Every family we work with at College Planning Centers eventually asks the same question: what should we be doing right now?

The answer depends on where your student is in high school. A freshman needs a completely different plan than a junior. And the families who have the least stress during senior year are always the ones who started earliest.

This is the checklist we give to every family who walks into our offices in Murrells Inlet and Mount Pleasant. It covers every grade, every season, and every critical deadline for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Print it. Bookmark it. Share it with other parents. And if you are already behind on some of these items, do not panic — start where you are.

9th Grade Checklist (Class of 2030)

The foundation year. Nothing flashy happens here, but everything that follows depends on what your student does now.

Fall Semester:

• Meet with your school counselor to plan a four-year course sequence
• Choose the most rigorous courses your student can handle while maintaining strong grades
• Join two or three extracurricular activities that genuinely interest your student
• Create a simple filing system for awards, certificates, and activity records
• Begin researching South Carolina scholarship requirements — Palmetto Fellows and LIFE scholarships have specific GPA and test score thresholds

Spring Semester:

• Review first-semester grades and adjust course difficulty if needed
• Take the PSAT 8/9 if offered at your school (many Horry County and Charleston County schools offer this)
• Attend at least one local college fair — check with your high school guidance office for spring events
• Start a reading habit outside of school assignments (admissions officers notice students who read widely)
• Have an honest family conversation about college budget expectations

Summer:

• Explore summer programs, camps, or volunteer opportunities related to your student’s interests
• Visit one or two college campuses informally — the goal is exposure, not decision-making
• Read at least three books for pleasure

10th Grade Checklist (Class of 2029)

The momentum year. This is when planning shifts from general exploration to targeted strategy.

Fall Semester:

• Take the PSAT 10 (this is practice for the PSAT/NMSQT in 11th grade)
• Increase course rigor — add AP or honors classes where your student is strongest
• Narrow extracurricular involvement and move toward leadership roles
• Begin building a preliminary college list of 15-20 schools across reach, target, and safety categories
• Take a diagnostic SAT and ACT to determine which test format suits your student better — our test preparation services can help identify the right path

Spring Semester:

• Register for AP exams in May for any AP courses taken this year
• Schedule college visits during spring break — even one or two visits help students understand what they want
• Research summer internships and programs for the upcoming summer
• Update your activity and awards record

Summer:

• Pursue a meaningful summer experience — internship, research program, community service project, or job
• Begin light SAT or ACT preparation
• Visit two or three more college campuses
• Read Entering the Arena for a complete overview of the admissions process — available here

11th Grade Checklist (Class of 2028)

The execution year. This is when everything accelerates.

Fall Semester:

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October (National Merit Scholarship qualifying test)
• Take the SAT or ACT for the first time — aim for October or November so you have time for retakes
• Finalize your college list to 8-12 schools with the help of a college planning consultant
• Attend college admissions events and information sessions at schools on your list
• Begin requesting letters of recommendation from teachers who know your student well

Spring Semester:

• Retake the SAT or ACT if needed (March, May, or June test dates)
• Register for AP exams
• Visit top-choice schools and schedule official tours and interviews where available
• Research financial aid requirements for each school — note which schools require the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA
• Begin brainstorming college essay topics (do not wait until summer to start thinking about this)

Summer:

• Write first drafts of the Common App personal statement and supplemental essays
• Complete the activities section of the Common App
• Finalize the college list — you should know your early decision or early action target by August
• Attend any remaining campus visits
• Prepare for fall standardized tests if planning one more attempt

12th Grade Checklist (Class of 2027)

The decision year. Every deadline matters now.

Fall Semester:

• Submit early decision or early action applications by November 1 or November 15
• Complete the FAFSA as early as possible — the 2026-2027 cycle opens in the fall (check studentaid.gov for the exact date, as timing has shifted in recent years)
• Submit CSS Profile where required
• Send final SAT or ACT scores to all schools on your list
• Apply for local scholarships — Horry County, Georgetown County, and Charleston County community foundations all have spring deadlines that require fall preparation
• Continue maintaining grades — senior year performance matters more than most families realize

Spring Semester:

• Compare financial aid award letters carefully — look at net cost, not headline numbers
• Visit admitted-student events at your top choices
• Make your final decision by May 1 (National Decision Day)
• Send your enrollment deposit
• Notify schools you will not attend (this opens spots for other students)
• Apply for additional scholarships — many local South Carolina scholarships have spring deadlines
• Send final transcript to your chosen school after graduation

What Most Families Miss

After working with over 1,000 students across Myrtle Beach, Mount Pleasant, and Charleston, we have identified the most common gaps in college planning:

• Waiting until junior year to think about financial aid. Understanding your expected family contribution should start in 9th grade. It shapes which schools are realistic.
• Treating extracurriculars as a checklist. Admissions officers want depth, not breadth. Three meaningful activities beat twelve surface-level ones.
• Ignoring test-optional policies. “Test optional” does not mean “test irrelevant.” Students with strong scores still benefit from submitting them, and scholarship eligibility at many South Carolina schools still requires test scores.
• Not visiting schools. A campus visit can eliminate a school from your list faster than any website. It can also confirm that a school is the right fit in ways you cannot quantify online.
• Skipping the financial conversation. The average family overpays for college by thousands of dollars because they did not compare net cost across enough schools.

How College Planning Centers Can Help

This checklist gives you the roadmap. But executing it while juggling school, activities, work, and family life is where most families struggle.

That is exactly what we do at College Planning Centers. We work with families across Horry, Georgetown, and Charleston counties to build a customized plan for each student — then we walk alongside you through every step, every deadline, and every decision.

Our students’ results speak for themselves: 97% gain admission to their top-choice institution. You can see what families say about working with us on our testimonials page.

Ready to build your student’s plan? Get started with a free consultation and bring your student’s most recent transcript. We will show you exactly where your student stands and what to prioritize next.

Christopher Parsons is the founder of College Planning Centers, with offices in Murrells Inlet and Mount Pleasant, SC. His book, Entering the Arena, is available at collegeplanningcenters.com/book.