https://myfuture.

com/college/college-planning-timeline

9 (10) GRADE

FALL and SPRING

Meet with your school counselor

- introduce yourself (if don’t know)
- study hard and keep up your grades
- think about any challenging courses/AP courses
you can take
Explore your Career Interest
-take questionnaires and tests designed to help
you figure out the careers you would excel at and
enjoy
- ask your school counselor for resources

Improve your English Level

- take English Language course in needed
- enhance your English level by yourself (via free
learning apps)
- read books in English (Kazakh/Russian)
- improve your writing skills
Track your Accomplishments
- Keep track of academic and non-academic
awards, extracurricular accomplishments and
community service.
- think about improving them or leveling them
up (city-school-regional-national-international)
Get Involved
- Extracurricular activities are an important and
fun part of high school. Look for sports, groups
and clubs that match your interests, then join!
- seek for opportunities like Olympiads,
Competitions, Projects, Research, Startups,
Internship, Clubs, Sports, your passion projects
you can do
Put thought into your Summer Work
- consider applying for U.S. pre-college summer
programs/ summer camps
- internship/job
 10 (11) GRADE
FALL
Meet with your school counselor
- introduce yourself (if don’t know)
- ask for the resources she/he might have
- check your GPA
- study hard and keep up your grades
- think about any challenging courses/AP courses
you can take
- think about taking A-level or IB diploma to
boost your application profile (not required
though)
Start Standardized test prep
- take diagnostic IELTS/TOEFL tests to identify
which test is easier for you
- introduce yourself with/take Duolingo test (in
case if you score low in IELTS/TOEFL and take
part in summer programs)
- take diagnostic SAT
- think which test prep you start first (IELTS or
SAT)
- look for free resources
- analyze if you need paid instructor or can
prepare by yourself
- ask your school counselor if he/she knows any
good resources
Learn Financial Aid Opportunities
- study typed of Financial Aid U.S. colleges offer
for international students
- learn requirements, deadlines, eligibility
- forms needed (CSS Profile, ISFA form)
Improve your Honors and
Extracurricular Activities
- write down your all Honors and ECs you have
done from 8th grade up to the present
- analyze them: what is lacking, what EC can be
improved, what ECs you continue doing, what
Honors you can still do, what Hoors and ECs you
will show in Common Application (5 Honors and
10 ECs are required)
- seek for more opportunities (Olympiads,
Competitions, Projects, Research, Startups,
Internship, Clubs, Sports, your passion projects)
you can do
Start Reviewing Colleges
- identify decisive factors for college you would
like to attend (what is important for you)
- start actively learning about colleges you are
interested in
- use search engines for college search
- attend webinars held by these colleges
- attend webinars of students admitted to these
colleges or any other colleges
- look information about these colleges in social
media, via alumni, on website, contact college
ambassadors, etc.
- ask your counselor/EdUSA adviser of your region
for the college search resources
WINTER
Organize your Spring Testing
Schedule
- Find out registration deadlines and the exact
dates and times of important tests like the SAT,
IELTS
- go to CollegeBoard.org to find out about SAT
- go to IELTS.kz to find out about IELTS dates
Improve Extracurricular Activities
(ECs)
- list all ECs you have done from 8th grade up to
the present
- write details such as Position/Leadership
description, Organization name, describe this
activity, including what you accomplished and
any recognition you received, Hours/weeks
spent (you can use Sample Table)
- brainstorm what Impact you had in you and
others by doing each of ECs, and what skills you
have learned.
- think which of them you will include in your
Common App Activity Section
- think of how you can improve them, what
steps can be done if any
- seek for more opportunities Projects, Research,
Startups, Summer Program)
Improve your Honors
- list all Honors you have done from 8th grade up to
the present
- write details such as Honors Title and
organization Level of recognition, Selectivity, scale,
scope (you can use Sample Table).
- think which of them you will include in your
Common App Activity Section
- think of how you can improve these Honors, what
steps can be done if any
- seek for more opportunities (Olympiads,
Competitions, Projects, Research, Startups,
Summer Program)
Keep reviewing your colleges
- start making a list of potential colleges
- learn for application requirements (GPA, SAT,
Essay, LOR etc)
- review supplemental essay questions
- review college values
- fill out My College list form or create your own
Learn Financial Aid Opportunities
- know the difference between Merit-based and
Need based (Need-blind and Need-aware) financial
aid
- make the list of colleges with full-financial aid
- check Merit-based fin. aid requirements if your
chosen colleges offer it
- save dates and deadlines
SPRING
Take SAT test
- take official SAT test
- if you are satisfied with your score, then Great!
- if not, register for Summer SAT and keep
preparing
Keep Enriching your ECs
- look for pre-college summer programs and
apply
- competitions/ startups/ projects /internship
/work
Schedule Individual Consultation
with your EdUSA adviser
- contact your EdUSA adviser for online
individual consultation to ask your questions
- show your potential college list (if available)
- show the description of your Honors and ECs
- ask your questions and seek for help if needed
Keep Improving and Tracking your
Honors
- add more description and details to your Honors
and ECs description
- seek help from your EdUSA adviser if needed, and
ask her to review your drafts
- check CollegeEssay guy and other resources for
drafting your descriptions
Keep reviewing your colleges
- add/remove colleges after detailed review
- learn for application requirements (GPA, SAT,
Essay, LOR etc)
- Review supplemental essay questions
- review college values
Reach out to Recommendation Writers
- think whom you will request LOR (2 teachers and
school counselor)
- learn the LOR requirements of chosen colleges
- study the content of LOR (read best LOR samples)
- prepare information for teachers/counselor to
use in writing LOR
- be first of those who contact recommenders
earlier
SUMMER

Retake SAT test

- keep preparing for SAT and retake it
- if you are satisfied with your score, then Great!
- if not, register for fall SAT and keep preparing Write about your Honors and ECs
(you know which part to focus on)
- finalize writing your Honors and ECs
- ask EdUSA adviser review final version
- put them in Common App section
- continue doing activities you wish to do
Write your Common App Essay
- brainstorm and choose topic
- learn college essay writing strategies
- read best essay samples/essay that worked
- seek for resources for writing college essay Start filling out Common Application
- write your first draft and ask EdUSA adviser to
review - create your account in Common App
- - start filling it out
- ask your EdUSA adviser if you have questions
FALL
11 (12) GRADE
Mark your Calendar to keep track of
Deadlines
- stay organized by making your calendar with
important deadlines (application and fin.aid
deadlines)
- deadlines to finish your essay and get LOR
- deadlines to fill out financial forms (CSS Profile)
Make a list of your Top College
Choices
- finalize the list of colleges you will apply
- it is OK still add some colleges
- meet with your counselor or EdUSA adviser to
discuss your chosen colleges
Take/Retake Standardized Tests
- SAT
- IELTS/TOEFL
- consider taking Duolingo if you score low in
IELTS/TOEFL
Gather your Letter of
Recommendations
- from school counselor
- 2 teachers
- any other optional letters
Finish and Submit all your
Applications
- submit your applications online
- follow up with school counselor if all required
transcripts, LOR and other docs are sent
- check with schoolteachers if LOR are sent
Meet with your School Counselor
- remind about writing School Profile
- request transcript (translation)
- request (remind) LOR
- ask about test score report (if you take IELTS at
school)
- ask about nominations (some colleges need your
school counselor nominate you for their merit-
based scholarships)
Complete Your College Essays
- have a final version of your Common App Essay
- know all supplemental essay questions of your
chosen colleges
- draft them all (read samples)
- ask your EdUSA adviser for more resources for
writing supplemental essay
- ask your counselor or EdUSA adviser to review
and give feedback to your drafts
Consider applying Earlier
- think about applying for Early Decision or Early
Action
- compare ED and RD acceptance rate for your
dream schools
Submit all Financial Aid Forms and
Documents
- fill out CSS Profile, collect all required documents
and submit it (from October 1)
- check if International Student Financial Aid
Application form is required
- check if IDOC is open for you to submit documents
WINTER
11 (12) GRADE
Check your Email Regularly
- check your email regularly including Spam
folder if college sent any request for further step
or require any additional documents
- create your College Student Portal to track
your application status and if all application
documents are received
SPRING
Check your Admission Decision in the
Email or Student Portal
- starting from March 15 up to April 5 colleges
will send their decisions
Inform the Colleges you won’t be
attending
- Once you've decided on the school you want to
attend, make sure to inform the other schools
that accepted you that you won't be attending.
Finish Enrollment Papers
- Upon accepting a school's offer, you'll receive a
package with information on classes,
orientation, housing and more.
Complete any forms included in this package
and submit them by the deadline
Final Steps
- send your final-year high school transcript
- buy tickets
- say thank you to anyone who helped you
- attend EdUSA Pre-Departure Orientation
Session
- Enjoy your Family and Friends
Submit Mid-year Grade
- ask your school counselor to send Mid-Year Grade
Evaluate your ED and EA Responses
- If you have been accepted Early Decision, you
will need to withdraw your applications from all
other schools.
- If you have been accepted Early Action, you can
either choose to accept now or wait to receive
responses from the other schools to which you
applied.
Compare different Fin.Aid Packages
- If you have been accepted to many colleges then
compare their Fin.Aid Packages and choose the
one you like most
- If your dream college waitlisted you then check if
any add’l documents are needed to provide and
submit them
- however, accept an offer of that school you think
you might attend in case if waitlisted school will
not accept you, and pay deposit to save the spot
Make your Final Decision
- Choose the college that's right for you by May 1.
Mail in the corresponding enrollment form,
deposit check and signed financial-aid package.
Apply for Student Visa
- Once you receive your I-20 Form, apply for
student visa (pay SEVIS Fee, Visa Fee)
- check with your counselor or EdUSA adviser for
student visa application process and required
documents
- watch video on visa application:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaVMAcKQ1kY&t
=1s