration deadline—at least 30 days before test day.

February 23: Registration deadline for March 9, 2024 SAT (digital).

TBD: Late registration deadline for March 9, 2024 SAT (digital).

Juniors sign up for mailing lists at colleges.

Early to Late March: Admissions decisions for most Regular Decision programs are released.

This month the SAT goes digital for U.S. high school students.

March 1: University of California notification of fall 2024 admission decisions begins.

March 8: Registration deadline for April 13, 2024 ACT.

March 9: SAT (digital).

March 22: Late registration deadline for April 13, 2024 ACT.

Juniors start visiting colleges over Spring Break.

The PSAT 10 is offered to tenth graders beginning March 4, 2024 and ending April 26, 2024. Check with your counselor for more information on whether or not your high school offers this test.

Early April: Seniors looking for more financial aid should request re-evaluation forms and send them in as soon as possible.

Early April: Seniors update Naviance, your counselor, and the teachers who wrote letters of recommendation for you about your college decisions.

Early April: Seniors hoping to get off a waitlist at certain institutions should communicate their interest by following the specific instructions provided by the school.

April 5: Standby deadline for April 13, 2024 ACT.

April 13: ACT.

April 19: Registration deadline for May 4, 2024 SAT (digital).

TBD: Late Registration deadline for May 4, 2024 SAT (digital).

Seniors register and attend on-campus accepted student programs.

Seniors register and attend any receptions for accepted students in your local area.

Juniors start visiting colleges over Spring Break.

The PSAT 10 is offered to tenth graders beginning March 4, 2024 and ending April 26, 2024. Check with your counselor for more information on whether or not your high school offers this test.

Early May: Juniors speak to your counselor about which teachers to ask for letters of recommendation for college applications.

May 1: National response deadline and enrollment deposits due.

May 1: University of California deadline for fall 2024 admitted freshman to submit Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to their chosen campus. 

May 3: Registration deadline for June 8, 2024 ACT.

May 4: SAT (digital).

May 6-17: AP exams. (NOTE: Be sure to check with your high school or on the AP website for specific dates by subject.)

Mid-May: Juniors send an email to two academic teachers from 10th/11th grade to request a meeting (in person, if possible) to ask them to write letters of recommendation.

May 17: Registration deadline for June 1, 2024 SAT (digital).

May 17: Late registration deadline for June 8, 2024 ACT.

May 22-24: AP exam late-testing dates.

May 31: Standby deadline or June 8, 2024 ACT.

TBD: Late registration deadline for June 1, 2024 SAT (digital).

Juniors start writing down possible topics for your college essay.

Juniors sign up for summer SAT or ACT test prep class and/or secure a private tutor.

June 1: SAT (digital).

June 7: Registration deadline for July 13, 2024 ACT. *No test centers are scheduled in New York.

June 8: ACT.

June 21: Late registration deadline for July 13, 2024 ACT. *No test centers are scheduled in New York.

Juniors stop in to see your counselor and both teachers that will be writing for you before the end of the school year. Wish them well for the summer.

UC enrolled students be sure to have your official transcript sent on or before July 1.

July 1: University of California students enrolled for fall 2024: Final, official transcripts must be sent to the campus admissions office. Transcripts must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before July 1.

July 5: Standby deadline for July 13, 2024 ACT. *No test centers are scheduled in New York.

July 13: ACT *No test centers are scheduled in New York.

July 15: University of California students admitted for fall 2024: Official AP, IB examination results must be sent to the campus admissions office. Test scores must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before July 15.

Last week of July: Common App “refreshes” and is offline.

TBD: Registration deadline for August 2024 SAT.

Rising seniors draft and make edits to your college essay.

Rising seniors visit colleges.

Checkpoint: All students should pursue some aspect of their personal passion at least once this summer.