As part of your summer plans, you should also make time to get a head start on the college admissions process. Crossing off a few of your college application to-do’s during the summer will reduce your stress level and help you stay on track of getting your applications completed on time this fall.

So, here is the summer college application checklist for rising seniors: 

• Finalize your college list;
• Visit some schools;
• Plan your college application strategy;
• Get started on your college essays;
• Organize your activities list;
• Create a resume

Create Your College List 

Your first task in your summer application checklist is to complete your college list. While you may still be do some college visits in the fall, you should exit the summer with a solid grasp of the schools where you will likely apply.

• Make a list of the criteria that are important to you in identifying the right fit colleges: Academics, Major, School Size, Location, Culture, Research Opportunities, etc.
• Grab your Fiske Guide to Colleges and re-read the write-ups on the schools that interest you.
• Visit the individual college websites and do a deep dive on all aspects of a school including academics, housing, activities, and the surrounding area.
• While on the site, take a virtual tour of the campus. Look for any virtual admissions programs offered this summer and sign up to learn more.
• Take notes along the way and make a list of questions that you may still have. Once you have exhausted your research capabilities, feel free to reach out to your admissions rep to introduce yourself and include a question or two of significance.  

Remember that your list should be well-balanced in terms of ‘reach’, ‘match’, and ‘likely’ schools. As part of the list-building process, have a family conversation about the cost of college. Use the Net Price Calculator at each school to explore whether you may qualify for need-based aid and also research merit aid policies. 

Visit some colleges as part of your summer application checklist

Hopefully you were able to visit a few colleges during your junior year to get a sense of the kind of environment you could see yourself spending the next four years of your life (big/small, urban/rural, etc.) Although there won’t be many students on campus during the summer, a college visit can still be worthwhile as you’re likely to be able to explore the campus in a more relaxed manner and possibly spend more quality time with the admissions department.  

If you’d rather wait until students are back on campus, start planning your fall trips to the colleges on your list. If you want to learn more about maximizing your time on campus, read our article on planning your college visit. 

Your Application Checklist Should Include Showing Demonstrated Interest 

Visiting a college remains the best form of showing demonstrated interest in that school. Sign up for a formal tour through the admissions office so they have a record of your time on campus. However, if you’re unable visit, don’t worry. You can demonstrate your interest by signing up to receive information directly on the admissions website. You will then begin getting numerous emails focusing on different aspects of that college. Click on those emails and spend time visiting different areas of their website.

Also, begin following the school on Instagram and other social media platforms. In the age of analytics and data science, many colleges track a student’s activity across their Internet content where they then use that information to place a probability on (a) whether a student is likely to apply and (b) how likely that student would accept an offer. So, show your colleges some love and, in turn, they may return the favor come application season! 

Plan Your College Application Strategy 

Understand application round options: Is there one school that stands out from the others on your list after all your college research? Is this the place where, if accepted, you would happily say ‘yes’ without a second thought? In this case, applying Early Decision (if offered) may be the right strategy for you. However, not every student has that one dream school or they may have a handful of schools at the top of their list. In this case, applying Early Decision may not be the application strategy for you. In addition, many universities, especially flagship public universities, offer only Early Action rather than Early Decision. 

Keep track of application deadlines: Each student will have a different application strategy based on their college list. As you begin ranking these schools, visit their admissions sites to find their application deadline calendars as well as what is required beyond the formal college application. These other documents may include your high school transcript, standardized test scores (if required or you choose to submit), optional essays, your mid-year report, and other items.  

Make note of financial aid deadlines: If you anticipate applying for financial aid, take note of the specific school deadlines. Mark your calendar for the October 1 opening of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) portal which is the first step in the financial aid application process. (See this blog post for more information about the financial aid process.) 

Once you have determined the application requirements for each school, create a calendar or timeline of when you plan on submitting each requirement. Be sure to share this information with someone who may help keep you on top of your deadlines! 

Keep in mind that some colleges have not updated their websites with their official deadlines for next year. Most should be updated by August 1st. 

Get Started on Parts of Your Application 

Although the Common App doesn’t officially open until August 1, you can create an account ahead of time. You will be asked basic information about yourself (name, address, phone number, date of birth) and once you are registered you can begin familiarizing yourself with the platform. Feel free to begin adding the schools on your college list to your Common App account as well.  

Even though you have a few months until the Common App is open, you can still get a head start on your applications over the summer.  

Brainstorm College Essay Topics 

The Common App essay prompts have not changed in a few years and remain the same for the upcoming application cycle. So, feel free to begin brainstorming your Common App Personal Statement. For tips on the personal statement, please read this post or this one. Most students underestimate the difficulty of writing a solid essay. Start on a draft or two now and show them to people who know you well. Gather their ideas, revise, and tighten. Those who leave their essays for the last minute come to regret their procrastination. 

Also, for those colleges on your list that will also require supplemental essays, review last year’s supplemental questions to get a sense of what to expect. Most colleges do not make significant changes to their supplemental essays but typically don’t release them until August 1. Also, as you research these schools, take notes on what attracts you to them as it is likely you’ll have to write at least a few ‘Why College X?’ supplemental essays as part of the admissions process. 

Organize Your Common App Activities List 

One often overlooked area of the Common App is organizing your list of extracurriculars in a manner that reflects your passions, level of commitment, and achievement. Spend some time over the summer putting together a master list of your activities throughout your high school career. Make note of your role(s) and accomplishments in these activities so you can bring them to life as you describe them in the Common App activities section. 

Put Together a Resume as Part of Your Application Checklist

Many schools do not want you to submit a formal resume as part of your college application because they can see your extracurriculars and achievements in your Common App. However, it is still a good idea to have an up-to-date resume as some colleges do encourage a resume submission. Also, you may need one for scholarship applications, and you can provide it to the people writing your letters of recommendation. 

In addition, if you are applying to a specialized art or music program, you may be required to submit additional materials that will showcase your talents. So, putting together video or audio recordings of your performances or a portfolio of sample drawings is a great way to start getting your additional art materials organized. 

Does your rising senior need help getting started on the college application process?  

This rising senior summer checklist contains recommendations to stay on track and take control of the college planning process. However, if you feel as though your student needs help finalizing their college list or brainstorming college essay topics, please contact us for a complimentary initial consultation. The team at Great College Advice has deep experience in guiding students along the road from high school to college. We provide personalized college consulting focused on helping make the process of preparing, selecting, and applying to college more successful, less stressful, and more fun. Have a fantastic summer! 

Follow the Great College Advice Guide to College Admissions:

• Guide Through Every Year of High School
• 9th Grade: Build the Foundation by getting good grades in the most rigorous courses for you; 9th Grade College Admissions Guide
• 10th Grade: Gain Momentum by continuing to receive good grades in difficult courses while also starting to narrow down your activities to those you find most interesting; 10th Grade College Admissions Guide
• 11th Grade: Stay Focused as your junior year is the most critical in terms of grades while juggling leadership roles and college prep; 11th Grade College Admissions Guide and 11th Grade College Admissions Guide for 2nd Semester

Since 2007, the expert team of college admissions consultants at Great College Advice has provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries across the world. Great College Advice has offices in Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Massachusetts.  

In addition to our one-on-one counseling, Great College Advice extends its support through one of the most active and resource-rich Facebook Groups for college-bound students and their families: College Admissions Experts. With over 100,000 members—students, parents, and experienced counselors—this vibrant forum offers peer support and expert advice like no other. 

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