Timeline for Applying to College

New! Sept. 2026 SPS transitions to SchooLinks, a new HSBP platform 

Beginning in September 2026, our district will transition from Naviance to SchooLinks, the state-selected HSBP platform for Washington schools. This shift ensures alignment with state requirements while providing improved tools for students to explore their interests, plan for life after high school, and track progress toward their goals. SchooLinks also expands access for families, creating new opportunities to engage in their student’s planning process. More information, including access details and training resources, will be shared ahead of the launch. Visit the district SchooLinks page for more updates. 

9th Grade

• Do your best! Select classes that balance rigor and GPA. Develop organizational skills and time management.
• Join a club or sport. Explore! Find what activities excite you.
• Start your High School and Beyond Plan in Naviance: Start drafting your resume, Strengths Explorer.
• Start reading/researching about colleges or programs.

10th Grade

• Maintain or raise your GPA.
• Follow your interests. Be active in a few clubs or sports: depth over breadth
• Continue reading/researching.
• Complete AchieveWorks Personality or other assessment and update your resume in Naviance.
• Do something interesting during the summer.

11th Grade

• Maintain or raise your GPA.
• Take the PSAT/NMSQT at school in the fall (October).
• Attend Financial Aid Night.
• Schedule/take SAT at school in the spring if your high school give a school day test. If not, you can sign up on your own or wait to take it fall of your senior year.
• Begin to think about leadership opportunities.
• Complete the SuperMatch college search and update your resume in Naviance.
• Continue reading/researching.
• Check out some college presentations–register through Naviance.
• Go to on campus visits, if possible. It’s best to do this when they are in session.
• Attend college rep visits and attend the National College Fair (November).
• Try to finalize college list (10 max): Reach school(s), match school(s), and a back-up school based on their freshman profile. Plan on at least one in-state school.
• Spring: Think about which teacher(s) you would like to ask for a letter of recommendation.
• Do something interesting during the summer.
• Write essays in summer before 12th grade.

12th Grade

• Get organized with where you are applying and what each school needs.
• Finalize resume in Naviance.
• Attend Financial Aid Night, especially if you didn’t junior year.
• Ask your letter of recommendation writers and give them your college list and resume. Private, independent schools often want school counselor as well as a teacher.
• Try to do some leadership in activities or clubs you’ve been involved with.
• Edit all essays in the fall.
• Attend college rep visits and college fair.
• Apply for financial aid (FAFSA/WASFA) in the fall. Some schools use the CSS Profile as well.
• Send test scores and transcripts to colleges.
• Apply to colleges: Common Application, Coalition, school-specific website. Give them exactly what they want.
• Consider applying for the Seattle Promise Scholarship.
• Fight to get off the waitlist.
• Apply for scholarships throughout the fall, winter, and spring.
• Decide where to go to college! National College Decision Day is May 1.

As of June 1, 2026