parent college planning guide – Diversified College Planning

June 25, 2025

When Should You Start Planning for College? (Hint: It’s Sooner Than You Think)

Mike Dusombre Blog application deadlines, best time to plan college, college aid planning, college budget planning, college planning benefits, college planning tips, college prep advice, college readiness guide, college savings strategy, college scholarships, college timeline, early action college prep, early application strategy, early bird college aid, early college planning, FAFSA timing, financial aid positioning, financial planning for education, high school college prep, high school timeline for college, how to plan for college, merit aid preparation, middle school college prep, parent college planning guide, proactive college plan, SAT/ACT prep timeline, timeline for juniors, timeline for sophomores, when to start planning for college

Most families wait too long to plan for college—then scramble during senior year. In this blog, we explain the best timeline to start and how early action can save you serious money.