Most planning timelines start junior year. That's a year too late.
The students who get their first choice started sophomore year. Here's the grade-by-grade timeline that works — and what you can skip.
Start here
The College Planning Checklist
A month-by-month college planning checklist from freshman year through decision day, including what to prioritize if you're starting late.
Get the timeline→Your step-by-step path
Follow these steps in order. Each one builds on the last.
4-Year Planning Checklist
An interactive grade-by-grade checklist that tracks what to do from freshman year through senior spring.
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The College Planning Checklist
A month-by-month college planning checklist from freshman year through decision day, including what to prioritize if you're starting late.
12 min readHow to Build a College List
The 3-tier system for building a college list that balances reach, match, and safety schools without wasting application fees or selling yourself short.
9 min readCollege Visit Checklist
A college visit checklist with specific questions to ask, red flags to watch for, and what admissions tours hide. Make every campus visit count.
9 min readAll guides
Browse by topic
Planning by Grade
What to do each year from freshman through senior spring.
Building Your List
How to research schools, visit campuses, and pick safety/reach targets.
Transfers & Alternatives
Community college, gap years, dual enrollment, and transfer paths.
Special Paths
Guides for athletes, students with disabilities, international students, and more.