Breadcrumbs

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! 
     

SAT - scores are typically released 2 weeks after test date

2024-5 Test Dates

Registration Deadline

December 7

November 22

March 8

Feb 21

May 3

April 18

June 7

May 22

All subsequent test dates are anticipated dates and are subject to change

 

ACT - scores are typically released 2 weeks after test date

2024-5 Test Dates

Registration Deadline

February 8

Jan 3

April 5

Feb 28

June 14

May 9

July 12

June 6

All subsequent test dates are anticipated dates and are subject  to change