DC SBOE

Month by month. College Application Timeline.

A timeline that walks you through 18 months of college applications, junior September through senior May. Print, mark it up, stay ahead.

Published ByDC State Board of Education
College Application · Junior Year11th Grade
11th Grade · Foundation

Junior year, the foundation.

Junior year is when the college process really starts. Test prep, list building, essay drafts, and recommendation conversations all happen here.

SEPJunior

Plan with your counselor

  • Meet with your school counselor to plan junior year.
  • Start a list of colleges to research.
  • Sign up for SAT / ACT prep if needed.
OCTJunior

Take the PSAT

  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT (qualifies for National Merit scholarships).
  • Attend college fairs in person and virtually.
  • Begin scholarship research.
NOVJunior

Research and visit

  • Continue researching colleges that match your interests.
  • Visit local college campuses (UDC, Howard, GW, GMU).
  • Keep grades up, junior-year GPA matters most.
JANJunior

Register and draft

  • Register for the spring SAT (March) or ACT (April).
  • Start drafting personal-statement and essay ideas.
  • Attend financial-aid workshops at school.
MARJunior

Test & visit

  • Take the SAT or ACT.
  • Visit colleges over spring break (overnight if possible).
  • Ask 2–3 teachers for recommendation letters.
MAYJunior

AP exams & finalize

  • Take AP exams.
  • Finalize the college list, 8–12 schools across reach, match, safety.
  • Start drafting your personal statement.
SUMJunior

Summer before senior year

  • Write college essays, revise, revise, revise.
  • Visit additional colleges where possible.
  • Research and apply for early scholarships.
  • Organize all application materials in one place.
2
College Application · Senior Year12th Grade
12th Grade · Execution

Senior year: send, decide, commit.

Senior year is execution: applications out, FAFSA filed, DC TAG submitted, decisions in by spring, commit by May 1.

SEPSenior

Set up the system

  • Finalize your college list.
  • Create an application tracker / calendar.
  • Request transcripts from your counselor.
  • Continue scholarship applications.
OCTSenior

FAFSA opens October 1

  • FAFSA opens October 1, file immediately.
  • Submit Early Decision / Early Action applications (Nov 1–15).
  • Retake the SAT or ACT if needed.
NOVSenior

Early deadlines

  • Most Early Action deadlines fall this month.
  • Continue working on Regular Decision applications.
  • Apply to DC-CAP for free college-advising support.
JANSenior

Regular Decision push

  • Complete remaining applications (Jan 1–15 deadlines).
  • Request mid-year transcripts.
  • Early Decision results begin to arrive.
MARSenior

DC TAG due March 1

  • DC TAG application due March 1, apply at osse.dc.gov/dctag.
  • Continue scholarship applications.
  • Complete FAFSA corrections if needed.
APRSenior

Decisions arrive, compare

  • Admission decisions arrive.
  • Compare financial-aid packages using net cost.
  • Visit admitted-student days where possible.
  • Make your final decision by May 1.
MAYSenior

Commit & close out

  • Commit to your college by May 1 (National Decision Day).
  • Send the final transcript.
  • Apply for housing, register for orientation.
  • Graduate and celebrate.
Three sites to bookmark FAFSA studentaid.gov · DC TAG osse.dc.gov/dctag · DC-CAP dccap.org (free college advising).
3
Spotted something wrong? Suggest a fix