Start planning now. Apply for scholarships when your student meets their rules. Standard first-year college applications are usually submitted in the cycle leading into senior year and during senior year, rather than several years before enrollment.
For a student on the usual path to spring 2029 graduation, 2026–27 is sophomore year. Use this year to review courses, explore colleges, build skills, and find eligible scholarships. The typical application period for fall 2029 entry would begin around summer 2028 and continue into senior year. Confirm each college’s actual opening date and deadlines when published.
Creating an account, joining a mailing list, attending a camp, or sending a report card does not by itself create an application or secure admission.
Review the transcript with the counselor and plan next year’s courses.
Explore majors, campus settings, and colleges in and out of state.
Use an official practice assessment to identify skills to work on; discuss school PSAT options.
Compare scholarship eligibility, GPA and score expectations, and deadlines. Apply now only where the published rules allow your grade.
See the full timeline
Middle school · Explore interests. Build the foundation.
Build reading, math, organization, and study habits.
Talk about careers and different paths after high school.
Meet with the school counselor about the high school course sequence.
Start learning how college costs and scholarships work. Apply only to opportunities that explicitly accept your student’s age or grade.
9th grade · Make the high school plan.
Review graduation requirements and the courses potential colleges expect.
Track activities, jobs, family responsibilities, service, and awards.
Build reading and math skills with a small, consistent practice routine.
Research colleges and eligible scholarships; a college interest form is not an admission application.
10th grade · Research options and set a preparation routine.
Review the transcript with the counselor and plan next year’s courses.
Explore majors, campus settings, and colleges in and out of state.
Use an official practice assessment to identify skills to work on; discuss school PSAT options.
Compare scholarship eligibility, GPA and score expectations, and deadlines. Apply now only where the published rules allow your grade.
11th grade · Narrow the list. Prepare the applications.
Discuss PSAT/NMSQT participation with the counselor and check National Merit entry requirements.
Plan ACT or SAT testing early enough for score review and, if useful, a retake before deadlines.
Visit or explore colleges online; compare net price estimates and scholarship rules.
Request recommendations with advance notice; draft an activities list and essays by summer.
12th grade · Apply, follow up, and compare offers.
Submit applications for the correct entry term; check admission, major, honors, and scholarship deadlines separately.
Arrange required transcripts, recommendations, and score reports. Check each college portal for missing items.
Complete the FAFSA for the year college begins when that form opens; check state, college, and any additional aid forms.
Compare grants and scholarships, remaining costs, renewal conditions, and loans before choosing. Send the final transcript and complete enrollment steps.
Admission and scholarship policies can differ. Some opportunities consider or require ACT or SAT scores even when admission is test optional. Policies vary by college, program, and entry year, so check both before deciding.
Preparation gives students a chance to identify gaps, strengthen reading and math skills, learn the test format, and practice pacing. Use an official practice result to set a goal, then schedule testing so scores can arrive before the deadlines that matter.
The PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test for National Merit; taking a PSAT assessment does not automatically earn an award. Check the program’s entry requirements and your school’s testing schedule.
1. Know the target
Check the college’s score policy and the scholarship’s own requirements.
2. Build the skill
Use Test Ready’s Reading Lab, strategy games, and mission practice in a manageable daily routine.
3. Review and adjust
Revisit official practice, discuss progress, and decide on testing with the student and counselor.
Preparation does not guarantee a score increase, admission, or scholarship. Test Ready practice results are not official scores.
Some awards accept younger students; others are limited to seniors or enrolled college students. Read the sponsor’s rules for grade, graduation year, GPA, residency, deadlines, and how funds are paid.
Ask the counselor about local awards, community organizations, and employer opportunities. On each college’s website, check whether admission automatically considers a student for merit aid or a separate application is needed.
Being out of state does not mean applying years earlier. Use the college’s timeline for the intended entry term.
Compare the full cost: tuition and fees, housing, meals, books, travel, and personal expenses. Ask each college about nonresident pricing, merit awards, and any applicable tuition agreements. Use its net price calculator for an estimate, then compare actual offers later.
Check whether your state’s aid can be used there. Do not assume residency discounts or aid will transfer.
Review an unofficial copy now. For applications, follow the college’s process; the counselor or registrar generally sends official school records. A report card is not always a substitute.
Grades and test scores
Some colleges allow self-reporting initially; others require official records or score reports. Follow each institution’s instructions.
Activities, essays, recommendations
The student supplies accurate information and their own work. Parents can organize and review; teachers and counselors submit their required materials.
Financial aid information
Complete the correct FAFSA year and other required forms through official systems. Students and required contributors each use their own account.
The student is the applicant. A parent can help plan, track deadlines, and ask questions, but sending records alone does not secure acceptance.
Track admission, scholarships, testing/score submission, and financial aid separately. The earliest important date may be a scholarship priority deadline.
The FAFSA must match the college attendance year. A student beginning college in fall 2029 would use the 2029–30 form when available. Check official release dates and federal, state, and college deadlines as that year approaches. FAFSA is a financial aid application, not an admission application.