Planning overview
College planning, year by year
What typically happens from ninth grade to the May 1 decision. Every student's path is different, so treat this as a map rather than a checklist. Your student's own goals decide which steps matter most.
Key dates reviewed October 2026 for the class of 2027 (fall 2027 entry).
From ONE TEN Education Group. Key dates reviewed October 2026 for the class of 2027 (fall 2027 entry). Confirm every date on each college's website.
Grade 9
Start with good habits, not pressure.
Ninth grade is for settling in, trying things, and learning how high school works. Nothing has to be decided yet.
Fall
Choose courses with the four-year picture in mind
Learn the UC and CSU subject requirements, known as a–g, and sketch a course plan that keeps doors open.
All year
Try activities that genuinely interest you
Depth matters more than a long list. Notice what you return to on your own.
January–March
Plan a summer that fits you
A job, family responsibilities, a personal project, a class, or rest can all be good choices. Expensive summer programs carry no special weight in admission.
Spring
Review the course plan
Look at how the year went and adjust next year's courses so they challenge you without overloading you.
Grade 10
Build depth and direction.
Tenth grade is a good time to go further in a few things you care about and to take a first look at testing.
Fall
Go deeper in a few activities
Take on more responsibility where it fits, whether that is leading, teaching, building, or working.
Grade 9 or 10
Consider a baseline practice test
A practice SAT or ACT shows where you stand, with no pressure on the result.
January–March
Plan the summer before grade 11
Look for something that builds on your interests. It does not need to be expensive or impressive-sounding.
Spring
Choose grade 11 courses thoughtfully
Junior year carries weight. Aim for a schedule that stretches you and still leaves room to sleep.
Grade 11
Turn interests into a strategy.
Junior year is when planning becomes concrete: testing, an honest budget conversation, and a first college list.
September–October
Review the record and set a testing plan
Decide whether and when to test, based on the policies of the colleges you are considering. Most juniors take the PSAT/NMSQT in October.
Fall–winter
Explore majors and talk about budget
Talk openly as a family about cost, and try a few colleges' net price calculators to see what you might actually pay.
January–March
Build a preliminary college list
Include reach, match, and likely schools, each chosen for a reason that matters to you.
Spring break
Visit campuses where you can
Nearby colleges of different sizes and types help you learn what you like, even if they are not on your list.
April–May
Ask for recommendations and plan senior year
Ask two teachers who know your work well, choose senior courses, and plan the summer.
Summer before grade 12
Write, refine, and get organized.
The summer before senior year is the best time to write. A finished personal statement by the end of August makes the fall far calmer.
June–August
Draft the personal statement
Brainstorm, write, and revise in your own words. Feedback should come as questions and comments, not replacement sentences.
August 1
Applications open for work
The Common App, the UC application, and Cal State Apply open. Create accounts and start filling in the details.
August
Finalize the list and map every essay
Choose application rounds, list each college's supplemental essays, and set your own work targets well ahead of each deadline.
Grade 12, fall
One manageable step at a time.
Senior fall is busy. A clear calendar with your own early work targets keeps it steady.
September
Confirm recommendations and write supplements
Give recommenders what they need early. Draft supplemental essays for early-round colleges first.
October 1
UC and CSU submissions open; aid forms are available
The CSS Profile and the California Dream Act Application open, and the FAFSA is already available. Write your four UC personal insight questions.
November 1 or 15
Most early deadlines
Early Decision, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action deadlines usually fall here. Check each college's own date.
November 30
UC and CSU filing periods close
Aim to submit well before the last day, when systems and families are busiest.
Grade 12, winter and spring
Read results, compare offers, decide.
Decisions arrive in waves. Take each one in turn and compare real offers before choosing.
Mid-December
Most early results arrive
Respond to any deferral with a short update letter you write yourself, and keep Regular Decision work moving.
January 1–15
Most Regular Decision deadlines
Submit remaining applications. Your school sends a mid-year report in January or February.
March 2
Cal Grant deadline
California students submit the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application, and the school submits a GPA.
March–April
Decisions and offers
UC decisions arrive in March; most private colleges follow by early April. Compare aid offers side by side.
May 1
Decide and commit
Submit one enrollment deposit, and the UC Statement of Intent to Register if you choose a UC campus.
Key dates
Official dates for the class of 2027 (fall 2027 entry).
These dates come from the official sources listed. Dates change every year, and individual colleges set their own deadlines, so always confirm on each college's website.
| Date | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2026 | Common App, UC application, and Cal State Apply open for work | College and system websites |
| October 1, 2026 | UC and CSU submission opens; CSS Profile and California Dream Act Application open | University of California; California State University; College Board; California Student Aid Commission |
| November 1 or 15 | Most Early Decision, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action deadlines (check each college) | Each college's website |
| November 30, 2026 | UC and CSU filing periods close | University of California; California State University |
| January 1–15, 2027 | Most Regular Decision and Early Decision II deadlines (check each college) | Each college's website |
| March 2, 2027 | Cal Grant deadline | California Student Aid Commission |
| May 1, 2027 | Enrollment deposits and the UC Statement of Intent to Register | Colleges; University of California |
| July 1, 2027 | Final transcripts due to UC | University of California |