October

Narrow your list – By this point, your list should be whittled down to a handful of schools, and you'll probably have a favorite. Know whether or not your grades are in line with the academic standards of each school. This will help you break your list into three categories: reach, match and safety.

Work on applications – With fewer schools to consider, you can now begin working on your applications in earnest. If you're using the Common Application, make sure each application is tailored to the school. Don't make the mistake of copying and pasting and forgetting to change the name of the college.

College Fairs – Most colleges and universities host college fairs in the fall. This is an open recruiting forum where students and parents are invited to see the campus and learn more about academics and student life. These days, most schools also offer virtual fairs online. Find out the fair schedule of each school on your list and take advantage of this opportunity. It will reveal a lot about each school.

High school transcripts – Request your high school transcripts and verify that they are accurate. If anything is wrong or missing you'll need time to correct it. Reviewing your transcript is also a good reminder to maintain your grades through to the end.

Testing – Around this time you should be taking your SAT and ACT exams. The sooner the better, as you may get a lower-than-expected score and will need time to take the exam again. This is common.

Applying Early – If you are applying to a school through early decision or early action, you will need to complete your application in October. Deadlines for these admissions programs are usually the end of October or the beginning of November.

Early Decision or Early Action – If you decide to submit your application Early Decision, you must withdraw your applications to other schools if you are accepted. You can still apply to other schools if you choose to apply Early Action.

Submit your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Since 2017, filing for the FAFSA now begins October 1. Each college may have a different deadline for completion. Check with the college(s) you are interested in attending.