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.
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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.
Finding a College Planning Advisor
9 min readHow to Prepare for College in High School
11 min readWhen to Start Preparing for Grad School
9 min readBuilding Your List
How to research schools, visit campuses, and pick safety/reach targets.
Safety Schools That Are Actually Good
9 min readTransfers & Alternatives
Community college, gap years, dual enrollment, and transfer paths.
Community College Transfer Guide
10 min readDual Enrollment vs AP Credits
10 min readGap Year Pros and Cons
10 min readShould You Take a Gap Year?
9 min readHow to Transfer Colleges
10 min readSpecial Paths
Guides for athletes, students with disabilities, international students, and more.
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Accreditation Overhaul Passes Key Vote
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4 min readCollege Accreditation Rules Are Changing
5 min readColleges Are Cutting Majors and Jobs
5 min readCollege Enrollment May Have Just Peaked
5 min readCollege Faculty Buyouts: What It Means
5 min readThe 2026 Enrollment Cliff Explained
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5 min readLabouré Nursing School Closes in August
5 min readLourdes University Closes This May
5 min readMay 1 Is Closer Than You Think
4 min readTwo MA Colleges to Offer 3-Year Degrees
4 min readA Quarter of Private Colleges May Close
5 min read442 Private Colleges May Close
5 min readRising Junior Summer Checklist 2026
6 min readIs a 3-Year College Degree Worth It?
5 min readUT System Cuts Faculty Appeal Rights
4 min readArticulation Agreements Explained Simply
9 min readGoing Back to College After Dropping Out
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10 min readDouble Major vs Minor
10 min readMilitary to College Transition Guide
10 min readSafe College Paths for Undocumented Students
11 min readWhat Is a College Credit?
10 min readWhat Is a College Minor?
10 min readStatistics & data
What's new in planning
All news →More University Budget Cuts in July 2026
University of Minnesota, Temple, LSU, and UCLA all cut staff this month while raising tuition. What it means for students choosing colleges this fall.
Jul 7Saint Louis University Cuts 80 Positions
SLU eliminated 80 faculty and staff positions after enrollment fell 13% in one year. What it signals for students choosing a private college right now.
Jun 30Two MA Colleges to Offer 3-Year Degrees
Massachusetts approved 3-year bachelor's degree pilots at Merrimack College and Suffolk University on June 26. Here's what students need to know.
Jun 26How Michigan Is Getting Men Into College
Michigan is running training fairs, free tuition, and pizza box outreach to close a 13-point gender gap in college enrollment. Here's what the data shows.