College 

August/September

August 1 - The Common Application for 2023-24 opens. If you opened your account prior to August 1st be sure to "refresh" or "rollover" your information to the 2023-24 application year. 

Begin drafting your Common App Personal Statement. https://www.commonapp.org/

August 1 - The UC Application opens, but the window for submission is 10/1 - 11/30. Begin drafting your Personal Insight Questions (PIQs).

End of August - Attend the College Application meeting hosted by Counselors. 

August/September - Solidify college list and research application requirements carefully.

September - Complete Naviance "tasks."

September - Meet with your counselor one-on-one to review college list and "Applying to College Checklist."

September - Attend college representative visits in the College & Career Center.

September - Apply for scholarships. 

Week of September 6 - Deadline to request counselor letter of recommendation for applications due before October 1.

September 15 - Deadline to request counselor letter of recommendation for applications due by October 15.

September 30 - Deadline to request counselor letter of recommendation for applications due by November 1.

October/November

October 1 - November 30 - The window for submitting the UC Application and the CSU Application. 

October 1 - Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) opens for submission. Visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Complete as soon as possible to not miss out on available aid. Some schools require the CSS Profile: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/. Colleges may require one or both for merit aid consideration.

October 15 - Early Action/Early Decision deadlines vary with some as early as October 15th. The majority of colleges have a November 1 deadline.

October 14 - Deadline to request counselor letter of recommendation for applications due by Nov. 15.

October 30 - Complete 1:1 Counselor appointments. 

November 1 - Deadline for many EA/ED applications.

November 4 - Deadline to request counselor letter of recommendation for applications due between December 1 - January 15. 

November 30 - Deadline for UC Application and CSU Application.

October/November - Continue to attend College Rep visits in the College & Career Center.

October/November - Apply for scholarships.

November - Verify with OPHS teachers the last day to request a letter of recommendation. Many teachers' deadlines take place in November.

December

December 19 - Last day to request transcripts for applications due on/before January 15th.

December* - Deadline to request counselor letter of recommendation for applications due after January 15. *Counselors must receive request at least 3 school weeks before the deadline.

December - Apply for scholarships.

December - Final month to complete many college applications (some colleges have later deadlines).  

Double check your college portals to ensure all required documents have been received.

January - March 2024

February - Continue to check your college portals for decisions or additional information requests.

Mid-March - Most UC and CSU schools begin notifying applicants of admission decisions.

Winter/Spring - Apply for scholarships.

May/June 2024

May 1: Commitment Deadline! Students must formally confirm acceptance or declination of an offer of admission by this date.

May: A critical month for seniors because final semester grades do count! Spring semester classes that are dropped or not passed with at least a "C" may result in a college rescinding its offer. College must be notified of any class changes.