Fall To-Do List For College-Bound Seniors

Students are heading back to school in the next few weeks. If you’re a college-bound high school senior (or the parent of one), fasten your seat belt…this first semester’s gonna be a bumpy ride.

Exciting as this time can be, there are lots of balls to keep in the air, including:

Course Check. Are you on track to complete the University of California and California State University A-G requirements? How about the minimum requirements for other colleges you’re interested in?
Essays. If you haven’t started already, get going on your essays. A good essay takes time to evolve and, depending upon the number of schools you apply to, chances are you will have several to write.
Testing. You’ve probably already taken the SAT and/or ACT, but if you plan to take another shot at those tests, you’ll need to register soon. In most cases, standardized tests need to be taken by the end of December in order to qualify for Fall 2015 admission.
Recommendations. Many colleges require letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors. You’ll want to give your recommenders as much time as possible for this task, considering the long line of people who will be hitting them up for the same thing over the next few months.
College List. You should be finalizing your college list. Do deep research to find your best-fit schools and create a balanced list of safety, target, and reach schools. Every school that makes your final list should be one that you would be happy to attend.
Applications. Once you make your list, you will need to complete and submit applications. Deadlines vary from school to school. Remember that the UC and CSU applications are due on the early end—by November 30. Among schools that accept Early Action or Early Decision admissions, you will probably need to submit your applications around November 1.
Grades. This is not the time to slack off. Stay on top of your classwork and keep up your grades. Colleges have been known to rescind their acceptance of students whose grades slid in 12th grade.
Calendar. There is no wiggle room with these deadlines. Take the time to record every due date on a calendar, then monitor them frequently to make sure you’re on track.