Your senior year of high school is sure going to be busy! Between college applications and finals, you have a lot to tackle. We’ve put together this list of important dates you’ll need to mark on your calendar so you can make sure you don’t miss any deadlines.
You should have already completed at least some of your college search, prep, and planning in your junior year, but we highly recommend not missing these important deadlines during your senior year of high school!
DOWNLOAD: Printable College Planning Monthly Checklist
Important Dates and Deadlines for High School Seniors
1. ACT/SAT Test Dates – By September through December
Your first ACT or SAT test date should have been during your junior year or shortly after, but if you haven’t signed up for a test just yet and fall is approaching, don’t worry. You still have time.
The last possible day for your test date will be determined by the type of application you are submitting.
- For Early Action and Early Decision applicants, you should have taken your ACT/SAT by October as applications will be due by November 1st or 15th.
- For Regular Decision applications on January 1st, the last SAT or ACT test dates available will be in December.
In 2024, the final SAT test dates are expected to be October 5, November 2, and December 7. The final ACT test dates for this year haven’t been released yet, but in 2023 they were September 9, October 28, and December 9. Keep in mind that students will often have to register for these exams a month in advance at least, and waiting until the last minute could result in you being unable to take the test.
2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – October 1st (Usually)
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) usually becomes available on October 1st every year. While you don’t have to complete it that very same day, it is important to finish it as soon as possible. The federal government and school grant programs can and will run out of money. If you apply too late, you could miss out on some free money.
And even if you don’t think you will qualify, apply anyway. While you may not get anything from the federal government, you might be pleasantly surprised when your college acceptance letter rolls around and includes a financial package. Colleges and universities work to make school more affordable for their students, and you might just get lucky.
Your FAFSA should be completed every year of college, too, even if you didn’t receive any offers the previous year. Endowment packages and income requirements can change from year to year.
In 2023, there was a delay and the FAFSA was not released until December 31st. It is expected to release on its normal schedule going forward.
3. College Application Deadlines – Nov 1st, Nov 15th, and Jan 1st
Most colleges have application due dates of November 1, November 15, and January 1. The date you need to have your application in by depends on how you want to apply to the school. There are exceptions to this, however. For example, some schools have their own deadlines (such as January 2 or 15) or they may accept rolling admissions. Here are some to note:
- Early Action: Early Action deadlines are usually November 1 or 15.
- Early Decision: Early Decision deadlines are usually November 1 or 15.
- Early Decision II: Early Decision II applications are usually due on January 1.
- Regular Decision: Regular Decision applications are almost always due by January 1
- Rolling Admissions: Rolling admissions colleges accept applications year round until they are out of seats. There may be priority deadlines (usually January 1) and there will always be a deadline to be admitted the following fall (usually sometime in the summer).
- Community College: Community colleges can accept applications up to the start of or even a few weeks into a semester.
These dates don’t mean you should wait until the last minute to collect your college application materials. Essays and letters of recommendation all take time to write and gather. Planning accordingly will help ensure your applications are submitted well ahead of time, helping you avoid any last-minute computer or connection problems.
4. Collect Your Acceptance Letters – By April
When you receive your acceptance letter will depend on the type of application you submitted.
- Early Action and Early Decision: You should hear back by mid-January, but more likely mid-December.
- Early Decision II: You should plan to hear back by mid-February.
- Regular Decision: Acceptance and rejection letters will start arriving in March and you should receive yours by the first week of April. If the first week of April has passed and you haven’t heard back, you should reach out to the school.
- Rolling Admissions and Community Colleges: When you hear back depends on when you applied.
You should wait until you have all acceptance and rejection letters in hand before moving to the next step.
We also recommend comparing your financial aid packages at this point. Some will seem great on paper but aren’t as good once you look a bit deeper.
5. Decision Day – May 1st
For Regular Admissions and Early Action applicants, accepted students usually have until May 1st to make their decision about where to attend. You can make a decision earlier, but schools need a response and a deposit by this date if you want to attend in the fall.
The exception to this rule is Early Decision applicants. If you applied to a college under Early Decision or Early Decision II, you are obligated to apply and your deposit is due shortly after you receive your acceptance letter. It is very difficult to get out of this binding agreement once you’ve been accepted.
6. Complete Your Senior Finals – May through June
College has taken up a lot of your brainpower, but that doesn’t mean you should forget about high school just yet – even if you’ve already received your acceptance letter! Schools can (and have) revoked acceptance offers if a student does poorly in their senior year or gives into senioritis.
It’s important that you put time aside to properly prepare for your final exams, especially if you’re taking AP courses or college classes. AP and college classes can be transferred to your college of choice if you do well enough in them, which could even result in you graduating early!
Make sure to set aside time to study for your senior finals in April and May.
7. Freshman College Deadlines – May through September
Now that you know what school you will be applying to in the fall, it’s time to get started on your college deadlines. Colleges will have varying dates for each of these tasks, so be sure to check the paperwork you received from the school so you don’t miss anything important. These are only estimates and your college may have a different system or approach.
- May
- Sign up for orientation
- Register for the online portal and other necessary registrations
- Submit financial aid information
- Accept/decline financial aid assistance from the school
- June – August
- Register for classes
- Attend orientation
- Select housing on campus
- August – September
- Move-in date
- First week of classes
8. Scholarship Deadlines – All Year Round
Scholarships as a whole don’t have a set deadline. Each organization and award sets its own. While many align with the college application process (October – March), this is not a hard and fast rule. Students interested in applying for these scholarships should use databases to search for awards they’re eligible for and note any important due dates and deadlines. College Raptor’s Scholarship Search tool can get you started.
9. High School Graduation Deadlines – By May or June
High schools will require you to complete a few steps to graduate with your senior class. Every school is different, however, so if you have any questions about requirements or due dates, be sure to talk with your guidance counselor ahead of time. High schools usually require students to order caps and gowns, submit paperwork showing they completed all of the graduation requirements, attend graduation ceremony rehearsals, and send in senior photos.
How Can You Track Your Deadlines and Dates During High School?
There’s no doubt that there’s a lot you’ll need to tackle this year on top of your normal school work, scholarship applications, and responsibilities outside of your classes. We highly recommend keeping a planner, an app on your phone, or a calendar on your wall so you can keep track of all the college deadlines you need to know for your senior year. You can also print out this cr-college-planning-calendar to keep you organized.
If you have any questions about specific deadlines or submission requirements, be sure to talk to your high school guidance counselor or the college’s admission department as soon as possible to avoid missing important due dates.
Between ACT/SAT tests and college orientation, there is going to be a lot you need to track your senior year. However, by staying on top of these dates and deadlines, you can reduce stress and even increase your chances of getting accepted into your dream school.
Knowing your college application deadline is only one part of the application process! You will need a well-rounded application if you want to receive a coveted acceptance letter. College Raptor’s College Match tool can help you discover exactly what you need to apply to a school. Use it for free today.
