CollegeCompass guides students and parents through each stage — from choosing 9th grade courses to hitting Submit on your dream school. Step-by-step, grade by grade, completely free.
Each year builds on the last. Here's exactly what to focus on — and when.
Six pillars build a competitive college application. Each one matters, and each one takes time — which is exactly why starting early wins.
Course selection strategy, protecting your GPA, the AP vs. IB decision, and how admissions officers actually read transcripts.
Which test to take, when to take it, how many times, PSAT and National Merit, AP scores, and navigating test-optional schools.
Building a meaningful activity list, how leadership matters more than volume, summer programs, and the passion project advantage.
The Common App personal statement, supplemental essays, how to find your authentic story, and what admissions readers actually look for.
How to build a balanced college list, Early Decision vs. Early Action, understanding fit vs. reach schools, and the final submission checklist.
FAFSA and CSS Profile step-by-step, merit vs. need-based aid, how to compare financial aid packages, and scholarship search strategy.
Step-by-step guidance for every year of high school — what to do, what to avoid, and how to build an application that reflects who you actually are.
Understand every stage of the process, know how to help effectively (and when to step back), and navigate the financial conversation before it becomes a crisis.
Every structural difference between the two tests — format, timing, content, scoring, and superscoring — so you can make an informed decision.
EssaysWhat the essay is actually for, which prompts to choose, what topics work, and a step-by-step writing process from brainstorm to final draft.
ActivitiesDepth, leadership, and authentic impact — what admissions officers actually look for and how to write 150-character descriptions that land.
Financial AidWhat to gather, how the Student Aid Index is calculated, the CSS Profile, and what to do after you submit — filed on October 1.
ApplicationsHow to define reach, match, and likely using your actual profile data — not rankings — and build a list of 10–14 schools you'd genuinely attend.
11th GradeThe complete month-by-month plan for 11th grade — the most critical year of high school — with every key deadline and decision mapped out.