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Welcome to May’s CATES College Checklist!

The CATES College Checklist, our admissions-focused newsletter, brings you the month’s important dates and deadlines along with testing and advising resources relevant to your student’s year in school.

With end-of-the-year activities mounting, evoking feelings of both excitement and loss, your students might be riding a roller coaster of emotions. From the nerves of AP tests and final exams to the jubilation of prom and graduation, take the quiet moments to check in with your student on their mental health and well-being, talking through the wave of emotions.

Last updated: May 2026

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Freshmen

Your freshmen continue to concentrate on high academic achievement; creating a Final Exam Study Plan will help them finish out the semester strong. Their summer plans should include enhancing their academic transcripts with pre-college academic summer programs or developing their Passion Projects to impact their community.

Freshman Checklist

Academics

Admissions

  • May: Further cement positioning for leadership roles in extracurricular and community activities
    • Learn more

      For future college and scholarship applications, it is important to establish yourself as a leader in the classroom, school, and community. Admissions personnel want to know that they are admitting students who have a documented track record of service in their communities and who will bring that positive influence to their campus. Opportunities abound through school clubs and activities, as well as in the community through non-profit, municipal, and religious organizations.

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Sophomores

Your sophomores are finalizing their academic or career-related plans for summer, which might include future-oriented coursework or an internship opportunity. They might also be thinking about using their summer to job-shadow at various institutions to narrow down their career interests. For the remainder of the semester, they should be focused on finishing their classes with the highest achievement possible.

Sophomore Checklist

Academics

Admissions

  • May: Further cement positioning for leadership roles in extracurricular and community activities
    • Learn more

      For future college and scholarship applications, it is important to establish yourself as a leader in the classroom, school, and community. Admissions personnel want to know that they are admitting students who have a documented track record of service in their communities and who will bring that positive influence to their campus. Opportunities abound through school clubs and activities, as well as in the community through non-profit, municipal, and religious organizations.

      Discover Education Advising from CATES

Testing

Juniors

Your juniors are steeped in preparation and testing this month. Between tests, they continue visiting prospective colleges as part of the exciting exploration and discovery process. They should also be finalizing their summer plans as the two-month break from school will offer a considerable opportunity to maximize career-related experiences, leadership responsibilities, and community impact activities for their fall applications.

Junior Checklist

Academics

Admissions

  • May: Request letters of recommendation from teachers
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      Most colleges will ask for two to three letters of recommendation from students’ high school teachers. Serious thinking must go into the decision about which teachers—usually one in the humanities and one in a STEM field—will write the most glowing recommendations. Ask your students: in whose class do you stand out as an engaged and energetic student? With whom do you have a good rapport and interpersonal relationship? It is important to approach these teachers now so that their memory of your work is fresh and they can begin cataloging information for the letter. Students should approach them in person first then follow up with an email of thanks that includes their resume.

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  • May: Visit with high school college counselor
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      High school counselors will write another letter of recommendation for the Common App. Usually, these individuals are not as visible as the teachers students see every day, so they must seek out their counselor and schedule a meeting to update them on their spring achievements and summer plans.

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  • May: Decide on a schedule for school visits in the summer and fall
  • May: Identify prospects for summer internships
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      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.

      Discover Education Advising from CATES

Testing

Seniors

Congratulations, families of seniors! Your students’ final college decisions have been made! Deposits sent in, you can all enjoy the relief that comes with knowing the last four years of dedication and diligence have been rewarded. Your students must now decline any acceptances from other colleges and continue to submit their last Letters of Continued Interest if they are in a waitlisted holding pattern. As this final month of high school brings many milestones and memories, remind your students to live in the present and enjoy these final special moments with friends and family.

Senior Checklist

Academics

Admissions

  • May 1: National College Decision Day
    • Learn more

      May 1 has traditionally been the deadline for submitting your final admissions decision and deposit; however, with the FAFSA deadline now falling on June 30, some colleges have pushed back the traditional deadline. Be certain you know the deadlines for your schools of interest!

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  • May 1: Send Letters of Continued Interest and other requested materials to waitlisted schools
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      If your student receives an invitation to join the waitlist for one of their top choices, they should weigh their decision to decline or accept very carefully. Accepting the invitation comes with a fair amount of stress as final decision dates may come as late as July, and the uncertainty can fray even the most unflappable students. If a waitlist invitation is accepted, it is important that your student communicate their continued interest in a formal email to the school, known as a Letter of Continued Interest. This email is your student’s opportunity to bolster their chances of being chosen for one of those final admissions spots. The email will reiterate their dedication to admission and highlight the following: high academic achievement; new extracurricular or community involvement; awards, honors, or recognition; or updated test scores. Students should also submit the deposit for their second-choice school by May 1 (or a later deadline, if applicable).

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  • May: Unsubscribe from college mailing lists and withdraw applications
    • Learn more

      Once you have made the big decision about which college you will attend, it is important to formally withdraw your applications from the others in order to be respectful to the admissions personnel. The process of withdrawing is different for each institution: for some, you must withdraw through the college portal; for others, you must withdraw your application by either emailing or writing a formal letter to the admissions office—be sure to include your name and address and the ID number connected to your application.

  • May: Complete FAFSA by June 30
  • May: Contact college advisor and create fall course schedule
  • May: Decide whether on- or off-campus options are a better fit and secure housing for fall
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