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Important College Application Dates 2021-2022

Senior year is without a doubt extremely overwhelming. One way to reduce stress is to stay aware of all the upcoming important college application dates 2021-2022 that apply to you. From standardized test schedules to application deadlines, there are a lot of dates to keep track of. 

Now that most of the application portals have opened, it’s time to take note of the most important college application dates 2021-2022 that you have to be aware of. Carefully mark these down in your calendar so you don’t fall behind!

October 1, 2021

October 1st is the first day that you can file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA, for the 2022-2023 school year. You will need to complete the FAFSA forms to apply for most financial aid, including federal and state grants, work-study, and loans. It is a good idea to file your FAFSA early since colleges, states, and other programs often have earlier deadlines than the federal ones. If your parent or guardian is the one paying for college, you would need their information. Things you need when filling out the FAFSA include:

• Social Security Number
• Alien Registration Number if you’re not a US citizen
• Your federal tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money that you’ve earned
• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
• Federal Student Aid ID to sign in

On October 1st, you can also file the CSS/Financial Aid Profile. The CSS is used by about 250 colleges and programs to determine whether you qualify for institutional grants and scholarships. While the FAFSA is used for federal grants, the CSS Profile is used by certain schools to determine your eligibility for grants and scholarships.

October 2, 2021

Standardized tests are a crucial part of important college application dates 2021-2022. If you would like to retake your SAT in the fall and then submit your scores to a school for Early Action or Early Decision, then taking the SAT in October is your last chance. Some schools might accept scores from the November 6th SAT for their early applications, but not all of them will, especially since colleges process early applications within a compressed time frame. Make sure you read the testing policies for your schools of choice. 

October 23, 2021

In the fall, the ACT is offered on October 23rd. The October 23rd ACT is the last ACT exam that you can take before early application deadlines. One issue with taking the ACT in October is that you will not be able to see your scores before you send them to schools for Early Decision or Early Action, since deadlines for most schools are on November 1st.

October 15, November 1, and November 15, 2021

Most Early Decision and Early Action deadlines are at the beginning of November, with some exceptions on October 15. Make sure you note down your schools’ dates! In order to apply early, you must submit all of your application materials, including essays, recommendation letters, transcripts, and test scores by the deadline. Be ready to take the plunge on November 1st. Do not get complacent once you have submitted your Early Decision application, as there is a lot more to be done. The timeframe between Early Decision results and Regular Decision important college application dates 2021-2022 is very short, so get started on your remaining supplements.

November 30, 2021

There are a few schools that have Regular Decision deadlines that are earlier than most other colleges. Applications to the University of California school system are due on November 30th and applications to many of the Apply Texas schools are due on December 1st. Also, beware that these colleges do not use the Common App so make sure to leave yourself time to coordinate any materials you need to send them! Be sure to check all of the important college application dates 2021-2022 and deadlines for the schools on your list.

December 4, 2021 

This is the last SAT test date before most Regular Decision deadlines. Ideally, you should plan on finishing your standardized testing by October or November of your senior year. But if you do want to retake the SAT one last time in December, you will need to register for the test by the late deadline of November 23rd. Remember that admissions officers can view how many times you have taken the SAT. If you get a high score after taking it four or five times, it does not reflect very well on your college applications. Think strategically about whether or not this last sitting is worth it!

December 11, 2021

This is the last time to take the ACT before Regular Decision deadlines. Again, waiting until December to finalize and send in test scores is a little risky, so if you can, try to take the ACT earlier in the fall. The late deadline for registering for the December ACT is November 19th.

December 15, 2021 

If you’ve applied Early Decision to a school, you will hear back sometime around this date. If you’ve been accepted, congratulations! Remember that if you’ve applied Early Decision and your acceptance is binding, you’ll need to accept the offer and submit your deposit soon. If you’ve been deferred, don’t give up! Take the necessary next steps and keep working on your Regular Decision applications.

January 1 through January 15, 2022

Most Regular Decision and Early Decision II deadlines fall between January 1st and January 15th. All of your application materials should be submitted to the schools on your list! Check and double-check that you have everything. Proofread your essays, and get a second set of eyes to read through them as well. Make sure your teachers and guidance counselor have submitted their recommendation letters. Verify that your activities and courses are up to date and that you have completed all of the questions and essays required for each of your colleges. And with that, you’re done with your college application submissions! Congratulations. Now, the waiting game begins.

February 15, 2022

If you’ve applied ED II to a school, you should hear back sometime between early and mid-February. Hearing back from your top-choice school early can take the pressure off from the rest of your applications.

April 1, 2022

After years of hard work, it’s the moment of truth! Most schools release Regular Decision results by this date. If you’ve been waitlisted at a school you really want to attend, make sure to write a letter of continued interest and consider sending additional letters of recommendation.

May 1, 2022

This is the last date you have to commit to a school. If you’ve been pondering over multiple schools, now is the time to make a choice. Pay your deposit and congratulations! You’re all set for college in the fall!

Senior year of high school flies by. Alongside classes, midterms and extracurriculars, you have the additional task of ensuring your college applications are good to go. While important college application dates 2021-2022 and all of the deadlines can be emotionally taxing, knowing which dates are upcoming can help you go a long way to ease the stress so that you can still enjoy your senior year!