College Search and Application Timeline
Find the Class of 2021 timeline below, and the Class of 2022 timeline here.
Class of 2021
NOVEMBER 2019
Junior Seminar begins for Q2
Students begin work in Naviance
DECEMBER, 2019
December 3 - College Kickoff Program for Class of 2021 Parents, 7pm (option 1)
December 4 – College Kickoff Program for Class of 2021 Parents, 8am (option 2)|
December 7 – SAT only
December 14 – ACT only
PSAT results available
Parents begin work in Naviance
Junior Seminar continues
December 21 - January 5 - WINTER BREAK
JANUARY 2020
January 10 - registration deadline for February 8 ACT
Individual student appointments with college counselor begin
Junior Seminar continues until end of Q2
FEBRUARY 2020
February 8 – ACT only
February 14 – registration deadline for March 14 SAT
February 18 - College Case Studies program for 11th grade students and parents, 7pm
February 28 – registration deadline for April 4 ACT
Visit colleges over Presidents’ Day Weekend
Individual student appointments with college counselor continue
Family conferences with college counselor begin
MARCH 2020
March 14 – SAT only (cancelled)
Registration deadlines for fall 2020 - spring 2021 ACT testing dates announced
Family conferences continue
March 20 – March 30 - SPRING BREAK – Visit Colleges! (visits cancelled)
March 23 - PACAC Main Line College fair at The Valley Forge Casino Resort, 6:30pm – 9pm (cancelled)
March 31 - PC distance learning begins
APRIL 2020
April 3- registration deadline for May 2 SAT or SAT Subject Tests (cancelled)
April 4 – ACT (cancelled)
Family conferences continue virtually
MAY 2020
May 2 – SAT or SAT Subject Tests (cancelled) (Juniors can consider taking two or three Subject Tests in Math Level I or II, U.S. History, a science, or a foreign language depending on their academic strengths)
May 4-15 - AP exam administration virtually
May 8 - registration deadline for June 6 SAT or SAT Subject Tests (cancelled)
May 8 - registration deadline for June 13 ACT (cancelled)
May 20 - Essay Writing Workshop hosted by Writing Center faculty & college counselors (Phase 1 & 2 executed online)
May 20 – Independent Schools’ College Fair at Germantown Academy, 6:30pm (cancelled)
May 21 – Main Line College Fair at Villanova University 6:30pm-9pm (cancelled)
Request two (2) letters of recommendation from eleventh grade teachers
JUNE 2020
Deadline to request two (2) teacher letters of recommendation prior to close of school
June 6 – SAT or SAT Subject Tests (cancelled) (Juniors can consider taking two or three Subject Tests in Math Level I or II, U.S. History, a science, or a foreign language depending on their academic strengths) * PC Virtual Commencement is 6/6.
June 13 – ACT (cancelled in region)
June 19 – registration deadline for July 18 ACT
SUMMER BREAK - Visit Colleges - Virtually
JULY 2020
College Counseling Office will be open - call to check director’s availability
July 18 – ACT (cancelled)
July 27 - ACT has added new fall dates (9/12; 9/19; 10/10; 10/17; 10/24). Registration opens this week.
July 31 – Registration deadline for August SAT and Subject Tests (focus is on SAT)
SUMMER BREAK - Visit Colleges - Virtually
AUGUST 2020
Begin Common Application, www.commonapp.org
Outline and draft essay topics
August 14 - Registration deadline for September 12 ACT
August 26 - Registration deadline for September SAT
August 26- Common Application Workshop with College Counseling Team
August 27 - Essay Writing Workshops with Writing Center faculty
August 29 - SAT and Subject Test
SUMMER BREAK - Visit Colleges
SEPTEMBER 2020
Senior Seminar begins
Students refine working list of colleges with “September Information Update”
Individual student conferences; family conferences as needed
September 9– Nuts & Bolts Evening Program for Class of 2021 Parents, 7pm
September 4 - registration deadline for October 3, SAT or SAT Subject Tests
September 12 – ACT
September 18 - Registration deadline for October 24 ACT
September 19 - ACT
September 26 - SAT
College admissions representatives start doing virtual high school visits with seniors
Student access to Naviance is switched to “view only” capability
Students begin submitting “Pink Sheets” (transcript request form) to their counselors
Confirm two (2) teacher recommendations
OCTOBER 2020
Individual student conferences continue
October 1 - Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available to file as required
October 1 - CSS Financial Aid Profile available to file as required
October 3 – SAT or SAT Subject Tests
October 7 - registration deadline for November 7 SAT or SAT Subject Tests
October 10 - ACT
October 17 - ACT
October 24 – ACT
Visit colleges over Columbus Day Weekend
College admissions representatives continue to do virtual visits with seniors
Prepare Early Decision, Early Action, and Rolling applications
Students continue to submit “Pink Sheets”
Senior Seminar continues through Q1
NOVEMBER 2020
Individual student conferences continue
November 1 & 15- Early Decision/Early Action deadlines
November 6 - registration deadline for December 5 SAT or SAT Subject Tests
November 6 - registration deadline for December 12 ACT
November 7 - SAT or SAT Subject Test
November TBD – Financial Aid program, Philadelphia Independent School families
College admissions representatives continue to do virtual visits with seniors
Students finalize list of colleges with “November Information Update”
Students complete applications
Submit Penn State applications by November 1 EA deadline or November 30, Priority Date
Students continue to submit “Pink Sheets”
File FAFSA as required
File CSS Profile as required
DECEMBER 2020
Individual student conferences continue
Students continue to submit “Pink Sheets” (transcript request form) to counselors
December 1- Early Action deadlines
December 5 - SAT or SAT Subject Tests
December 12 – ACT
December 18 – January 3 - WINTER BREAK (January 1 regular decision deadlines)
JANUARY 2021
January 1 & 15 Regular Decision deadlines
File financial aid forms as required
Students confirm list of colleges with “January Information Update”
FEBRUARY 2021
The great wait begins! Keep us informed of all developments.
MARCH 2021
Admissions decisions begin to arrive from colleges
APRIL 2021
Admissions decisions continue to arrive from colleges
MAY 2021
May 1 - National Candidates’ Reply Date. Enrollment deposit at one college must be submitted by this date.
JUNE 2021
Graduation, June 12 – OPC!