Scheduling the College Application Process

Developing a Plan

By Matthew Bullington

One of the first things you will notice as you start considering the college application process is that there are a huge number of steps, and the list can quickly become overwhelming. The goal of us here at HomeschoolCollegePrep.com is to help keep you from becoming overwhelmed, and one of the best ways to prevent that is to write down a detailed plan of action. If you are like me, scheduling is probably not one of your favorite projects to work on, but it is the key to keeping stress at a manageable level during the application process. Let’s do a quick walkthrough of what elements need to be on you plan.

The secret to successful planning is to start with the end in mind. If your goals are to enter the local community college then there is no need to start cramming for standardized exams in your Freshman year. Conversely, if your sights are on the Ivy League Schools, you are going to need to start preparing well before your Senior year. If you have no idea whatsoever as to what you want to do, you are probably going to want to be somewhere in the middle. Prepare with the goal in mind. Write your goal down, refer to it often, and adjust it as necessary.

Once you have your goal identified and on paper, write down the amount of time you have till graduation. This will vary greatly for different individuals depending on when you start preparing. Consider this amount of time, whether six years or six months, and what you can accomplish in it. Schedule the major items with deadlines first (such as standardized exams, which are only offered certain months of the year, as well as application and financial aid deadlines), then plan out how you will prepare for these deadlines, gradually working backwards until you reach today. Next add in details for how and when you will evaluate your options (visiting schools or searching online for scholarships). Spending time researching up front will help prevent disappointment and missed opportunities down the road.

NOTE: Even though we spend a substantial amount of time discussing extensive preparation, do not be discouraged if you are starting late. I know of many homeschooled individuals who did not get an early start on all the detailed preparation that is discussed in this website, myself included, who still successfully made it to college, and even with scholarships. However, starting early to actively prepare can benefit you with additional opportunities, and can do so in a less stressful environment. Evaluate what steps you can implement to prepare yourself in the time you have.

There are several websites out there with detailed layouts year-by-year of what you need to do to prepare for college. A few that I have found helpful are listed below. Remember, these are for the “ideal” preparation schedule, so adjust to fit the time you have.

Matthew

College Planning Schedule:

CollegeBoard Year-By-Year Detailing of What to do to Prepare – A Good Overview

(NOTE: CollegeBoard administers the SAT and PSAT, so they will not have down when you should take the ACT)

Blank Checklist by the National Research Center for College and University Admissions

Freshman College Planning Checklist (from FastWeb!)

Sophomore College Planning Checklist (from FastWeb!)

Junior College Planning Checklist (from FastWeb!)

Senior College Planning Checklist (from FastWeb!)

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Workshops are currently being offered that are specifically designed to help homeschoolers through the process of preparing for college! Visit our WORKSHOPS page to register for a workshop near you!


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