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We offer a rich selection of resources to guide you through every phase of your college journey. These tools, guides, and templates are designed to simplify your process and ensure you stay on track for success.

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Our College Admissions Blog

Our College Admissions Blog provides expert insights and practical tips to help you navigate the complex and competitive college admissions landscape. Updated regularly, our blog covers various topics, from personal statement writing to understanding admissions trends.

What are the most important factors in college admissions?
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How much do extracurricular activities matter?
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What SAT/ACT score do I need for top schools?
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Timeline

College Application Timeline

Stay organized and ahead of schedule with our comprehensive College Application Timeline. We break down every important deadline, from SAT/ACT dates to application submission deadlines, to ensure you never miss an essential step.

College Application Timeline (2025-2028)

This timeline provides a complete overview for students applying for undergraduate college admission between 2025 and 2028. It covers critical exam dates, application deadlines, financial aid processes, extracurriculars, and more to ensure that applicants stay on track throughout the college application process.

2025-2026: High School Junior Year (Planning & Preparation Phase)

Fall 2025 (September - December)

  • SAT/ACT Exam Preparation:
    • Begin preparation for SAT/ACT exams.
    • Register for SAT or ACT tests in Spring 2026 (check specific exam dates).
  • AP Courses & AP Exam Registration:
    • Enroll in AP courses if eligible (based on academic interests).
    • November 2025: Begin considering AP exam registration for the following spring.
  • Building College List:
    • Research potential colleges.
    • Identify factors such as size, location, majors, extracurriculars, and campus culture.
    • Attend college fairs or college info sessions.
  • College Visits:
    • Begin visiting local or nearby campuses to get a feel for different college environments.
    • Virtual tours are an option if in-person visits are not possible.
  • Letters of Recommendation:
    • Begin thinking about which teachers, mentors, or counselors to ask for recommendation letters.
    • Keep track of any achievements and activities for the recommender to highlight.
  • Summer Programs & Internships:
    • Summer 2026: Research and apply for summer academic programs, internships, and other enriching opportunities that align with your interests.

Winter 2025-2026 (January - March)

  • SAT/ACT Exam Registration:
    • February 2026: Register for the March 2026 SAT or ACT exam.
  • Begin Drafting College Essays:
    • Start brainstorming topics for the personal statement/college application essays.
    • Begin working on drafts to refine over the next few months.
  • FAFSA:
    • The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the 2026-2027 academic year will open in October 2025, but it is more relevant to the upcoming senior year.
    • Keep track of financial documents needed for FAFSA.
  • High School Activities List:
    • Begin compiling a comprehensive list of high school extracurriculars, including volunteer work, clubs, sports, jobs, internships, leadership roles, etc.

2026-2027: High School Senior Year (Application Phase)

Summer 2026 (June - August)

  • Finalize College List:
    • Narrow down your college list and decide if you want to apply to schools via Early Decision (ED1/ED2), Early Action (EA), or Regular Decision (RD).
  • SAT/ACT Exam Registration:
    • Register for the August 2026 SAT or the September 2026 ACT.
    • Take exams to boost your scores if needed.
  • Complete College Application Essays:
    • Finalize your drafts for the Common App and school-specific essays.
    • Consider asking a teacher, counselor, or mentor to review your essays.
  • Research Summer Programs & Internships:
    • Look for summer programs, internships, and volunteer opportunities that provide additional experiences for your college applications.

Fall 2026 (September - October)

  • SAT/ACT Exam Dates:
    • September 2026: Take the SAT or ACT (if needed for retakes).
    • October 2026: Take the SAT or ACT again if necessary.
  • College Visits:
    • Continue visiting colleges to finalize your list and learn more about campus culture.
  • Letters of Recommendation:
    • Ask teachers, counselors, or mentors for letters of recommendation (typically required for applications).
    • Give them plenty of time (at least 4-6 weeks) and ensure they have the necessary forms.
  • FAFSA and CSS Profile:
    • October 1, 2026: The FAFSA opens. Fill out the form early to maximize financial aid eligibility.
    • If required by some schools, submit the CSS Profile (available from October 1, 2026).
  • Common App Account Setup:
    • Set up a Common App account and begin filling out your personal details, high school transcript, and extracurriculars.

November 2026

  • Application Deadlines (Early):
    • November 1: Early Decision 1 (ED1) and Early Action (EA) deadlines for many schools.
    • November 15: Restrictive Early Action (REA) deadlines for some schools.
  • Finalize Essays:
    • Submit your college essays and applications, including your Common App or school-specific essays.
  • Submit SAT/ACT Scores:
    • Ensure all SAT/ACT scores are sent to colleges by the deadlines.

December 2026

  • Final Early Decision Submissions:
    • December 1-15: Submit any final materials required for Early Decision 2 (ED2) and Regular Decision (RD) applications for some schools.
    • December 15: Send final SAT/ACT scores, if applicable.
  • Mid-Year Reports:
    • Some schools may require a Mid-Year Report, which typically includes updated grades for courses taken in the fall of senior year.

2027-2028: College Admissions (Decisions & Financial Aid)

  • Winter 2027 (January - March):
    • Financial Aid & Scholarship Applications:
      • Continue to complete financial aid forms such as the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
      • Research scholarship opportunities and apply to any that are relevant.
    • Regular Decision Applications:
      • Ensure all Regular Decision applications are submitted by January 1 to February 1, depending on the school.
      • Double-check application completeness.
    • Decision Announcements:
      • March 2027: Some schools begin sending out Early Decision and Early Action decisions.

Spring 2027 (April - May)

  • Decision Announcements:
    • April 1-30, 2027: Regular Decisionnotifications typically come in.
  • Financial Aid Offers:
    • After admissions decisions, colleges will begin sending Financial Aid Offers to admitted students, outlining the types of financial aid they will receive.
  • Compare Financial Aid Packages:
    • Compare the financial aid packages from different colleges to determine which offers the best financial aid options.
  • Enrollment Deposit:
    • May 1, 2027: College Decision Day – You must accept the offer of admission by submitting your enrollment deposit.
  • Final Transcripts:
    • Ensure your high school sends yourfinal transcript to the college you will attend.
    • Submit any other required documents.

Critical Deadlines Summary (2025-2028)

Action Deadline
AP Exam Registration November 2025 (for May 2026 exams)
SAT/ACT Exam Registration Deadlines 6-8 weeks before each test date
College Application Essays Due with respective application deadlines (ED/EA/RD)
Early Decision 1 Application November 1 (or November 15)
Early Action Application November 1 (or November 15)
Restrictive Early Action November 1 (or November 15)
Early Decision 2 Application January 1 (or January 15)
Regular Decision Application January 1 - February 1 (varies by school)
FAFSA Opens on October 1
CSS Profile Opens on October 1
Financial Aid Offers March – April
College Decision Day May 1
Enrollment Deposit May 1
Final Transcripts Sent by June

College Research Tools

Use our College Research Tools to explore schools based on your preferences. Whether you want to compare tuition rates, programs of study, campus culture, or acceptance rates, our platform helps you make informed decisions.

Financial Aid Calculator

A financial aid calculator helps families estimate their eligibility for financial assistance based on income, assets, and other factors. Here are some tools you can use to calculate potential financial aid for almost any college:

FAFSA4Caster (Federal Student Aid)

The FAFSA4Caster is an official tool provided by the U.S. Department of Education that gives a rough estimate of the federal aid you may qualify for based on your financial information.

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College Board’s SAI Index Calculator

The College Board provides an Estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) calculator. The SAI which replaced the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) calculator is the eligibility index number used by the financial aid office of institutions to estimate how much federal aid you can receive.

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These tools provide general estimates of your financial aid, and they all use different factors to calculate your potential financial aid. However, remember that each college may have its own financial aid policies, so it’s always a good idea to use the school’s own financial aid calculator(if available) for more precise estimates.

College Eagle was founded by Dr. Jeffrey O, one of America’s most renowned and accomplished educators. Dr. Jeffrey O has been admitted into some of the world’s most prestigious universities, including Columbia University, New York, University of Pennsylvania, and Dartmouth College.

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