Your January College Checklist
Read on for this month’s tips on managing the college process.
Welcome to January’s CATES College Checklist!
Our monthly admissions-focused newsletter, the CATES College Checklist brings you the month’s important dates and deadlines along with testing and advising resources relevant to your student’s year in school.
During this season of resolutions, you can help your students regain their focus on academic excellence by hosting supportive conversations about the future. College and career prep can bring anxiety, especially without context, so it is important to showcase the full path to achieving long-term goals. Of course, our team is here to support you throughout this exciting journey. Happy New Year from all of us at CATES!
Last updated: January 2025
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Freshmen
After ringing in the new year, your freshmen should review their body of work from the first semester, reflecting not only on grades but on work ethic and motivation as well. This process will show them where to amend their behaviors and focus their time in order to finish the school year with optimal performance.
Freshman Checklist
Academics
- January: Create a final exams study plan
- Learn more
In order to effectively plan for final exams, it is important to create a study schedule that begins weeks in advance. This will not only ensure that you have adequate time to prepare but also allow you to visit an instructor, tutor, or peer mentor for extra help if needed. The first task in test preparation is to know exactly what the test will cover, so 3–4 weeks in advance, stop in before or after school to ask your instructor. With that knowledge, begin sorting through lecture slides, notes, handouts, and past assignments, quizzes, and tests to be sure that you have study material on all topics. If you have maintained effective learning strategies throughout the semester, conceptually understanding subjects rather than simply memorizing information, your study schedule should include a review of each concept with time allotted for application exercises, such as turning chapter headings into how or why questions and providing answers.
- Discover Academic Support from CATES
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Admissions
- January: Research summer opportunities to further develop your passions, and submit summer program applications
- Learn more
Students must continue their engagement throughout the summer. Valuable experiences might come in the form of academic programs, internships, or summer jobs, and the earlier these are researched, the more options are available. Early deadlines for several competitive summer programs are fast approaching, so now is the time to begin preparing your applications—if you haven’t already!
- Review key 2025 summer program deadlines on the CATES blog
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Sophomores
It is time for your sophomores to implement the ideas they have been exploring through their passion projects. The next step of the process will allow them to gain highly valuable leadership, executive functioning, and project management skills. These large-scale impact projects will also enhance their empathy, perspective, and understanding.
Sophomore Checklist
Academics
- January: Create a final exams study plan
- Learn more
In order to effectively plan for final exams, it is important to create a study schedule that begins weeks in advance. This will not only ensure that you have adequate time to prepare but also allow you to visit an instructor, tutor, or peer mentor for extra help if needed. The first task in test preparation is to know exactly what the test will cover, so 3–4 weeks in advance, stop in before or after school to ask your instructor. With that knowledge, begin sorting through lecture slides, notes, handouts, and past assignments, quizzes, and tests to be sure that you have study material on all topics. If you have maintained effective learning strategies throughout the semester, conceptually understanding subjects rather than simply memorizing information, your study schedule should include a review of each concept with time allotted for application exercises, such as turning chapter headings into how or why questions and providing answers.
- Discover Academic Support from CATES
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Admissions
- January: Research summer opportunities to further develop your passions, and submit summer program applications
- Learn more
Students must continue their engagement throughout the summer. Valuable experiences might come in the form of academic programs, internships, or summer jobs, and the earlier these are researched, the more options are available. Early deadlines for several competitive summer programs are fast approaching, so now is the time to begin preparing your applications—if you haven’t already!
- Review key 2025 summer program deadlines on the CATES blog
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Testing
- January: Schedule an SAT vs. ACT Diagnostic to find your best fit
- Learn more
CATES offers students a diagnostic exam with sections mimicking both the SAT and the ACT to determine which test best suits a student’s unique strengths. Based on a thorough analysis of the qualitative factors underlying diagnostic score trends, we can determine a student’s best fit and put a test preparation schedule in place. Our tutors will prescribe new strategies and techniques to unlock peak performance and lead students to testing success.
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- January: Create a plan for SAT/ACT preparation and testing
Juniors
It is an exciting new year for your juniors as they initiate the college planning process by meeting their school counselors this month. It is important to keep in mind that this counselor will be tasked with writing a letter of recommendation for college applications, so remind your students to be prepared and professional. College fairs and rep visits to their high schools will help shape preliminary college lists so that your family can schedule campus visits over spring breaks.
Junior Checklist
Academics
- January: Create a final exams study plan
- Learn more
In order to effectively plan for final exams, it is important to create a study schedule that begins weeks in advance. This will not only ensure that you have adequate time to prepare but also allow you to visit an instructor, tutor, or peer mentor for extra help if needed. The first task in test preparation is to know exactly what the test will cover, so 3–4 weeks in advance, stop in before or after school to ask your instructor. With that knowledge, begin sorting through lecture slides, notes, handouts, and past assignments, quizzes, and tests to be sure that you have study material on all topics. If you have maintained effective learning strategies throughout the semester, conceptually understanding subjects rather than simply memorizing information, your study schedule should include a review of each concept with time allotted for application exercises, such as turning chapter headings into how or why questions and providing answers.
- Discover Academic Support from CATES
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Admissions
- January: Decide on a schedule for school visits in the winter, spring, and summer
- Learn more
Planning ahead for school visits will allow your family to see a variety of campuses so that your students can begin to understand and identify their preferences.
- Watch our webinar on building your college list
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- January: Identify prospects for summer internships
- Learn more
The summer before senior year offers the perfect opportunity for your students to show colleges they are serious about their intended program of study by completing an internship in the field. Because these opportunities can be competitive, your juniors should be researching local businesses or firms that might support such a role and contacting them via email.
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Testing
- January: Create a plan for SAT/ACT preparation and testing
Seniors
Your seniors must be resolved to continue maintaining a serious academic mindset, especially as they prepare to meet with the college alumni and admissions personnel who give application interviews. Remember, these individuals want to advocate for you—but you must be prepared, and you must maintain a positive attitude.
Senior Checklist
Academics
- January: Create a final exams study plan
- Learn more
In order to effectively plan for final exams, it is important to create a study schedule that begins weeks in advance. This will not only ensure that you have adequate time to prepare but also allow you to visit an instructor, tutor, or peer mentor for extra help if needed. The first task in test preparation is to know exactly what the test will cover, so 3–4 weeks in advance, stop in before or after school to ask your instructor. With that knowledge, begin sorting through lecture slides, notes, handouts, and past assignments, quizzes, and tests to be sure that you have study material on all topics. If you have maintained effective learning strategies throughout the semester, conceptually understanding subjects rather than simply memorizing information, your study schedule should include a review of each concept with time allotted for application exercises, such as turning chapter headings into how or why questions and providing answers.
- Discover Academic Support from CATES
-
Admissions
- January: Prepare for your college interviews
- January: Continue to follow through on EDII/RD plans
- Learn more
Odds of admittance are higher for Early Decision II applicants, so it is suggested that students take advantage of this opportunity. Early Decision II applications are binding contracts, so be sure to think through this choice carefully.
- Discover Application Support from CATES
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- January: Confirm that teachers, counselors, and other recommenders have submitted their materials before the EDII/RD deadline
Testing
- January: Send scores to ED II/RD schools through College Board/ACT to allow for delivery time