College Counseling Timeline
Junior Year
November-February
Complete College Questionnaire. In mid-November students and parents are given a link to college questionnaires. This is the first step in the search process and provides students and their families opportunities to think about what they are looking for in a college. It also provides the college counselors with information about each student. After the questionnaires are submitted, students meet with the college counselors, after which a preliminary college list is compiled and a family meeting is scheduled..
Attend College Night in November. This is the first official college counseling program for juniors and their parents, and is an introduction to the college selection and application process.
Research and visit colleges. Use college guidebooks, the Internet, and other resources to learn more about individual schools and begin your college search. We strongly recommend visiting schools during February break and chol hamoed days during Passover break.
March - June
Take the SAT or ACT. We recommend that all students take a test at least twice before the end of junior year. In the last year, some colleges and universities have announced a return to mandatory testing.
Continue to visit colleges. Visiting colleges is a great way to get to know a school better and to start to develop an understanding of what it would be like to attend. Both February and Spring provide an opportunity to do this.
Make plans for your summer. We hope that you will plan an interesting (and restful) summer. This could include a summer program, camp, a community service project, trip, internship or job. Please refer to the “Summer Opportunities” section on our website for possible summer options.
Ask two teachers to write letters of recommendation. We ask you to do this in late spring so teachers can have ample time to write their letters. You can talk to your college counselor about who you are considering asking.
July - August
Draft a college essay. Think about possible topics and try to write a draft of your essay. Your assigned counselor is available by email to give feedback on ideas, outlines and/or drafts.
Visit colleges. Continue to visit colleges and research them online. Even though students are not on campus at many colleges, it is still possible to get at least a sense of a school from a summer visit. This should help you shape your list of schools; schedule interviews for the fall at schools in which you are interested that offer them.
Sign up for mailing lists. Put your name on schools’ mailing lists. You may be able to fill out a general interest form on a school’s website in lieu of reaching out directly.
Attend Common Application Workshop. Prior to the first day of school, we will host a workshop on completing the Common Application.
Senior Year
September - October
Return to school rested and ready to work. The first semester of senior year is the last set of grades that colleges see when making most decisions. You should also continue with your extracurricular activities.
Meet with college representatives. In the fall, college admissions representatives visit Heschel and meet with interested students. These meetings are a good opportunity to learn more about colleges, and allow you to demonstrate interest in a school.
Individual college meetings continue.
Attend college essay writing workshops. In September and October we will offer workshops on college supplemental essays.
Continue to visit colleges.
Finalize your college list. As the fall progresses, so should your college list. We will ask for a complete list at the beginning of October
Take additional tests, if needed. The SAT and ACT are offered several times in the fall.
CSS Profile is available. Families applying for financial aid can access the Profile at collegeboard.org.
FAFSA available. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid comes online in early or mid-October. Families applying for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and submit this and any other required financial aid forms by the deadlines set by each college.
Applying early. If you are thinking about Early Decision or Early Action, you should talk with the college counselors in September.
December - February
Submitting applications. Most colleges have January 1 or 15 deadlines for the regular admissions cycle. This is usually the deadline for EDII applications as well.
Receiving news. Students who apply Early Decision or Early Action, or submit early applications, often receive decisions in December. Please keep in mind that even if you apply through an early plan, you still need to have other options available; your applications to other schools should be complete before the winter break.
Keep up in your classes. Your second-semester grades are important. College acceptances are contingent on continued performance at a similar level to that shown in your application.
March - May
Admission decisions received. Colleges begin to notify students of their regular decisions in March.
Visit again. If you are trying to make a decision between two or more schools, visiting again is a great way to help in this process. This last visit can give you and (your family) the peace of mind you need to make a good decision.
May 1 deposits due. You must submit your enrollment deposit to the one college you are planning to attend no later than May 1. Shortly thereafter you should notify your other colleges of your decision.