April is such an important month for high school students who are planning to go to college, but it can be overwhelming to keep track of all of the academic calendar dates. Since there are so many dates to keep up with during this busy time of the year, we suggest having a college planning calendar. We’ve laid out all of the important dates below so that you don’t miss any deadlines! With graduation just a few months away, you’ll want to keep this on hand.
Freshmen
There is not much college planning you can add to your calendar as a high school freshman. But that doesn’t mean there is none! Though you can’t take your standardized tests (like the ACT or SAT), you can always start prepping for them! Even if you don’t understand all of the concepts yet, you can practice taking the test and learning the format. High School Test Prep has a variety of tests to choose from including AP ones! These will help you get used to the format of the questions and allow you to think critically.
As a freshman, you can also start paying attention to the subjects that interest you to get an idea of what you would want your college major to be. Do you love studying the functions of the human body? Are you good at calculations? We’re not saying you need to have your college major figured out during your freshman year of high school, but it is a good idea to know your interests early.
Sophomores
April 12-28: If you’re a high school sophomore who signed up for the PSAT 10 test during April then you’ll be taking them on these dates! If you didn’t sign up for it this year, we definitely recommend signing up for it next year. The PSAT is a college prep test that measures your college readiness for a variety of subjects. Did you know you can win scholarships based on your PSAT results? It’s all the more reason to take it.
As the school year is starting to end, make an appointment with your guidance counselor. Your counselor can help you add classes that will increase your college acceptance probability into your schedule. Many high schools offer dual enrollment and AP classes to help get college credit and boost your GPA.
Juniors
Preparing for your senior year of high school can feel overwhelming. But know that the hard work does pay off! For the month of April, high school juniors should focus on taking the SAT and ACT exams and be on the lookout for these important deadlines.
April 5: If you are a junior who scheduled your ACT during this month, April 5th is the deadline to upload your official picture for the test on the 13th.
April 13: If you scheduled your ACT test for April then the 13th is the day you will take it. Mark it down on your calendar and be sure you are taking practice exams and reviewing content.
April 19: If you’re taking your SAT in May, the deadline to register will be April 19th and the deadline to cancel is April 23rd. Most colleges require students to have certain SAT and ACT scores. If you don’t do well on your first round, you can always take it again!
April 16-20: Though this is not official, we recommend juniors begin looking for colleges they are interested in during this week of April. Using College Raptor’s college search tool, they can see which colleges are best for them based on their preferences!
April 23-27: Make an appointment with your high school guidance counselor to review the colleges you picked the previous week. They can help guide you in the right direction when it comes to picking your schedule for the following year, ensuring your GPA is where it needs to be, and even helping you schedule tours! The guidance office has seen it all. They’re helpful when it comes to college choices, campus visits, admissions essays, and knowing key dates.
April 30: Double-check that you have applied for all the scholarships you’re eligible for in the month of April. Scholarships are FREE money to help you pay for school. You can do this monthly and spend a few hours a week filling out applications. By the time it comes to leaving for school, you’ll have money to use for tuition, supplies, and more! Use College Raptor’s scholarship match tool to see every scholarship you’re eligible for.
Seniors
Graduation is almost here. But here are a few things to keep in your April college planning calendar to finish out the year strong!
April 1: Filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is important for high school seniors, even if you don’t think you’ll receive any federal funding. You need to have a FAFSA application for federal student loans and some scholarships. The official deadline isn’t until the end of June. However, we recommend getting it done as soon as possible to get it out of the way.
April 20: By this time of the month, you should have all your college acceptance letters from the schools that you applied to. Go over the financial aid package from each school to see what they are offering. Comparing each school’s offer letters during this week will help you make a final decision.
April 30: Decision deadlines are on May 1st! So high school seniors need to have a college picked out by April 30th. Give notice to the schools you are not going to attend so students on the waitlist can be notified as well. After you accepted your admission to your college you can now set up an account through the online portal and sign up for college orientation!
Congratulations!
April is a busy month for all high school students. Planning for college can be stressful, but when you know what to do during the month of April, you can get a lot of things done! With College Raptor’s help, find the perfect school, free money from scholarships, and a well-suited career.
