Timeline for the Class of 2026
College Search and Application Timeline
NOVEMBER, 2024
- November 19 - College Kickoff Program for Class of 2026 Parents, 6:30 PM
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 PM (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 – March 31 - SPRING BREAK – Visit colleges, if possible
APRIL, 2025
- April 3 - College Counseling Keynote for parents/caregivers, 6:30PM (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 (2) letters of recommendation from eleventh grade teachers
JUNE, 2025
- Request two (2) 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
- SUMMER BREAK - visit colleges and/or attend virtual admissions programs
- College Counseling Office will be open - email to check director’s availability
- July 12 - ACT
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 - proposed date for SAT
- August TBD Common Application Workshop with College Counseling team
Athletic Recruiting Brown Bag Lunch
Art and Design Brown Bag Lunch
College Essay Workshop
SEPTEMBER, 2025
- Senior Seminar begins
- Students refine their working list of colleges via “September Information Update”
- Individual student meetings; family meetings as needed
- September TBD – Nuts & Bolts Evening Program for Class of 2026 Parents, TBD
- September TBD - 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 (2) 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 - proposed date for SAT
- October TBD - FAFSA completion program hosted by PA Higher Ed Assistance Agency
- October TBD - 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 - proposed date for 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 - proposed date for SAT
- December TBD - ACT
- Mid-December - Early Decision notifications arrive over a two week period
- WINTER BREAK
JANUARY, 2026
- January 1 through 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
- May 1 - National Candidates’ Reply Date. Enrollment deposit at one college must be submitted.
JUNE, 2026
- June 6 - Graduation, OPC!
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