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Answers organized by what families actually ask. Start with your student's grade, or search for what you need. Answers organized by grade, or search for what you need.
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The Common App Is Open. Here Is the Catch-Up Plan.
The Common App opened August 1, and if your senior has not started yet, you are far from alone. Starting in late August is completely workable. Here is the compressed plan, week by week, from today to the November deadlines.
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · August 17, 2026
What should we be doing right now?
Each grade has one thing that matters most. Start where your student is.
Senior Fall, Week by Week: Now to November 1
Between now and November 1 there are about eleven weeks, and they are not interchangeable....
Common App Activities & Experiences Worksheet: Find What You're Missing
A free worksheet for uncovering activities and experiences you may not think to include — ...
Where Did the Position/Leadership Field Go on the 2026–27 Common App?
If you opened the 2026–27 Common App and thought the Position/Leadership box had disappear...
Yes, Your Hobby Can Be a Common App Activity
The 2026-27 Common App renamed its Activities section to Activities and Experiences. But C...
NC College Connect: What North Carolina Families Need to Know
NC College Connect gives North Carolina public high school seniors direct admission to par...
Is It Too Late for a Senior to Take the SAT or ACT?
No, it is not too late for most seniors. Here are the remaining fall 2026 SAT and ACT date...
College Interviews: What They Are, How to Prepare, and What to Ask
Most college interviews are conversations, not interrogations, and many are optional. Here...
The College Planning Glossary: Essential Terms in Plain Language
EA, ED, SAI, CSS, LOCI, superscore, yield. College admissions speaks in abbreviations nobo...
How to Transfer From Community College to a Four-Year College
Starting at community college and transferring to a four-year school is a real plan with r...
How Merit Scholarships Work and Where to Find Them
Merit aid is the discount system almost nobody explains. Some colleges hand it out automat...
How to Fill Out the FAFSA: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough for Families
The 2027-28 FAFSA will be available to all applicants no later than October 1, 2026, and t...
How to Use a College Net Price Calculator
A net price calculator is the closest thing families get to a cost estimate before applyin...
How to Write the "Why Us" Essay That Doesn't Sound Like Everyone Else's
The "Why Us" supplemental is one of the most common essays your student will write this fa...
SAT and ACT Test Dates and Registration Deadlines for 2026-27
Every SAT and ACT date for the 2026-27 school year, with registration deadlines, in two ta...
Free College Planning Resources for Families Facing Financial or Geographic Barriers
Limited money, unreliable internet, geographic distance, and limited access to college cou...
Full College Counseling Package or Pay Per Session?
Private college counseling can mean spending several thousand dollars on a comprehensive p...
Free College Planning Tools Every Family Should Know
You do not need to spend thousands of dollars to stay organized during college planning. H...
Community College Is a Great Choice. It Still Needs a Plan.
Community colleges are amazing. I started at one. But whether your student is pursuing a t...
Actionable templates, email scripts, and step-by-step checklists your family can use right now. See all templates
Common App Activities & Experiences Worksheet: Find What You're Missing
A free worksheet for uncovering activities and experiences you may not think to include — jobs, responsibiliti...
Open template → August 7, 2026What to Write Down After a College Visit
After three campus tours, every school starts to blur together. This printable template gives your family a co...
Open template → May 29, 2026Common App Activity Descriptions: 150-Character Examples
The Common App gives students just 150 characters to describe each activity. That is roughly one sentence. Her...
Open template → May 27, 2026How to Ask for Recommendation Letters: Email Templates for Seniors
If your senior has not asked for recommendation letters yet, this week is the time. Requests pile up as Early ...
Open template → May 27, 2026Summer Before Senior Year: Month-by-Month College Calendar
The summer before senior year is the most underused window in the entire college application process. Families...
Open template → May 27, 20262026-2027 Common App Essay Prompts: All 7 Prompts Explained
The Common App personal essay is the single biggest writing assignment of your student's life so far. Here are...
Open template → May 26, 2026Financial Aid Appeal Letter Template: Ask for More Aid
If your family's financial aid offer does not reflect your actual financial situation, or if a comparable scho...
Open template → May 21, 2026College Prep Checklist for the Summer Before Freshman Year
The summer before 9th grade is not about getting a head start on college applications. It is about setting up ...
Open template → May 12, 2026Reach, Target, or Safety School? Acceptance Rates + Student Stats
Most families guess at whether a school is a reach, target, or safety. There's a better way. This guide walks ...
Open template → April 28, 2026Free Brag Sheet Template for High School Students
A brag sheet does not need to sound polished or impressive in a forced way. It just needs to give teachers and...
Open template → April 21, 2026How to Build a Senior Fall Application Timeline
A good senior fall application timeline does not just list final deadlines. It helps students and parents see ...
Open template → April 18, 2026Junior Year College Planning Checklist: Spring and Summer
Spring junior year and the summer before senior year can feel especially busy. A checklist can help. The goal ...
Open template → March 4, 2026Want CollegeHound to organize this for your actual student?
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