College Search and Application Timeline
Find the Class of 2026 timeline below, which begins when the students are juniors.
College Search and Application Timeline
Jump to the 2025-26 academic year.
NOVEMBER 2024
- November 19 – College Kickoff Program for Class of 2026 Parents, 6:30 p.m.
DECEMBER 2024
- Individual student appointments with college counselors begin
- December 7 – SAT
- December 14 – ACT
- December 23 - January 6 – Winter break
JANUARY 2025
- January 3 – registration deadline for February 8 ACT
- Individual student appointments with college counselor continue
- Junior Seminar begins at the start of the second semester
- Students begin work in Naviance
- Parents begin work in Naviance
FEBRUARY 2025
- February 8 – ACT
- February 12 – College Case Studies program for 11th grade families, 6:30 p.m. (in-person)
- February 21 – registration for the March 8 SAT
- February 28 – registration for April 5 ACT
- Visit colleges over Presidents' Day Weekend or attend virtual open houses
- Family meetings with college counselor begin
MARCH 2025
- March 8 – SAT
- Family meetings continue
- March 21-31 – Spring break – Visit colleges, if possible
APRIL 2025
- April 3 – College Counseling Keynote for parents/caregivers, 6:30 p.m. (in-person)
- April 5 – ACT
- April 15 – Tax Deadline for 2024 (returns used for financial aid applications)
- April 18 – registration deadline for May 3 SAT
- Family meetings continue
MAY 2025
May 9 – registration for June 14 ACT
May 3 – SAT
May 5 - May 16 – AP exams administration
May 22 – registration deadline for June 7 SAT
May 22 – Philadelphia Independent School sponsored college fair at Germantown Academy
Request two letters of recommendation from 11th grade teachers
JUNE 2025
- Request two teacher letters of recommendation prior to close of school
- June 7 – SAT
- June 6 – registration for July 12 ACT
- June 14 – ACT
- Summer break – visit colleges and/or attend virtual admissions programs
JULY 2025
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College Counseling Office will be open – Email to check director’s availability
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July 15 – ACT
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Summer break – Visit Colleges, if possible and/or attend virtual programs
AUGUST 2025
- Summer break – Visit colleges and/or attend virtual admissions programs
- August 1 – Common Application goes live for the 2025-2026 cycle
- English XII Summer Assignment – Begin drafting essays
- August 23 – SAT
- August 20-22 – Common Application Workshop with College Counseling team
- Athletic Recruiting Brown Bag Lunch
- Art and Design Brown Bag Lunch
- College Essay Workshop
- Senior Seminar begins
- Students refine their working list of colleges via September Information Update
- Individual student meetings; family meetings as needed
- September 9, 7 p.m. – Nuts & Bolts Evening Program for Class of 2026 Parents
- September 6 – ACT
- College admissions representatives visit Penn Charter and meet with interested seniors
- Students begin submitting “Pink Sheets” (application request form) to their counselors
- Confirm two teacher recommendations
- Prepare Early Decision, Early Action and rolling applications
OCTOBER 2025
- Individual student conferences continue
- October 1 – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens (anticipated)
- October 1 – CSS Financial Aid Profile opens
- October 4 – SAT
- October TBD – FAFSA completion program hosted by PA Higher Ed Assistance Agency
- October 18 – ACT
- College admissions representatives continue to visit Penn Charter
- Students continue to submit “pink sheets” (application request form)
- Senior Seminar continues
NOVEMBER 2025
- Individual student conferences continue
- November 8 – SAT
- November 1 & 15 – Early Decision/Early Action deadlines
- November TBD – Financial Aid Program for Philadelphia Independent School Families
- College admissions representatives continue to visit Penn Charter
- Students finalize list of colleges with November Information Update
- Students continue to submit “pink sheets” (application request form)
- Students complete early applications and continue to work on regular applications
- File FAFSA as required
- File CSS Profile as required
DECEMBER 2025
- Individual student conferences continue
- Students continue to submit “pink sheets” (application request form)
- December 1 – Early Action deadlines
- December 6 – SAT
- December 13 – ACT
- Mid-December – Early Decision notifications arrive over a two-week period
- Winter break
JANUARY 2026
- January 1-15 – Regular Decision deadlines
- Submit financial aid forms as required
- Students confirm final list of colleges with January Information Update
- Early Action notifications arrive mid-late January
FEBRUARY 2026
- The great wait begins!
MARCH 2026
- Admissions decisions begin to arrive from colleges. Keep college counselors informed of all admission decisions.
APRIL 2026
- Early April – Admissions decisions continue to arrive from colleges
- Attend accepted student programs
- Choose your college – Make a decision about where you will enroll!
MAY 2026
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May 1 – National Candidates’ Reply Date. Enrollment deposit at one college must be submitted by this date.
JUNE 2026
- June 6 – Graduation, OPCs!