• Take PSAT/NMSQT in October. (Saturday, October 18, 2008)  Juniors are signed up automatically for this test, which is given at Hackley School. This is a practice test for the SAT. The scores “count” only in the National Merit, National Achievement, and National Hispanic Scholarship competitions; these scores are not sent to colleges. Other than that, try not to think too much about college issues; remember that you’re only halfway through high school!
• College Q&A evening for first-time junior parents.

        WINTER 

• January college evening for juniors and their parents. College counselor assignments announced at this time.
• Sign up on-line in January for March SAT (collegeboard.com). Students sign themselves up at the College Board web site. These tests are not administered at Hackley; students usually choose a high school testing site near to home.
• Initial family meetings with college counselor. “Exploratory” college list created by students, parents and college counselor. SAT, SAT Subject Tests, AP exams discussed. Students write, call, visit or e-mail colleges for information.
• Plan spring break college visits, if possible.
• Take March SAT. (Saturday, March 14, 2009)

        SPRING

• Visit a few colleges during spring break, if possible.
• SAT or SAT Subject Tests offered May and June.
• Plan summer college visits. Choose schools to visit based on spring break visits, chances of admission, and other research.

        SUMMER 

• Visit colleges, read college literature, interview when you visit (if interviews are available), narrow down college list. Make sure to visit all of the colleges you're seriously considering by the end of the summer; there's very little time to visit during the school year. Make sure to visit "very likely" schools early in the summer (the most important college to find is a “very likely” college that you really like). Remember also that if you don’t visit a college, you jeopardize your chances of admission.
• If you want to get a head-start on applications and make your fall saner, write drafts of college essays.

        SEPTEMBER

• Register for appropriate tests. SAT or SAT Subject Tests may be taken in October, November, December. The ACT may be taken in September, October,  December. Note: The October SAT/SAT Subject Test registration deadline is usually near the end of the first week of September. The September ACT registration is in mid-August. Send your test score report to the schools which require your scores.
• Make an appointment to see your college counselor. If you’re considering applying Early Decision or Early Action, you should see your counselor as soon as possible and be aware that you’ll have to accelerate the application process for that school. After getting the “okay” from your college counselor, read each college’s application instructions very carefully and start to work on the applications for the schools you’re sure you’ll apply to.
• Start writing application essays (if you haven't already started), ask two teachers if they'd be willing to write recommendations, and finalize your application list.

        DECEMBER 1

• “Target date” for completing all college applications. The actual deadlines are set by the colleges themselves, but experience has taught us that the senior year is much saner if you aim for this December 1 date. In any case, we require four weeks to process our part of your application, which is usually separate from your part of the application, so give us our forms as soon as you've decided to apply.

        DECEMBER - APRIL

• Students receive admission decisions from colleges.
• Keep your grades up! Offers of admission are contingent upon completion of the senior year with similar grades as previously earned, and indeed, we have seen a few offers of admission revoked for both academic and behavioral reasons. Also, third-quarter and/or final grades can be crucial to students on “waiting lists.”

        JANUARY

• Families file the FAFSA financial aid form.
• Families also file the Profile financial aid form (if required).
• These forms must be filed in January, even if parents don't have all of their final tax information. It's better to file in January with estimated numbers (which you can correct later) than to file later with more concrete numbers; you don't want to miss out on aid by completing your aid application late.
• Seniors “deferred” from ED/EA admission rounds see counselors about sending updated information and letter of continued interest.

        MID-MARCH TO EARLY APRIL

• Receive "regular" admission decisions and financial aid awards.
• Select one college and make a non-refundable tuition deposit at only one institution by May 1, even if you’re on a “waiting list” at another institution. You must also notify the other colleges, in writing, that you don’t intend to enroll there.