When to start applying for college and scholarships?

As a high school junior, I'm feeling overwhelmed with starting my college application process. When should I start applying to both colleges and scholarships to be on top of things? Any advice on platforms or to-do lists?

The college application and scholarship processes often start earlier than many students and families anticipate. Here's a general timeline that can help you plan:

Junior Year:

From January onwards, you can begin searching for scholarships. There are many databases where you can start such as Appily, Fastweb, and College Board Scholarship Search. Start building a list of opportunities you'd like to explore further, noting their deadlines and requirements.

In spring, it's a good idea to start researching colleges and build a preliminary list of schools you're interested in. Consider factors like academic programs, size, location, cost, campus culture, etc.

By the summer, consider visiting the campuses of the colleges at the top of your list. Note that the summer environment might be different from the regular term, but it's still a great way to get a feel for the campus.

In fall of your senior year, you generally start to fill out your college applications and, depending on the school's deadlines, plan to submit them. Remember, the earlier, the better in many cases (especially for early decision or early action options). Also, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFA) opens October 1, so get on that quickly to maximize your federal aid eligibility.

Senior Year:

Apply for the scholarships you researched during junior year. Remember that continuing to apply for scholarships throughout senior year and even in college can help offset the cost of your education.

Keep track of all your deadlines using a tool like Google Calendar, a digital project management tool, or even a traditional planner. Establish a systematic filing system for all of your documents (paper and digital).

Lastly, stay organized and don't procrastinate! Both college applications and scholarship applications take a considerable amount of time and thought, so don't leave them to the last minute.