How do we set up the Common App correctly?

Create the account now, complete profile/education, load activities and honors, sign FERPA, and follow your high school’s transcript process.

How can summer work or programs help admissions and aid?

Paid work, research, or impactful service strengthen applications and essays. Track hours, responsibilities, outcomes, and supervisor contacts.

What pitfalls raise net cost later?

Overreliance on a single ED reach without price clarity, missing EA/merit deadlines, ignoring renewal GPA rules, and underestimating non-billed costs.

What Parents of Rising Seniors Must Do Before School Starts

Q: What are the top priorities for rising seniors over the summer?

Finalize a balanced list, complete core essays, secure recommenders, plan testing or commit to test-optional, and set a master calendar for EA/ED/merit and aid deadlines.

Q: How many colleges should be on the list?

Aim for 8–12: financial safeties, matches, and a few reaches that either meet high need or offer strong merit.

Q: What should we do about standardized tests?

Decide by early summer whether to submit scores. If retesting, register for late-summer/early-fall dates and follow a focused prep plan; otherwise pursue a test-optional strategy.

Q: What about recommendations—when and whom do we ask?

Ask two core academic teachers and the counselor in early summer. Provide a resume or brag sheet and confirm each college’s requirements.

Q: What demonstrated interest steps should we take?

Join mailing lists, attend virtual sessions, visit where feasible, and note the regional rep; track all touches in a simple log.

Q: How do we estimate affordability before applying?

Run each college’s Net Price Calculator and rebuild a full Cost of Attendance; set family guardrails for Net Cost and four-year borrowing before ED.

Q: When should we prepare for financial aid forms?

Gather tax, income, and asset documents by August and note FAFSA/CSS opening dates and each college’s priority aid deadlines.

July 9, 2025

Mike Dusombre, CLTC, CRPC

What Parents of Rising Seniors Must Do This Summer

If your student is heading into senior year, this summer is a critical time. The calendar fills up quickly with essays, deadlines, campus visits, and last-minute decisions. Families who use the summer months wisely set themselves up for far less stress—and often unlock more aid.

At Diversified College Planning, we guide rising senior families through a clear timeline of what to do and when—so nothing is missed, and everything is optimized.

What Parents of Rising Seniors Must Do During This Summer

Your Summer To-Do List

Here’s what families should prioritize over the summer:

Build and finalize the college list, including a mix of reach, target, and safety schools—with financial fit in mind
Complete a rough draft of the personal statement and start on supplemental essays
Schedule final campus visits, especially if your student hasn’t visited top-choice schools yet
Gather financial documents needed for FAFSA and CSS Profile in the fall

Why Summer Planning Pays Off

Getting ahead in the summer means fewer late nights during fall semester and better application outcomes. It also positions your family to apply early action or early decision if desired—often increasing admission chances and aid opportunities.

Diversified College Planning makes sure nothing falls through the cracks. We also show families how to organize deadlines, prep materials, and submit competitive—and affordable—applications.

Contact Us Today:
Is your student heading into senior year? Don’t let summer slip by—let’s create a winning plan now.

📞 Call us at 770-662-8510
📅 Schedule a free consultation: Book with Mike
Or visit our Contact Page: https://diversifiedcollegeplanning.com/contact-us/

FAQs: What Parents of Rising Seniors Must Do This Summer

What are the top priorities for rising seniors over the summer?

Finalize a balanced college list, start (and finish) core essays, line up recommenders, plan testing (or confirm test-optional), and set up a master calendar for EA/ED/merit and aid deadlines.

How many colleges should be on the list?

Typically 8–12: 2–3 financial safeties, 4–6 matches, and a few reaches that either meet high need or are generous with merit. Confirm academic and financial fit for each.

What should we do about standardized tests?

Decide by June/July whether to submit scores. If retesting, register for late-summer/early-fall dates and create a targeted prep plan; otherwise lean into test-optional strategy.

How should my student tackle essays?

Draft the personal statement in June, revise in July, and complete 6–8 likely supplements by August (especially “Why Us?” and activity prompts). Keep versions organized by word count.

What about recommendations—when and whom do we ask?

Ask two core academic teachers (often 11th-grade), plus the counselor. Provide a brag sheet/resume by early summer and confirm each college’s requirements.

How do we set up the Common App (or Coalition) correctly?

Create the account now, complete profile/education sections, load activities and honors, and pre-fill college-specific questions. Sign FERPA and follow your school’s transcript process.

What “demonstrated interest” steps should we take?

Register for virtual info sessions, join mailing lists, visit nearby campuses if feasible, and note the regional rep’s contact. Log interactions in a simple spreadsheet.

How do we estimate affordability before applying?

Run Net Price Calculators (NPCs) for each school, rebuild a full Cost of Attendance, and set family guardrails for Net Cost and four-year borrowing before ED decisions.

When should we prepare for financial aid forms?

In August, gather tax returns/W-2s/K-1s, asset statements, and (if applicable) business and divorce/custody documents. Note FAFSA/CSS open dates and each college’s priority deadlines.

How can a summer job or program help admissions and aid?

Paid work, research, or impact-focused service strengthens applications and can feed great essay material. Track hours, responsibilities, outcomes, and supervisor contacts.

What admin tasks prevent last-minute chaos?

Create a dedicated college email, organize passwords, order official test score reports (if sending), request transcripts on time, and verify portal access once applications are submitted.

Any pitfalls that raise our net cost later?

Relying on one reach + ED without price clarity, missing merit/EA deadlines, ignoring renewal GPA rules, and overlooking non-billed costs (travel, books, fees).

How should athletes, artists, or portfolio majors prepare?

For recruits: contact coaches, share film, and align pre-reads. For arts/architecture/CS: build and curate portfolios or GitHub, confirm audition/portfolio deadlines now.

What belongs in the activity list and resume?

Focus on impact and outcomes: roles, leadership, scope (hours/people served), results, and links/awards. Prioritize 8–10 strongest entries; avoid clutter.

How does Diversified College Planning help rising seniors?

We map a deadline-driven plan (EA/merit first), build a merit/need-aware college list, coach essays, estimate net cost, and prep targeted appeals so families apply confidently.

What Parents of Rising Seniors Must Do This Summer

FAQs: What Parents of Rising Seniors Must Do This Summer

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