Your Account
Oak & Ivy College Consulting logo

Home / Resources

Resources for Your Family

Grade-by-grade checklists and a handful of trusted links to help you navigate the college process — free, no strings attached.

Get Organized

Grade-by-Grade Checklists

A high-level look at what to focus on each year of high school. For the full picture, see how we support each stage on our Services page.

Download Printable Checklist (PDF)
9
Foundation

9th Grade Checklist

  • Meet with a college advisor to understand the process and timeline
  • Build a four-year academic plan
  • Focus on your grades to build a strong cumulative GPA early
  • Choose a course load that challenges without overwhelming
  • Try new extracurricular activities
  • Start building strong study habits and an organizational system
  • Begin light, low-pressure conversations about college and career interests
  • Talk as a family about the general cost of college
10
Momentum

10th Grade Checklist

  • Keep your grades high. By the end of this year, half your high school record is set
  • Take on more rigorous coursework (honors, AP, or dual-credit where appropriate)
  • Take the PSAT 10 or PreACT if your school offers it
  • Deepen involvement and seek early leadership roles in activities you love
  • Start a running list of colleges that interest you
  • Attend local college fairs to see what different schools offer
  • Research the SAT vs. ACT and start light test-prep planning
  • Begin building an activity resume of awards, sports, clubs, and volunteer work
11
Exploration

11th Grade Checklist

  • Take the SAT and/or ACT, with a retake plan if needed
  • Build a preliminary list of 6–9 schools — a mix of reach, target, and likely, based on size, location, culture, cost, and selectivity
  • Start visiting campuses to get an early feel for your preferences
  • Review early application deadlines (Early Decision/Early Action)
  • Ask one or two teachers for recommendation letters, along with a personal "brag sheet" to help them write it
  • Begin brainstorming personal statement topics
  • Research financial aid and scholarship options for your list
12
Application

12th Grade Checklist

  • Finalize your college list and application strategy (ED/EA/RD)
  • Complete the Common App and all required supplements
  • Submit the FAFSA (and CSS Profile, if required) as soon as it opens
  • Search and apply for outside scholarships
  • Request final transcripts and recommendation letters
  • Track every deadline across every application
  • Compare financial aid offers carefully before committing
  • Commit to your school and submit your enrollment deposit by decision day

Trusted Starting Points

Key External Resources

A handful of reliable, well-known resources worth bookmarking.

Financial Aid

Understanding what college really costs, and how aid works.

Testing

Registration, dates, and free prep for the SAT and ACT.

Scholarship Search

A starting point for finding scholarship opportunities.

The Common App

The platform most colleges use to apply.

More on the Way

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Oak & Ivy Annual Report

A yearly look at admissions trends, outcomes, and what families should know heading into the next cycle. Check back soon.

Coming Soon

Video Library

Short videos on essays, testing strategy, and the application process — built to make the process feel a little less overwhelming.

Want Guidance Built Around Your Student?

These resources are a great starting point — but every family's path looks a little different. Let's talk about yours.

Book a Free Consultation