College planning doesn’t begin when applications are submitted, it begins the first day of high school. It is critical that deadlines are met and preparation is begun at the appropriate time to ensure the best experience for the student and lowest cost strategy for the family. Review the following dates to make sure you stay on track, and don’t forget to check with each college when appropriate as deadlines can vary from college to college.
| DATE | ACTIVITY | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Deadline for FAFSA and Admissions applications to many colleges | FAFSA and admissions applications due for many colleges. Check the schools you have applied to and ensure you don’t miss any deadlines. Contact EPR for a free FAFSA review before you submit your financial aid application! |
| January 15 | Financial Aid award letters begin to be sent by many colleges. | Financial Aid award letters begin to be sent by many colleges. Contact EPR for a free review of your award letter to ensure you receive all the financial aid you deserve. Evaluate your award letters to see if your cost can be reduced. |
| February 1 | FAFSA due for most colleges in the country. | FAFSA due for most colleges in the country. Check the schools you have applied to and ensure you don’t miss any deadlines. Contact EPR for a free review before you submit your application! |
| February 25 | Seniors, contact schools you have applied to and check the deadline for submitting your housing deposit. | Contact schools you have applied to and check the deadline for submitting your housing deposit and if it is refundable. |
| May 1 | Final decision due for most colleges you have applied to. | Final decision due for most colleges to which you have applied. Notify the colleges that sent you acceptance letters, thanking them for the opportunity, but letting them know you will not be attending. |
| May 15 | Seniors, contact the college you are attending to ensure they have all information necessary to release your financial aid. | Students who are taking student loans need to go to the Student Aid website and complete the loan Entrance Counselling and Master Promissory Note for the college you will be attending. Contact EPR and we will send you a summary page with step-by-step instructions. |
| May 25 | Plan your summer activities. | Plan your summer activities. Earn college money through part-time work, make plans for attending any summer camps, work on your college resume. |
| June 10 | Last Day of School | Seniors, get ready for summer activities to begin your journey to college. Contact your chosen college or review its website to ensure you don't miss any deadlines. Keep an eye on your college account and email so you don't miss any important communications. |
| August 1 | Seniors, Get Ready! | Prepare your list of items to take to college and get ready to pack your bags! |
| August 15 | Seniors, prepare your final resume! | Seniors, begin assembling your final resume for college applications. Include personal information, job history, community service and accomplishments. Contact EPR for more details. |
| September 1 | Seniors, start selecting colleges! | Seniors, begin selecting your colleges you will want to apply to. Contact EPR for a list of colleges that meet your curriculum and provide more gifting. |
| September 15 | Juniors and Sophomores sign up for the PSAT. | Juniors, sign up for the PSAT to help qualify for scholarships! Sophomores, sign up for the PSAT to take it for a free practice run before taking it for real in your Junior year. Check with your high school guidance counselor for your school's particular test date. |
| October 1 | First day you can complete the FAFSA. | First day you can complete the FAFSA. Over 40% of FAFSAs contain errors, many of which may reduce your financial aid award. File your FAFSA correctly. Contact EPR for a free review before you submit your application. |
| October 5 | CSS Profile financial aid application is available. | CSS Profile financial aid application is available to be filled out. Many colleges require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA. The Profile can be found at Profile Online. Contact EPR for a free review before you submit your application. |
| November 1 | Submit your priority applications to your colleges. | While Early Action priority applications are usually due November 1, we recommend you submit the application by October 20 so you can receive a fair review. Colleges are inundated with applications the last few days of October. Get yours in early to beat the rush! |
| October 20 | CSS Profile due for students applying as Early Decision or Early Action. | CSS Profile due for students applying as Early Decision or Early Action for many schools. Contact EPR for a free review before you submit your application! |
| December 1 | FAFSA and CSS Profile due for many top colleges. | FAFSA and CSS Profile due for many top colleges. Contact EPR for a free review before you submit your application! |
| December 15 | Decision on Early Action / Early Decision will begin to be sent. | Decisions on your Early Action / Early Decision applications will begin to be sent from many colleges. |