The college timeline, grade 6 to 12
Small steps every year. Big steps in 11th and 12th grade, shown month by month. Tick your own checklist: it saves only on this device.
- Grades 6 to 10: habits, interests, records, a first practice test.
- Grade 11: tests, college list, recommendations.
- Grade 12: FAFSA, TAP, applications, aid offers, decision.
✅ My checklist by grade
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🌱 Grades 6 to 8: build the base
📚 Habits
Homework routine, reading every day, asking questions. These habits matter more than any test.
🧭 Interests
Try clubs, music, sports, coding, art. Notice what you like and what you are good at.
➗ Math path
Ask your school how math courses lead to Algebra I and beyond. Some middle schools offer high school courses; ask what fits you.
📁 Me file
Start a folder now. Seniors who kept one have an easy time filling out applications.
🚀 Grades 9 and 10: it counts now
📈 Transcript
Colleges see grades from grade 9 on. A steady upward trend matters. See Regents and graduation for diploma types.
📝 First practice
PSAT 8/9 (grade 9) or PSAT 10 / PSAT/NMSQT (grade 10) if your school gives them. Use them as a check-up and a practice plan.
🗂️ Activity log
Depth beats a long list. Two or three activities with growing roles look strong.
☀️ Summers
See Summer and Opportunities for free programs and contests.
📅 Grade 11, month by month (2026-27 dates)
- September
- Meet your counselor; plan the year.
- Start or update your activity log.
- Ask about the PSAT/NMSQT date at school.
- October
- PSAT/NMSQT at school (fall 2026 window: October 1-30).
- This is the test that counts for National Merit.
- November
- Schools order AP Exams in the fall; ask your AP coordinator about fees and fee help.
- Look at colleges online; write down what you like.
- December
- PSAT scores arrive. Use them to plan practice on Khan Academy.
- SAT test day: December 5. ACT: December 12.
- January
- Take a full practice SAT and ACT; choose one.
- AP Exam accommodations requests due January 22, 2027.
- Pick senior-year courses: keep them strong.
- February
- Register for a spring test (SAT March 6: register by February 19; ACT February 27).
- Start a college list; run net price calculators.
- March
- SAT March 6. School-day SAT or PSAT 10 may also happen (window March 1 - April 30).
- Visit colleges over break if you can.
- April
- ACT April 10.
- Ask 2 teachers for recommendations (they write more in the fall).
- May
- SAT May 1.
- AP Exams: May 3-7 and May 10-14, 2027.
- June
- Regents exams (see the Regents guide).
- SAT June 5. ACT June 12.
- July and August
- ACT July 10.
- Draft your essay. Make StudentAid.gov accounts. Visit colleges. Work or volunteer.
🎓 Grade 12, month by month
Example: a student who is a senior in 2027-28, starting college in fall 2028. Dates for that year will be posted by each office; the patterns here are typical.
- September
- Final list: likely, target, reach.
- Remind recommenders. Ask your counselor for a school report.
- Register for a fall SAT or ACT retake if needed.
- October
- File the FAFSA as soon as it opens (the 2027-28 FAFSA opened September 23, 2026).
- Then the TAP application (link at the end of the FAFSA).
- CSS Profile if a college asks for it.
- November
- Early Action / Early Decision deadlines at many colleges (check each one).
- SUNY, CUNY and Common App applications.
- December
- Early decisions arrive. ED admits withdraw other applications.
- Finish regular applications. Apply for scholarships.
- January
- Many regular deadlines (check each college).
- Your school sends mid-year grades. Keep grades strong.
- February
- Check the FAFSA Submission Summary; fix errors.
- Answer any college requests for documents (verification).
- March
- Decisions and aid offers arrive.
- Read every offer with the aid offer guide.
- April
- Compare net price, not sticker price.
- Ask the aid office to review if family income changed.
- May
- May 1: common reply date. One deposit only.
- AP Exams.
- June
- Graduate! Final transcript goes to your college.
- Regents exams if needed.
- July and August
- Excelsior / ETA application window (2026-27 deadline was August 31, 2026; watch HESC for the next one).
- NYS STEM Incentive: apply by its deadline (2027-28: August 16, 2027).
- Orientation, housing, placement tests.
☀️ Summers count too
After grade 8
Read for fun. Try a free camp or library program. Start the me file.
After grade 9
Volunteer or help family; log hours. Explore one career.
After grade 10
Job, course or program. Light SAT practice (20 minutes a day).
After grade 11
Essay draft, college visits, activity list final, StudentAid.gov accounts.
After grade 12
Orientation, Excelsior/ETA and STEM Incentive applications, summer programs (SUNY EOP includes a pre-freshman summer program).
🔗 Official sources (checked Nov 8, 2026)
- College Board, PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 8/9 testing windows (Oct 1-30, 2026; Mar 1 - Apr 30, 2027): satsuite.collegeboard.org
- College Board, SAT dates and registration deadlines: satsuite.collegeboard.org
- ACT, national test dates 2026-27: act.org
- College Board, accommodations dates and deadlines (AP 2027): accommodations.collegeboard.org
- College Board, 2027 AP Exam fees: apstudents.collegeboard.org
- Federal Student Aid, 2027-28 FAFSA live: fsapartners.ed.gov
- HESC, Excelsior and Enhanced Tuition Award 2026-27 deadline (Aug. 31, 2026): hesc.ny.gov news release
- HESC, NYS STEM Incentive Program: hesc.ny.gov
- NACAC, admission terms (May 1 reply for early plans): nacacnet.org