How Early Should You Start Planning for College?

If you’re the parent of a high schooler, you’ve probably had that oh no moment—when you suddenly realize that college isn’t just some far-off thing, but something that requires actual planning. And, much like assembling IKEA furniture, the earlier you start, the fewer headaches you’ll have later.

But how early is too early? And what should you even be doing at each stage? Let’s break it down.

Middle School (Wait… Already?!)

Yes, I know—college planning in middle school sounds like a lot. But don’t panic! At this stage, you’re not picking out dorm room bedding just yet. Instead, you should focus on building a strong academic foundation.

✅ Encourage good study habits—high school grades matter, so setting a strong academic foundation now pays off later.

✅ Get your teen reading and writing regularly—strong communication skills will help with essays and standardized tests.

✅ Let them explore interests—sports, music, robotics, drama, 4-H… anything that keeps them engaged and excited about learning.

💡 The Goal: Help your teen discover their interests without pressure. The best college applications tell a story—and that starts with letting your kid explore their passions early.

Freshman Year (The “Set-Up” Year)

This is when the real foundation for college admissions begins. And while you don’t need to be in full “college mode” yet, there are some key things to keep in mind:

✅ Academics matter from Day 1—colleges look at all four years of grades. Slacking off now makes things harder later.

✅ Encourage extracurriculars—this is the time to start trying different activities to see what sticks.

✅ Build strong relationships with teachers—they’ll be writing recommendation letters one day!

💡 The Goal: Help your teen adjust to high school while keeping doors open for future opportunities.

Sophomore Year (The “Figure Out What You Like” Year)

Sophomore year is all about exploring and refining interests. This is when your teen should start figuring out what they actually enjoy—and what they’d rather never do again.

✅ Test out leadership roles—colleges love to see students step up!

✅ Start tracking achievements—a simple Google Doc for awards, activities, and leadership roles makes life easier later.

✅ Consider summer programs—many colleges offer summer experiences for high schoolers.

💡 The Goal: Encourage depth over breadth—colleges would rather see consistent commitment to a few things than a resume stuffed with random activities.

Junior Year (Crunch Time Begins!)

This is the most important year for college admissions. If you do nothing else, make sure your teen is on top of these three things:

✅ Testing: SAT? ACT? Test-optional? This is the year to figure it out.

✅ College List: Start researching schools and visiting campuses.

✅ Scholarships: Many big scholarship opportunities open junior year.

💡 The Goal: Have a shortlist of colleges by the end of junior year so senior year isn’t a mad scramble.

Senior Year (Application Madness)

By now, your teen should have a solid college list and be ready to start applying. This year is all about staying on top of deadlines and maximizing financial aid opportunities.

✅ Finalize the college list & start applications (August-October).

✅ Submit FAFSA & scholarship applications (October-December).

✅ Keep up with senior-year grades (yes, colleges still care).

💡 The Goal: Get everything done early so senior year can actually be fun!

So, When Should You Start?

The short answer? Earlier than you think.

Planning for college isn’t about stressing out in 9th grade—it’s about making smart choices along the way so you’re not scrambling in 12th grade.

👉 The earlier you start, the more options (and money) you’ll have.

And if this all feels overwhelming, don’t worry—that’s why I created my self-paced course, “College Admissions for Overwhelmed Parents.” It walks you through every step, so you know exactly what to do and when.

🎓 Sign up to get my self-paced course at a discount here → http://bit.ly/3QoRH0w

Let’s make college planning way easier. 🚀