The last days before early deadlines can feel overwhelming for students and counselors alike. There are essays to polish, transcripts to track, and recommendation requests floating around out there. In the chaos, it’s usually the small details or the seemingly obvious ones that trip students up.
Here’s a checklist I share with students to keep them grounded October approaches. It’s not fancy, but it helps students make sure their applications are complete and they are on-track.
Final Pre Deadline Checklist for Seniors
Essays
- Personal essay final draft completed and proofread (more than once)
- Supplemental essays polished for each early school
- Someone else has read your essay for clarity and flow
Recommendations & Transcripts
- Transcript requests submitted
- Teacher recommendations confirmed
- Counselor recommendation submitted (if required)
Applications
- Common App / Coalition / institutional application sections fully completed
- Application round (EA/ED/RD) double-checked for accuracy
- All colleges added to your application list
Logistics
- Standardized test scores (if sending) requested and sent
- FAFSA started or planned (if applicable)
- College portals set up and login info saved
- On this blog format, I couldn’t use boxes for my bullets but I like to do that so the students can literally check the box when they confirm it’s taken care of.
Final Thought
Students don’t need to feel like everything has to be perfect. They do need to make sure the essentials are in place. This checklist makes the last week before deadlines more manageable for everyone as they prepare to start applying to colleges.