College Application Deadlines: The Complete Senior-Year Timeline
There’s good news and bad news when it comes to senior year. The good news: junior year is widely regarded as the hardest part of high school, so you’ve already climbed a huge hill. The bad news: if you’re applying to college, senior year comes with an abundance of deadlines that can get overwhelming fast.
This guide is for high school seniors actively applying in the 2025–2026 cycle (matriculating Fall 2026). It breaks down the dates and deadlines you need to know, so you have an idea of what typically happens when. It is important to note that the dates listed here can vary by college. Always confirm in each school’s applicant portal and on its admissions site.
Jump to Section
At-a-Glance Calendar
Overview
Systems (Common App, UC, CSU)
Admissions Plans
Financial Aid
Interviews
Supplemental Materials
Month-by-Month Timeline
Decisions
Waitlist & LOCI
QuestBridge
FAQs
Download Calendar
At-a-Glance Calendar
Common App
Opens: August 1 (every year)
Common early (EA, ED, REA) application dates: October 15, November 1, November 15
Common regular application dates: January 1-10
UC & CSU Applications
Opens: August 1
UC submission window for Fall 2026: November 1 - December 1 (UC is not rolling)
Cal State Apply (CSU) priority filing period: October 1 - November 30
Financial Aid
FAFSA & CSS Profile open: October 1, 2025
Priority filing deadline for early applicants: November 1 (highly dependent on institution)
Filing date for regular applicants: February 15th (highly dependent on institution)
FAFSA has historically had delays in opening. Keep tabs on the financial aid webpages for all your intended schools to stay up-to-date on shifting deadlines.
Decision Windows
Early applications: December 15
Regular decision: March 15 - April 15
Deposit deadline: May 1
What’s Included In This Guide
This guide reviews monthly milestones throughout senior year. The dates and deadlines are broken down into three categories:
National deadlines: same for everyone (e.g., FAFSA/CSS open)
Institution-specific: varies by school; this list includes common dates and notable exceptions
Counselor-recommended (CR): target dates to keep you on track
This guide does not cover specialty programs (fine arts audition schedules, ROTC, and recruited athlete timelines). For information on these deadlines, refer to the program’s webpage or reach out to the program’s representative.
It is also important to note that some schools have scholarship-specific deadlines before the standard application deadline. A notable example is USC, which requires applications to be submitted by November 1st or December 1st (depending on program) to be considered for merit-based aid. Students who submit applications to USC on the regular decision deadline of January 10th will not be considered for merit-based aid. As always, check each institution’s specific deadlines on the admissions webpage.
Application Systems & Platforms
This guide references several application systems, including the Common App, UC Application, and CSU Apply. Here are the details:
Common App: used for most private and public universities; opens August 1; submission dates vary by school.
UC application (University of California): opens August 1; final deadline December 1; UC is not rolling.
Cal State Apply (California State University): priority window October 1–November 30
A few schools have their own applications (e.g., Georgetown, MIT) outside of the systems mentioned above.
Admissions Plans (What They Mean & Typical Due Dates)
Aside from juggling a wide range of deadlines, you’ll also have to learn a plethora of new college-admissions-specific vocabulary terms. Let’s review a few that you’ll see in this guide:
Early Action (EA) - a non-binding early application deadline, common due dates are November 1 or October 15 for some public schools
Restrictive Early Action (REA) - a non-binding early application deadline offered only at a few top schools, common due date November 1 (restricted to one early private school application)
Early Decision (ED) - a binding early application deadline, common due date November 1
Regular decision (RD) - a non-binding standard application deadline, typical due dates fall in the window of January 1-10
Rolling applications - applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, review often begins August 1, true rolling admissions applications do not have deadlines but may have a priority deadline of December 1st
Click here for a full description of application types, restrictions, and possible outcomes.
Financial Aid Timeline
The FAFSA and CSS profile are key forms that families are required to submit to be considered for federal or institutional need-based aid. Note that this is different from merit-based aid, AKA “academic scholarships”.
The FAFSA and CSS Profile are scheduled to open on October 1, 2025. Submit them as early as possible.
Each school has its own independent deadlines, so be sure to review its financial aid webpage for details. Some early applicants face priority financial aid deadlines for FAFSA/CSS, especially at selective schools. For example, Harvard lists November 1 as a priority deadline for REA applicants and February 1 for RD applicants.
In past years, the FAFSA’s opening has been delayed. When this happens, colleges post updates on their financial aid page with associated shifts in their deadlines. When in doubt, contact the school’s financial aid office.
Interview Timeline
Most alumni interviews are by invitation and subject to availability. Invitations are often sent a couple of weeks after application deadlines (think mid-November for REA or ED applications). Some schools, such as Stanford, assign them on a rolling basis in accordance with alumni bandwidth. Don’t panic if your friend hears before you.
Materials & Documents
You have deadlines for each application, but applications aren’t the only items you submit. You also have supplemental materials and documents to submit. Below is a list of common materials and documents required in addition to applications.
Standardized test scores (if required): policies vary. Many colleges allow self-reporting at the time of application (fall/winter) and require official scores at enrollment (spring/summer). There is a smaller handful of schools that require official score reports at the time of application. Check each college’s testing or admissions page for details.
Teacher/Counselor Recommendations: best practice is to submit recommendations at the time of application; however, many colleges allow a short grace period after the application deadline. Keep an eye on your student portal to track submission of recommendations and check in with teachers and counselors as needed.
Mid-Year Grade Report: typically due once first-semester grades are posted (late Jan/Feb). Common App has a dedicated Mid-Year Report form.
Final Transcript: commonly due July 1. Yes, you will submit your final high school transcript even after you have enrolled in a college.
AP/IB & any required official SAT/ACT score reports: final deadline is often July 15. Official score reports are required for most schools, even if they allowed self-reporting on the original application.
Month-by-Month Timeline: Senior Year
CR = counselor-recommended
June (end of junior year)
Finalize college list (CR)
Ask for recommendation letters and provide brag sheets to recommenders (CR)
July
Finalize your personal statement (CR)
August
August 1: Common App, UC, and CSU applications open for editing
August 1: Many rolling schools begin reviewing applications
By August 30: Complete Common App/UC general info, activities & honors sections (CR)
September
Fall Fly-In applications due all month at many colleges.
September 30: QuestBridge National College Match application due
Finalize supplemental essays for October deadline schools (CR)
October
October 1: FAFSA (2026–27) & CSS Profile open
October 1: CSU priority window opens (closes November 30)
October 15: Some EA deadlines at public flagships (examples include UT Austin, Georgia Tech for GA residents, and UNC Chapel Hill)
October 16: QuestBridge Rankings & Match Agreement due
By October 20: Finish Nov/Dec supplemental essays (CR)
November
November 1: EA/ED/REA deadlines at many schools
November 1: QuestBridge Finalists submit college-specific Match Requirements
November 1: Some colleges set priority financial-aid deadlines for early rounds starting Nov 1 (confirm on each college’s financial aid webpage)
November 15: Additional EA/ED/REA deadlines
November 15: University of Washington Seattle RD deadline
November 15: Interview notifications begin for many early applications (timing varies; see Interview section)
November 30: CSU priority deadline
December
December 1: UC application due
December 1: Several big-name deadlines (UT Austin, Texas A&M, Penn State preferred, Rutgers)
December 15: Early deadline decisions begin releasing for many schools
Finalize supplemental essays for January deadlines (CR)
January
January 1–10: Remainder of RD applications are due
January 1: If deferred, consider sending a LOCI by early January (see Waitlist & LOCI below) (CR)
January 15: Interview notifications begin for many RD schools
February
February 1–15: Common priority financial-aid deadlines for RD applicants (varies by college, check their webpages)
Mid-year report due once grades are posted by your high school
March
March 15: UC decisions begin releasing on a campus-by-campus basis (a decision from one campus is not indicative of a decision from another!)
March 20: RD decisions roll out through mid-April
March 26: anticipated Ivy Decision Day
April
April 15: Many schools require a waitlist opt-in by mid to late April
April 15: Send LOCIs to waitlisted schools (where accepted, see below)
May
May 1: Deposit deadline
After May 1: Waitlist movement begins and continues through early summer
June
Waitlist offers may continue, tapering by late June
July
July 1: Final transcript deadline at many schools
July 15: AP/IB score report and SAT/ACT official score report deadline for many schools
August
Attend orientation, secure housing, and get necessary immunizations
Prepare for your next chapter!
Decision Release Windows (What to Expect)
Admissions decisions are released on a school-by-school basis according to the application deadline. One school’s decision day (and decision) is not indicative of any other school’s. Admission rates vary greatly by plan - EA/ED/ED2/RD - even within the same college. Be sure to check with your college counselor to determine which admission plan is best for you.
Admissions decision windows:
EA/REA/ED: Mid-December
RD: Late March - early April
UC: early to mid-March, depending on campus (Berkeley is typically late March)
Ivies: anticipated March 26, 2025
Waitlist & LOCI Guide
The senior year timeline doesn’t end when applications are submitted! It continues as you receive decisions from colleges.
Not all outcomes are admit/deny. Deferrals (from early rounds) and waitlists (from RD) come with their own micro-timelines. These micro-timelines only apply if you maintain interest in attending the school you are deferred or waitlisted from.
If you do maintain interest in attending this school, you should follow up with a letter of continued interest (LOCI). A LOCI is a concise update that reaffirms fit and interest and shares any updates that have occurred since you submitted your application. It gives admissions officers a chance to hear what you’ve been up to since the fall. Not all schools will accept these letters, so be sure to check your college’s LOCI policy.
When to send:
Deferred in early round: aim to send your LOCI within ~2 weeks of receiving your decision (often late December/early January) unless your college gives a specific deadline.
Waitlisted in spring: opt-in to the waitlist as early as possible (or by the college’s specific deadline) and send your LOCI by April 30 at the latest.
QuestBridge Timeline
QuestBridge is a nonprofit organization that supports high-achieving, lower-income students. QuestBridge offers two application types: the National College Match (accepted students receive full funding at partner schools) and QuestBridge Regular Decision (accepted students often receive generous aid packages). If you are interested in applying as a QuestBridge student, speak to your school guidance counselor.
2025-2026 cycle key dates:
September 30: National College Match application due
October 16: Match Rankings and Match Agreement forms due
November 1: Finalists submit college-specific Match Requirements
December 1: Match decisions are released
December 11: Regular decision deadline for unmatched students
Late March - Early April: Regular decisions released
FAQs
When does Common App open?
The Common App opens August 1. You can create an account earlier, but entered information (essays, recommenders, etc.) will refresh August 1.
When can I submit the UC application?
You can edit your UC application beginning August 1. You can submit your application as early as November 1 and as late as December 1. UC is not rolling and submitting an application before December 1 does not offer priority review.
Do some colleges require FAFSA/CSS by November 1 for early applicants?
Yes, many do! For example, Harvard lists November 1 for REA applicants and February 1 for RD applicants. Check each college’s financial aid page for specific deadlines.
When do interview invites usually arrive?
This is dependent on the institution, and many schools emphasize dependency on alumni availability and region. Most interview invites are sent 2-3 weeks after the application deadline.
Can I use October/November test scores for early rounds?
This depends heavily on the institution. It is best practice to take the SAT/ACT with enough time to self-report your test scores on your application at the time of submission.
What is a LOCI and when should I send it?
A Letter of Continued Interest updates admissions officers on your recent achievements and restates your interest in the school. LOCIs should be sent within ~2 weeks of an early deferral and by late April for waitlists. Follow each school’s published process and don’t submit a LOCI if a school prohibits it.
What if a recommender misses the deadline?
Many schools allow a brief grace period (typically about a week) for supplemental materials such as letters of recommendation. Still, aim to submit all materials on time and keep in touch with your recommenders to ensure they are on the same page.
Are UC/CSU test-free?
Yes, UC and CSU are test-free, meaning they do not accept SAT or ACT scores. However, AP/IB scores can still be used for placement/credit.
What’s the difference between EA, ED, REA, RD, and rolling admissions?
EA = early action, a non-binding application in which students apply early and hear back early
ED = early decision, a binding application in which students apply early, hear back early, and must attend if they are accepted
REA = restrictive early action, a non-binding application in which students apply early and hear back early (students are limited to one early private school application)
Rolling = applications which are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis
Do arts portfolios have earlier deadlines?
In most cases, yes. Sometimes even as early as October. Always check the institution’s admissions page for program-specific deadlines.
