October Action Steps in the College Prep Process

October is crunch time for college-bound students who want to reap the benefits of meeting early application deadlines.

There’s a gamut of popular colleges that offer November 1^st as an Early Action deadline. If students submit their applications by this date, colleges will get back to them early – frequently by the winter holidays.  A great way to relieve the stress of the college application process is to get accepted to colleges early and enjoy the rest of senior year, while maintaining grades, of course.

 

Universities in the tri-state area, popular with New Jersey students, that offer Early Action include NYU, Fordham, St. John’s, Pace, Marist, Hofstra, Rutgers, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Seton Hall, Montclair State, Monmouth, Penn State, Drexel, Temple, Villanova, Duquesne, St. Joseph’s, and University of Scranton.

 

Popular out-of-state schools offering Early Action include Northeastern, University of Massachusetts – Amherst, University of Connecticut, Fairfield, Ohio State, Case Western, University of Delaware, University of Maryland, University of Virginia

UNC – Chapel Hill, University of South Carolina, Georgia Tech, and University of Miami.

October is also the month for students who have a favorite school to file an Early Decision (ED) application as long as they are willing to commit to attending, if accepted.  The ED deadline is typically November 1^st and, at most schools, greatly increases a student’s likelihood of being accepted. 

 

October is an important month for families who are seeking need-based financial aid. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) goes live on October 1^st of each year, allowing families to complete the required form in order to get a financial aid package from the colleges to which their child is applying. Then, they can compare the costs and weigh their options well in advance of the May 1^st deadline date to accept a college offer.  

 

High school juniors, and often freshmen and sophomores, take their PSAT in October.  For juniors, this test also serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) which identifies National Merit Finalists, Semi-Finalists, and Commended Students.  Being named a National Merit winner is a prestigious academic honor, and often results in a scholarship award.

Often, high school seniors who have not yet reached their goal on the SAT spend the month of October preparing for the last two SAT exams of the calendar year, offered on the first Saturday of November and December.

 

Clearly, students have a lot more to do this month than just prepare for Halloween!

Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of Collegebound Review that, for the past 25 years, has offered PSAT/SAT® preparation and private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362