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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5 min readCollege Faculty Buyouts: What It Means
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5 min readMay 1 Is Closer Than You Think
4 min readA Quarter of Private Colleges May Close
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5 min readUT System Cuts Faculty Appeal Rights
4 min readArticulation Agreements Explained Simply
9 min readGoing Back to College After Dropping Out
10 min readCan You Go to College at Any Age?
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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 →How 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.
Jun 9College Enrollment May Have Just Peaked
Spring 2026 enrollment hit 15.5 million undergrads. Experts say this is likely the peak. What the demographic cliff means for your college plans.
Jun 7College Budget Cuts Aren't Slowing Down
This week, Ursinus cut 15% of staff, Harvard FAS laid off three deans, and UConn eliminated PhD spots. What it means for your college choice.
May 272.8 Million Students Take Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment doubled to 2.8M students, but a new Helios/FSU study finds most lack advising or a clear transfer plan. Here's what families should do.