College
- Thread starter SamSpade
- Start date
Early senior year. Junior year and summer before senior is when you want to do your school visits to start narrowing them down. There's an application fee involved so you don't want to just start applying to every school.
PeoplesElbow
Well-Known Member
We talking Stanford or College of Southern Maryland?
lucky_bee
RBF expert
Summer between Junior and Senior year is essential in planning, but especially if they're serious or in to competitive schools. They should have a top 3-7 list and should be researching what each college requires as far as application process - deadlines, essays, fees, letters of recommendations, etc. Spreadsheet that stuff if you're in to them.
If they have a specific school they're REALLY really into, I would even venture to book a tour in the spring of their Junior year so they can see the school in action and if it's a small enough school, that early visit might get them noticed. Some places keep track of these things. But regardless, I think it's more beneficial to see a school while it's full of students. Some of the more competitive schools might be harder to book tours come Fall of Senior year OR their application process might be intense...fall is busier anyways. Go earlier if you can.
Application season is Fall of Senior year, varying between Oct-Dec. Some colleges offer Early Decision which is different than regular acceptance. Usually, that means if they apply early enough/by an earlier set date and declare the Early Decision application route, then they are basically pledging ahead of time to attend that school if they're accepted. Lots of the Early Decision schools send out those acceptance letters before the winter holidays. Advantageous for many reasons, though you are taking a chance if you apply Early Decision to more than one school.
Spring of Junior year, if they aren't supposed to already - have them request a meeting with their counselor to look at any scholarships or grants through the community and high school. I went to a super small high school so this happened automatically - I was handed a stack of grants and scholarship applications, every single one my counselor could find that I was eligible for, and I applied to all. Got about 5k total. Drop in the bucket after it was all said and done
but helpful at the time. Do the same with all there schools they end up applying to.
My stepson just went through all this. He is not a planner. Drove me nuts all summer. Last minute on both his applications, one of them being Univ. of MD. Warned him that such a competitive school needs better preparation. He did not get in, unfortunately, although he is a great student.
If they have a specific school they're REALLY really into, I would even venture to book a tour in the spring of their Junior year so they can see the school in action and if it's a small enough school, that early visit might get them noticed. Some places keep track of these things. But regardless, I think it's more beneficial to see a school while it's full of students. Some of the more competitive schools might be harder to book tours come Fall of Senior year OR their application process might be intense...fall is busier anyways. Go earlier if you can.
Application season is Fall of Senior year, varying between Oct-Dec. Some colleges offer Early Decision which is different than regular acceptance. Usually, that means if they apply early enough/by an earlier set date and declare the Early Decision application route, then they are basically pledging ahead of time to attend that school if they're accepted. Lots of the Early Decision schools send out those acceptance letters before the winter holidays. Advantageous for many reasons, though you are taking a chance if you apply Early Decision to more than one school.
Spring of Junior year, if they aren't supposed to already - have them request a meeting with their counselor to look at any scholarships or grants through the community and high school. I went to a super small high school so this happened automatically - I was handed a stack of grants and scholarship applications, every single one my counselor could find that I was eligible for, and I applied to all. Got about 5k total. Drop in the bucket after it was all said and done
but helpful at the time. Do the same with all there schools they end up applying to.My stepson just went through all this. He is not a planner. Drove me nuts all summer. Last minute on both his applications, one of them being Univ. of MD. Warned him that such a competitive school needs better preparation. He did not get in, unfortunately, although he is a great student.