Your October College Checklist
Read on for this month’s tips on managing the college process.
Welcome to October’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.
Sweater weather has arrived, and with it, your students’ first round of tests, projects, and essays. Hosting study groups and offering quips about “when I had pre-calculus” builds academic confidence and curiosity—through these conversations, you can become an academic role model for your student.
Last updated: October 2025
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Freshmen
Now that your freshmen have learned to navigate the halls, they are falling into familiar routines with new teachers and new friends. The sudden frequency and volume of homework might be daunting for your students, so continue to encourage them with positivity and foster an academic environment, supporting activities like after-school help sessions, study groups, or tutoring.
Freshman Checklist
Academics
- October: Learn how to make the most of high school academics
- Learn more
In order to be successful at the high school level, students must be prepared for the advanced rigor, depth of inquiry, and expectations for higher-order thinking that come with high school classes. Solid executive functioning, time management, and study skills lay the foundation for that success.
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- October: Invest in a diverse array of outside reading material
- Learn more
Independent reading—whether formally assigned or personally chosen—is an excellent way for students to develop their intellectual and academic engagement. Research shows that children who connect with meaningful reading material experience greater reading achievement, and as reading skills improve, students are better prepared to comprehend other classroom reading materials and subjects.
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Admissions
- October: Begin a Passion Project to help differentiate yourself from other applicants in your class
- Learn more
The aim of this project is to empower students to enact the change they wish to see in the world through pro-social action. The project allows them to develop passions into community impact and address pain points with which they possess a personal connection.
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- October: Start researching summer opportunities to further develop your passions
- 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. Further, Early Action deadlines for some elite programs fall in October or early November. (The early deadline for Yale Young Global Scholars, for instance, is October 15.)
- Watch our webinar on summer programs for high schoolers
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Testing
- October: Take the PSAT or the Pre-ACT
Sophomores
In addition to your sophomores’ focus on academics, this year offers them the opportunity to develop social and communication skills that will propel them into leadership roles over the next two years. Identifying role models in teachers, administrators, club leaders, and team captains and learning from their styles and strategies will be important for them to take this next step.
Sophomore Checklist
Academics
- October: Learn how to make the most of high school academics
- Learn more
In order to be successful at the high school level, students must be prepared for the advanced rigor, depth of inquiry, and expectations for higher-order thinking that come with high school classes. Solid executive functioning, time management, and study skills lay the foundation for that success.
-
- October: Invest in a diverse array of outside reading material
- Learn more
Independent reading—whether formally assigned or personally chosen—is an excellent way for students to develop their intellectual and academic engagement. Research shows that children who connect with meaningful reading material experience greater reading achievement, and as reading skills improve, students are better prepared to comprehend other classroom reading materials and subjects.
-
Admissions
- October: Begin a Passion Project to help differentiate yourself from other applicants in your class
- Learn more
The aim of this project is to empower students to enact the change they wish to see in the world through pro-social action. The project allows them to develop passions into community impact and address pain points with which they possess a personal connection.
-
- October: Start researching summer opportunities to further develop your passions
- 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. Further, Early Action deadlines for some elite programs fall in October or early November. (The early deadline for Yale Young Global Scholars, for instance, is October 15.)
- Watch our webinar on summer programs for high schoolers
-
Testing
- October: Take the PSAT or the Pre-ACT
Juniors
As your juniors adjust to the rigor of their AP courses, it is important for them to also begin preparation for college admissions testing. Although a number of schools remain test-optional, most highly selective schools still weigh SAT and ACT scores heavily in their decisions—and many have fully reinstated testing requirements. Your students will be taking the redesigned, digital versions of the SAT and ACT, so be sure they are familiar with the new format.
Junior Checklist
Academics
- October: Continue to make the most of high school academics
- Learn more
In order to be successful at the high school level, students must be prepared for the advanced rigor, depth of inquiry, and expectations for higher-order thinking that come with high school classes. Solid executive functioning, time management, and study skills lay the foundation for that success.
-
- October: Invest in a diverse array of outside reading material
- Learn more
Independent reading—whether formally assigned or personally chosen—is an excellent way for students to develop their intellectual and academic engagement. Research shows that children who connect with meaningful reading material experience greater reading achievement, and as reading skills improve, students are better prepared to comprehend other classroom reading materials and subjects.
-
Admissions
- October: Decide on a schedule for school visits in the fall, 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 how to build a college list
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- October: Start researching summer opportunities to further develop your passions
- 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. Further, Early Action deadlines for some elite programs fall in October or early November. (The early deadline for Yale Young Global Scholars, for instance, is October 15.)
- Watch our webinar on summer programs for high schoolers
-
Testing
- October: Create a plan for SAT/ACT preparation and testing
- October: Take the PSAT to determine if you qualify for a National Merit Scholarship
- October 4: October SAT
- October 18: October ACT
- October 24: Deadline to register for the November 8 SAT
Seniors
It is time for your seniors to finish weighing the numerous considerations that go into finding the right college and settle on a frontrunner. Most Early Decision and Early Action deadlines are November 1 or earlier, with some Southern schools opting for October 15, so October is your last opportunity to build the strongest application possible and secure your best chance at admittance. Remember, Early Decision applications are binding contracts, so be sure to schedule final trips to campuses if there is any uncertainty.
Senior Checklist
Academics
- October: Continue making the most of high school academics
- Learn more
Seniors must be prepared to continue managing their classes’ advanced rigor, depth of inquiry, and expectations for higher-order thinking. Solid executive functioning, time management, and study skills lay the foundation for that success. Consider tutoring to help maintain academic excellence throughout the application process.
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Admissions
- October: Complete the Common App
- Learn more
By now, students should have completed a large portion of their Common Application. Don’t panic if your students still have work to do, but know that it will be imperative for them to knuckle down this month in order to complete and revise a polished application before ED/EA deadlines. Remember, too, that senior grades still count, so students must reserve time in their schedules to maintain academic performance.
- Watch our webinar on navigating the Common App
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- October: Finalize your Early Decision/Early Action plan, and complete those supplemental essays
- Learn more
Acceptance rates are significantly higher for Early Decision and Restrictive or Single-Choice Early Action applicants, so we strongly suggest that students take advantage of these opportunities. Remember that Early Decision applications are binding contracts, so be sure to think through this choice carefully.
- Watch our webinar on school-specific supplemental essays
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- October: Confirm that teachers, counselors, and other recommenders have submitted their materials before your Early Decision and Early Action deadlines
Testing
- ASAP!: Send SAT/ACT scores to ED/REA/EA schools through College Board/ACT to allow for delivery time
- October 4: October SAT
- October 18: October ACT
- October 24: Deadline to register for the November 8 SAT