Rising Seniors: Essential Resources, Dates, and Deadlines to Gear Up for College Application Season
We don’t want to think about summer ending either. But to make sure you’re ready for what’s ahead, we broke down some of the resources and important dates for you to be aware of as we enter the college application season.
RESOURCES
SAT/ACT study guides and practice tests
We put together a list of 8 free study guide and practice tests to help you get ready for your tests. From apps to in-person prep, take a look at our list of SAT/ACT resources. Sign up for the SAT here. ACT registration can be found here.
Essay Prep
The College Essay Guy has a podcast, blog, and helpful videos to guide you through the essay writing process and common essay mistakes to avoid.
See the College Advisor’s YouTube channel, starting with How to Tell a Unique Story to Admissions.
Financial Aid
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is an essential piece of your application process, as the FAFSA allows you to apply for financial aid. Deadlines for submission vary based on state and college, so take a look at the FAFSA website and each college’s financial aid website for the deadlines.
APPLICATION WEBSITES
Common App
The Common App is accepted by almost 900 colleges. If you haven’t started your college essay, take a look at our how-to guide here.
Coalition App
The Coalition App allows you to save your essays and notes to yourself in one place on MyCoalition Locker. Bonus: here’s our blog walking you through how to answer the 2019-20 Coalition App essay prompts.
Common Black College App
With the Common Black College Application, you can apply to 53 schools for $35 dollars. Read more about the perks and features of the Common Black College App here.
Universal Common App
The Universal Common App was created in 2007 and currently serves 10 colleges, listed here. Like the common application, the UCA allows you to apply to multiple colleges with the same application. Some schools have the Common Application and the Universal Common Application, a couple only accept the UCA.
TEST DATES
SAT Test Dates
Find additional dates and registration information at the College Board.
ACT Test Dates
COLLEGE APPLICATION DEADLINES
Deadlines vary by college, so always check with the individual college first.
Early Decision / Early Action usually takes place between November 1 and November 15.
Regular Admissions usually falls between January 1 and February 1.
Rolling Admissions means the college takes applications as they come in, until their incoming class is filled.
Before the end of summer, jot down the important deadlines and make sure you have an idea of when you’re taking your SAT or ACT tests. Enjoy the rest of your break!
