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What to do, grade by grade, from middle school through senior year

College Prep Timeline

Grades 7–8 (Middle School)

  • Build study habits and time-management skills now — they compound, and they're far easier to develop before the stakes rise
  • Take the most challenging courses available to you, particularly in math; the sequence you're placed in now often determines whether Calculus is possible by senior year
  • Read widely and often. Reading comprehension and writing fluency are the foundation for everything that follows — testing, essays, coursework, all of it
  • Explore extracurriculars broadly rather than specializing early. Genuine interest, not an eye toward a future application, should guide you here
  • There's no need for test prep or college research yet. This stage is about the foundation, not the timeline

Grade 9 (Freshman Year)

  • This is the first year that appears on your official transcript — grades matter starting now, not just "starting junior year"
  • Meet your college counselor and understand how advising works at Donovan
  • Choose courses with an eye toward long-term rigor, building toward Honors/AP/IB coursework by junior and senior year
  • Commit meaningfully to one or two activities rather than spreading thin across many
  • Start a running record of activities, honors, and interests as they happen — you'll need this later, and memory fades faster than you'd expect

Grade 10 (Sophomore Year)

  • Take the PSAT in October as a practice run — at most schools this doesn't count toward National Merit recognition yet, but it's valuable diagnostic data
  • Continue building course rigor for junior year, in consultation with your counselor
  • Deepen your commitment in core activities; look for early leadership opportunities
  • Begin informal college research. You don't need a list yet — just a developing sense of what you're drawn to (size, setting, environment, distance from home)
  • If you're taking AP exams this year, register by the College Board's fall deadline

Grade 11 (Junior Year) — the most consequential year of the process

Fall

  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October — this is the version that counts toward National Merit recognition
  • Meet with your counselor to begin formal college planning
  • Sustain the most rigorous course load you can handle well; junior year grades carry significant weight in admissions review
  • Take the SAT and/or ACT

Winter–Spring

  • Begin building your college list in earnest, across reach, target, and safety categories — ask your counselor for historical data on how students with similar academic profiles have fared at each school
  • Identify two or three teachers, ideally in core academic subjects, who know your work well — these are your likely recommenders
  • Complete Dual Enrollment Applications
  • Register early for any summer SAT/ACT dates you still need

Summer before senior year

  • Visit colleges if you're able to — even a few visits sharpen your sense of fit considerably
  • Begin brainstorming and drafting your personal statement. Starting now, rather than in September, is what gives you room for real revision
  • Narrow your list to a workable number of schools (most students land between 8 and 12, though this varies)

 

Grade 12 (Senior Year) — deadlines arrive fast; this is worth tracking month by month

August–September

  • Finalize your college list with your counselor
  • Formally request letters of recommendation. Give recommenders a detailed "brag sheet" and at least a month's notice
  • Continue drafting and revising your personal statement and any required supplements
  • Decide, with your counselor, whether Early Decision or Early Action fits your situation

October

  • Finalize supplemental essays — these are often more time-consuming, school by school, than the personal statement itself
  • Request that your official transcript be sent for any early applications
  • Complete Early Decision, Early Action, or Restrictive Early Action applications ahead of the deadline

November

  • Submit Early Decision / Early Action applications (typically due November 1)
  • Continue drafting Regular Decision applications and essays
  • Sit for the SAT/ACT one final time if needed — some November dates still arrive in time for Regular Decision review

December

  • Early Decision / Early Action results typically arrive in mid-December
  • If deferred or denied under Early Decision, revisit your Regular Decision list immediately — don't lose momentum
  • Finalize and submit Regular Decision applications due January 1

January

  • Most Regular Decision deadlines fall here. Submit ahead of the deadline, not on it
  • Request that mid-year transcript reports be sent, where required

February–March

  • Often a quieter stretch — a good window to prepare for AP exams and finish the year strong academically, since senior spring grades are still reviewed
  • Decisions typically begin arriving in mid-to-late March

April

  • Compare offers carefully, not just on prestige but on fit, program strength, and outcomes
  • Attend admitted-student days if possible — this is frequently the deciding factor between similar schools
  • Reach out to current students or alumni from Donovan at the colleges you're weighing

May–June

  • Submit your enrollment deposit by May 1, National Decision Day
  • Notify the schools you won't be attending, as a courtesy
  • Sit for AP exams
  • Request your final transcript be sent to your chosen college, and watch for enrollment paperwork (housing, orientation, immunization records) over the summer