The start of October means that spooky season is officially here—but for high school seniors, the real thrills and chills come from college application deadlines creeping up! Along with October’s leaf piles, pumpkin spice lattes, and haunted houses come mid-term grades, early application preparation, and extracurricular activities in full swing. Whether you’re a senior finalizing your essays or a younger student building your academic and extracurricular foundation, October is the perfect time to lock in and level up your college application profile.
Here’s what we’re talking about this month:
#1 Seniors, Create an Early Application Action Plan
College applications may seem like a distant concern, but early admissions deadlines are just around the corner! Applying Early Decision or Early Action can be a strategic way to demonstrate your interest in one of your top choice schools and boost your odds of admission. At the same time, the early pools at top schools are particularly competitive, and earlier deadlines give students less time to craft a strong, dynamic application. If you haven’t already, now is the time to create a tactical plan for early applications and start polishing your essays, finalizing your Activities List, and preparing for interviews. If the looming deadlines are starting to spook you, don’t panic. We’ve got the insider tips you need to succeed!
💡 Did you know?
“Unlike legacy admissions or the now-retired affirmative action considerations, both of which depend on stable aspects of a student’s identity and background, applying Early Decision provides an advantage based solely on a student’s expressed intention to attend a university. At some schools, applying Early Decision can double or triple a student’s odds of admission, and at some elite colleges, incoming classes are predominantly admitted through ED pathways: Tulane admitted two-thirds of the Class of 2026 ED, while Boston University, Brown University, and UPenn all admitted more than half of the Class of 2028 through ED. By some estimates, applying Early Decision is equivalent to adding 100 points to a student’s SAT score.”
To learn more about how Early Decision can boost your chances at your dream school, check out this article from Chris’ Forbes column!
#2 All Grades: Become Your Most Productive Self
October is not just crunch time for the college admissions process—it’s also the time for younger students to get serious about their academic performance. As students reach the midway point in the fall semester, they should evaluate their progress, consider opportunities for growth, and tailor their study habits to their learning style. Check out our Senior Mentors’ insider tips and tricks for leveling up your productivity this fall!
#3 All Grades: Curate Your Extracurricular Profile
Top colleges don’t just care about students’ excellence in the classroom—they also want to see what students choose to do in their free time. A student’s extracurricular involvements speak volumes about the kind of community member, leader, and changemaker they will be on their future college campus. Because of this, students should approach their extracurricular participation with intention and strategy. Rather than following their friends around the club fair, they should seek out clubs and organizations that align with their hook, offer opportunities for leadership, and demonstrate their personality to admissions officers (and, if one doesn’t already exist, create it!). Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered.
💡 Did you know?
Not all extracurriculars are created equal—some involvements are more likely to catch the eyes of admissions officers at top schools!
“While many of the “standard” extracurriculars won’t necessarily distinguish an applicant from their peers, these involvements will not hurt their chances. An admissions committee won’t stop in their tracks because a student competed in the Science Olympiad, but participation in this activity can set the foundation for a strong STEM profile. However, there are certain activities that can reflect poorly on a student if included in an Activities List.”
To learn more about which extracurriculars students should avoid and which ones will stop admissions committees in their tracks, check out this article from Chris’ Forbes column!
#4 Seniors, Ask for Last-Minute Letters of Recommendation
Graduating Seniors should plan to reach out to teachers, coaches, or mentors for letters of recommendation about two months before admissions deadlines. While students applying Early Decision or Early Action should have already requested their letters, some students might be turning their attention to that third letter of rec, which often comes from a summer internship mentor, a coach, or supervisor at work. For some students, asking for letters of recommendation can be intimidating. One of the best ways students can equip their recommenders to write dynamic and insightful letters is to provide them a brag sheet: a short document detailing their achievements, college goals, and the specific elements of their candidacy that they want their recommender to highlight. Check out our complete guide to the brag sheet, with a downloadable PDF you can use as you reach out to your recommenders!
#5 Parents, Help Your Senior Get Motivated
The college admissions process isn’t just stressful for students—it can be anxiety-inducing for parents as well. How can parents equip their students to stay on track without causing undue stress? How can they give them the tools to succeed without allowing college admissions prep to take over family meals? We offer practical tips for supporting students and setting healthy boundaries for parents seeking to motivate their students embarking on the college admissions journey.
If you’re ready to take the stress out of this spooky season and start your path toward college admissions success, schedule your free consult today!
