Timeline for the Class of 2027

College Search and Application Timeline
 

NOVEMBER 2025 

• November 18 – College Kickoff Program for Class of 2027 Parents, 6:30 p.m. 

DECEMBER 2025

• Individual student appointments with college counselors begin
• December 6 – SAT
• December 13 – ACT 
• December 22 – January 5: WINTER BREAK

JANUARY 2026

• January 7 – registration deadline for the February 14 ACT
• Individual student appointments with their college counselor continue
• Junior Seminar begins at the start of the second semester
• Students begin work in Naviance
• Parents begin work in Naviance

FEBRUARY 2026

• February 14 – ACT
• February 11 – College Case Studies program for 11th grade families, 6:30 p.m. (in-person)
• February 27 – registration for the March 14 SAT
• Visit colleges over Presidents' Day Weekend or attend virtual Open Houses
• Family meetings with the college counselor begin 

MARCH 2026

• March 14 – SAT
• March 6 – registration for April 11 ACT
• Family meetings continue
• March 23 – March 30: SPRING BREAK – Visit colleges, if possible 

APRIL 2026

• April 14 – College Counseling Keynote for parents/caregivers, 6:30 p.m. (in-person)
• April 5 – ACT 
• April 15 – Tax Deadline for 2025 (returns used for financial aid applications)
• April 17 registration deadline for May 2 SAT
• Family meetings continue 

MAY 2026

• May 8 – registration for June 13 ACT
• May 2 – SAT
• May 22 – registration deadline for June 6 SAT 
• May 20 – Philadelphia Independent School sponsored college fair at Germantown Academy 
• Request two (2) letters of recommendation from eleventh grade teachers 

JUNE 2026

• Request two (2) teacher letters of recommendation prior to the close of school 
• June 6 – SAT
• June 5 – registration for July 11 ACT 
• June 13 – ACT 
• SUMMER BREAK: visit colleges and/or attend virtual admissions programs

JULY 2026

• SUMMER BREAK – visit colleges and/or attend virtual admissions programs
• College Counseling Office will be open – email to check the director’s availability
• July 11 – ACT 

AUGUST 2026

• SUMMER BREAK – visit colleges and/or attend virtual admissions programs
• August 1 – Common Application goes live for the 2026-2026 cycle
• English XII Summer Assignment – begin drafting essays
• August SAT (Date TBD)
• August Common Application Workshop with College Counseling team (Date TBD)
  • Athletic Recruiting Brown Bag Lunch
  • Art and Design Brown Bag Lunch
  • College Essay Workshop

SEPTEMBER 2026

• Senior Seminar begins
• Students refine their working list of colleges via the “September Information Update”
• Individual student meetings; family meetings as needed
• Nuts & Bolts Evening Program for Class of 2027 Parents (Date TBD)
• September ACT (Date TBD)
• 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 2026

• Individual student conferences continue
• October 1 – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens 
• October 1 – CSS Financial Aid Profile opens
• October SAT (TBD)
• October TBD – FAFSA completion program hosted by PA Higher Ed Assistance Agency
• October ACT (TBD)
• College admissions representatives continue to visit Penn Charter
• Students continue to submit “Pink Sheets” (application request form)
• Senior Seminar continues 

NOVEMBER 2026

• Individual student conferences continue
• November SAT (TBD)
• 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 2026

• Individual student conferences continue
• Students continue to submit “Pink Sheets” (application request form)
• December 1 – Early Action deadlines
• December SAT (TBD)
• December ACT (TBD)
• Mid-December – Early Decision notifications arrive over a two-week period
• WINTER BREAK 
   

JANUARY 2027

• January 1 through 15 – Regular Decision deadlines
• Submit financial aid forms as required 
• Students confirm the final list of colleges with the “January Information Update”
• Early Action notifications arrive mid-late January
   

FEBRUARY 2027

• The great wait begins! 

MARCH 2027

• Admissions decisions begin to arrive from colleges. Keep college counselors informed of all admission decisions.

APRIL 2027

• Early April – admissions decisions continue to arrive from colleges
• Attend accepted student programs
• Choose your college – decide where you will enroll!

MAY 2027

• May 1 – National Candidates’ Reply Date. An enrollment deposit at one college must be submitted.
   

JUNE 2027

• June 5 – Graduation, OPC!