Download the Senior Calendar
July 2024
Checklist:
- Research colleges on your list and keep SCOIR updated regarding preferences.
- Visit college campuses if possible.
- Work on your second draft of your main college essay and submit to your counselor for feedback.
- Register for Aug., Sept., Oct., or Nov. standardized tests.
- Work on the Senior Questionnaire in SCOIR for your college counselor.
July 13: ACT Test Day
August 2024
Checklist:
- Visit college campuses if possible.
- Edit your college essay after your counselor sends feedback.
- Begin work on the Common Application and supplemental essay writing when the new version launches on August 1.
- Register for Sept., Oct., Nov., or Dec. standardized tests (SAT or ACT).
- Complete the Senior Questionnaire in SCOIR for your college counselor.
August 1: Second draft of your college essay due to your college counselor.
Common Application launches for this application cycle (commonapp.org).
August 9: Registration deadline for August SAT and September ACT.
August 26: SAT Test Day.
September 2024
Checklist:
- Meet with college counselor.
- Move towards finalizing college list; organize your application deadlines.
- In SCOIR, move colleges over to the “Applying” column.
- Work on college applications.
- Register for Oct., Nov., or Dec. standardized tests (SAT, ACT).
- Attend college representative visits at Thayer (register in advance in SCOIR).
- Complete the Senior Questionnaire in SCOIR for your college counselor.
- Arrange for Parent/Guardian Questionnaire to be completed (access via a link).
- Ask teachers to write letters of recommendation. Add them to your SCOIR account and provide them with any necessary paperwork.
September 5: SCOIR teacher recommendation request portal opens.
September 9: Individual Senior Meeting begin (sign up counselor via calendar link).
September 14: ACT Test Day.
September 16: College Counseling meeting for Grade 12 parents/guardians (Thompson Hall).
September 20: Registration deadline for October ACT & SAT.
September 23: Choice to pursue Early Action/Early Decision/Priority is due to College Counselor.
Common Application account update & FERPA agreement due.
Requests due for teacher recommendations if applying EA/ED/Priority.
September 27: Update due for Student Activities and Achievements on SCOIR.
October 2024
Checklist:
- Work on college applications. Submit to any colleges with mid-October deadlines.
- In SCOIR, move colleges over to the “Applying” column.
- Make sure teacher recommendation writers have been asked and added to your SCOIR account. Give them any paperwork they require.
- Take SAT or ACT tests.
- Register for Nov. and/or Dec. standardized tests (SAT or ACT).
- Send SAT/ACT score reports via testing company to colleges requiring them.
- Attend college representative visits at Thayer. Register in advance on SCOIR.
- Complete Senior Questionnaire in SCOIR for your college counselor.
- Arrange for Parent/Guardian Questionnaire to be completed (access via link).
October 1: CSS Profile & FAFSA available on this day. Open accounts & research deadlines.
October 3: Rosh Hashana is observed (no school). Consider visiting a college campus.
October 4: EA/ED/Priority essays due to College Counselor.
Add EA/ED/Priority College lists to the "Applying to" column on SCOIR.
October 5: SAT Test Day.
October 14: Indigenous Peoples' Day (no school). Consider visiting a college campus.
October 18: Registration deadline for November SAT.
All teacher recommendations are due to college counselors for EA/ED/Priority applications.
Any additional forms for institutional apps should be turned into counselors.
October 25: Professional Development Day (no school). Consider visiting a college campus.
October 26: ACT Exam Day.
November 2024
Checklist:
- Submit Early Decision/Early Action applications.
- Send SAT/ACT score reports via testing company to colleges requiring them.
- Take SAT if registered.
- Attend college representative visits at Thayer. Register in advance on SCOIR.
- Ask teachers to write letters of recommendation for Regular Decision schools. Add them to your SCOIR account and get them any necessary paperwork.
- In SCOIR, move colleges over to the “Applying” column.
- Complete Senior Questionnaire in SCOIR for your college counselor.
- Arrange for Parent/Guardian Questionnaire to be completed (access via link).
November 2: SAT Test Day.
November 8: Registration deadline for December ACT.
November 11: Veteran’s Day Holiday observed (no school). Consider visiting a college on this day.
November 22: Registration deadline for December SAT.
December 2024
Checklist:
- Decisions arrive for Early Decision and some Early Action applicants.
- Take SAT or ACT.
- Complete all applications and submit.
- Make sure teacher recommendation writers have been asked and added to your SCOIR account. Give them any paperwork they require.
- In SCOIR, move Regular Decision colleges to the "Applying" column. For deadlines over Winter Recess, colleges must be in place by Dec. 6.
- Organize all financial aid application details.
- Send SAT/ACT score reports via testing company to colleges requiring them.
December 2: Add Regular Decision college list to the "Applying to" column on SCOIR.
Any additional forms for institutional apps should be turned into counselors.
December 7: SAT Test Day.
December 14: ACT Test Day.
January 2025
Checklist:
- Submit remaining applications.
- In SCOIR, move colleges on your final list over to the “Applying” column.
- Send SAT/ACT score reports to any remaining colleges requiring them.
- Respond to an Early Decision acceptance if applicable.
- Contact colleges (via internet or phone) to make sure your applications are complete and that online applications have been received.
- Financial Aid documents (FAFSA/CSS Profile) are due to many colleges this month.
- Send SAT/ACT score reports via testing company to colleges requiring them.
January 20: MLK, Jr. Day (no school). Consider visiting a college campus.
January 21: Faculty work day (no school). Consider visiting a college campus.
February / March 2025
Checklist:
- Provide additional information to colleges as requested.
- Deferred at a favorite school? Write a letter of continued interest.
- Receive admission decisions and communicate them to your college counselor.
- Financial Aid documents (FAFSA/CSS Profile) are due to many colleges this month.
- Confirm financial aid files are complete.
- Wait patiently and research/think about options.
- Visit colleges as necessary.
February 17: President's Day (no school). Consider visiting a college campus.
March 10-23: Spring Recess. Visit colleges if necessary.
April 2025
Checklist:
- Receive admission decisions and communicate with your college counselor.
- Think through options.
- Visit colleges if necessary.
- Make final decision.
April 21: Patriots Day Holiday. Consider visiting a college campus.
May 2025
May 1: Enrollment deposit due at the college of your choice.
June 2024
June 7: Thayer Commencement. Congratulations!
Notes:
- Many of the dates above represent the deadline (last possible date). Plan ahead and act early!
- It is the responsibility of the student to understand the test requirements of the colleges to which they are applying.
- Thayer is not a testing site for the SAT or ACT.