Every action item from Team College's Boot Camp checklist, turned into a working tracker. Check things off as you go — your progress stays on this page. Save it before closing.
WFSNYUUCLA
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Matthew — start here 👋
Applying to twelve schools is a lot to hold in your head, and it's easy for a deadline or a form to slip through the cracks. This tool exists to take that weight off you. Everything you need to do — from Team College's checklist to each school's deadlines — lives in one place, in the order it should happen.
How to use it: read top to bottom once to see the whole picture, then just check things off as you finish them. The bar at the top fills as you go. You don't have to remember what's next — the tool does that for you.
It's shared. When you check something off, your mom and I see it update on our phones too — so we can support you without nagging or asking "did you do that yet?" every day. We're in this with you.
The hard decisions ahead — which school to commit to early, where you'll be happiest — get easier when the busywork is handled and you can see everything clearly. That's what this is for. You've got this. 💙
— Dad
📝 Matthew's notes — flag any changes here
Added a school? Changed your mind on ED? Hit a snag? Type it here — Mom and Dad see it sync to their phones. This is how you tell us what's changed without a separate text.
✅ SAT done — here's what's next
You took the SAT on Aug 22 — nice work. Now it's just a few follow-up steps while you wait on scores.
After the test — your next steps
Scores post in about 2 weeks. You'll get an email from College Board when they're ready (digital SAT results come back fast). Score range is 400–1600.
Review your score once it's in. Compare it to your 1230 and to your target schools' ranges. Decide with your grownups and Rose whether to send it, sit with it, or retest.
Then YOU send scores via College Board — only to schools that consider testing, and only if the score helps you. Reminder: the UCs (UCLA, Davis, Irvine, San Diego) are test-blind — do not send there.
Confirm each school's testing policy first (test-optional vs. required vs. blind) so you're not sending where it won't help or isn't wanted.
If you're considering a retest, the next SAT dates are in the fall — but weigh it against your 10/31 application push. Don't let a retest crowd out finishing applications.
⚑ The date that anchors everything: October 31
Team College's instruction: complete and submit ALL applications by 10/31. This is a Wilmington Friends deadline, and it lands earlier than most colleges' own deadlines — on purpose, so nothing gets rushed at the end. Work backward from Halloween, not from each college's posted date.
That means essays, supplements, STARS, the UC Personal Insight Questions, transcripts, and recommendations all need to be done before 10/31 — not started.
Work backward
Your fall runway to 10/31
Here's how the WFS calendar lines up against the October 31 application target. The whole game is finishing before the crunch, not during it.
The read on this
School starts Sept 8 — your September touch-base with Rose happens in the first weeks. Have your college list ready for it.
Fall Break is Oct 8–13 (dismissed end of day Oct 8, back Oct 13). This is your biggest uninterrupted work block before the deadline — protect it for essays and supplements, not just rest.
Only ~2.5 school weeks sit between returning from break (Oct 13) and the 10/31 target. That's tight. Aim to walk into Fall Break with essays nearly done, and use the break to finish.
Homecoming is Oct 23–24 — a fun senior-year weekend you'll want to enjoy. One more reason to be basically done before then.
Do this first
Time-sensitive — this week
These have hard or near-term deadlines from Team College. Knock them out before anything else.
Get set up
Accounts, access & scheduling
One-time setup that lets the school, colleges, and your counselor reach you and support your applications.
The applications
Transcripts, testing & scores
The mechanics of actually getting your materials to colleges. Some of these take weeks, so start early.
Keep doing
Weekly habits
Not one-and-done. Build these into your routine all fall.
Run the meeting
August discussion agenda
Team College sends monthly topics for your student-led check-ins. You clerk the meeting; your grownups bring refreshments, listen, and occasionally a credit card. Here's August — walk through it together. (Tap to check off as you cover each.)
Also from July's list — don't skip these
Mark every application deadline on the family calendar — including the WFS 10/31 target.
If you're done testing, send scores to your colleges now (a family activity).
Supplemental essays: highly selective schools have many. Make a plan with set deadlines to get through them all.
Money for college
Scholarship tracker
Real scholarships matched to you — African American, Wilmington Friends, IB student, business-minded, with a strong service and advocacy record. Each is a checkable task below; details and deadlines follow. Always confirm dates on the official site — scholarship deadlines shift yearly.
⏰ The two that close FIRST — do these now
Coca-Cola Scholars ($20,000) — deadline ~Sept 30–Oct 31, 2026. Opens Aug 3. Phase 1 needs NO essays, transcript, or recs — just the application. Low effort to enter, huge upside. 150 winners; very competitive, but the first round is quick. coca-colascholarsfoundation.org
These close around the same time as your college apps — build them into the same October push.
Your best-fit scholarships (verified)
Ron Brown Scholar Program — $40,000 ($10K/yr × 4): Prestigious, African American seniors, built on four pillars including business entrepreneurship and public service — a strong match for your business direction and advocacy story. Academic excellence + leadership + service + financial need. Deadline: ~Dec 1 (early) / Jan 9 (final). ronbrown.org
Coca-Cola Scholars — $20,000: (see urgent box above). Merit/leadership-based, not need-based. Your caregiving, Gavel Club officer role, and service make a strong leadership narrative.
The Gates Scholarship — full cost of attendance: Minority seniors, Pell-eligible (financial need), 3.3+ GPA, strong leadership. Last-dollar award covering anything aid doesn't. Deadline typically mid-September — check thegatesscholarship.org ASAP as it's early.
UNCF General Application: One application opens the door to many UNCF-administered scholarships. Worth completing as a hub. uncf.org / opportunities.uncf.org
Also worth checking (confirm fit & dates)
Delaware-specific: DE Higher Education Office (DHEO) scholarships, and the Delaware Community Foundation — smaller, less competitive, in-state advantage. Fewer applicants = better odds.
School-based aid: Every college on your list has its own merit scholarships — often the biggest money. Applying early (which you're doing) qualifies you for many automatically. Ask each school's financial aid office what you're auto-considered for.
Business-specific: NABA (National Association of Black Accountants), and business-school scholarships at Howard, Maryland, Indiana, and Fordham — ask each program directly.
🤖 Scholarship research agent — a prompt to find more
Paste this into any AI chat (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini) to find fresh scholarships. Run it monthly — new ones open all year:
"Act as a scholarship research assistant. Find current, real scholarships (with official links and this year's deadlines) for a high school senior applying for fall 2027 who is: African American; a strong IB Diploma student; SAT ~1230 (may retest); a Jack & Jill of America member with 60+ community service hours; interested in business; from Deptford, New Jersey; with a personal story of advocacy (caring for a nonverbal autistic sibling, mentoring at the Boys & Girls Club, and officer in a Gavel/Toastmasters club). For each scholarship give: name, award amount, eligibility, exact deadline, what materials are required, and the official application link. Prioritize ones closing in the next 60 days. Only list scholarships you can verify are real — no invented ones. Flag any that require an SSN or fee so I can be cautious."
⚠ Security: never enter your SSN, bank info, or a "processing fee" for a scholarship. Legitimate scholarships never charge to apply. If one asks for payment or your SSN up front, stop and check with your grownups.
The people side
Recommendations & your team
The humans helping you get there. Treat this part with care — it matters more than students realize.
Good to know (straight from Team College)
The only disciplinary action reported to colleges is suspensions. Detentions, demerits, and days of reflection are not reported.
Team College's message to you: you will go to college and you will have a great life. They believe in you — so lean on them. Message or email whenever you have a question.
Your two schools
NYU & UCLA — a few specifics
Beyond the WFS checklist, here are things particular to your target schools. Confirm every date on each school's official site — deadlines shift year to year.
NYU
Uses the Common App — same one Rose needs advisor access to. Early Decision I is typically early November; Regular Decision in early January. NYU has ED I and ED II (binding) plus RD.
Requires STARS — the Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System. Matthew types in his own courses and grades directly; NYU won't review the application without it. This is in addition to the official WFS transcript.
ED is binding — only apply ED if NYU is a clear first choice and the finances work. Talk this through with your grownups first.
Test-optional in recent cycles, but confirm the current policy. If Matthew tests, he sends scores himself via College Board.
UCLA does not use the Common App — it uses the UC application (one app covers all UC campuses). Set up a separate UC account. The app opens August 1.
Confirmed filing period: October 1 – November 30 (submission opens Oct 1). No Early Action or Early Decision — everyone applies in this same window. UCLA is fall-term only and on the quarter system.
UC is test-blind — SAT/ACT scores are not considered at all. Don't send them.
Instead of one essay, UC requires 4 Personal Insight Questions (350 words each) from 8 prompts. The caregiving, heritage, and community material from the workbook maps onto several PIQs.
Admission decisions come in late March. If admitted, final official transcripts are due to UC by July 1 and official IB/AP results by July 15 — relevant given Matthew's IB program.
The key takeaway
NYU and UCLA use two different application systems with different essays and deadlines. Track them separately — that's why staying on top of both portals (checklist item below) matters so much.
Where things stand
Matthew's working college list
Your finalized list, merged with schools you'd been following. The early-application labels below are corrected to each school's real options — a couple you'd marked "EA" don't actually offer it, which matters a lot. Bring this to Rose in September. Always confirm each date on the school's official site.
⚠ Read this first — the "EA" mix-up
You'd labeled UCLA – EA and NYU – EA, but neither school offers Early Action:
UCLA (and all UCs) have no early round at all — one deadline, Nov 30. "EA" isn't an option there.
NYU offers Early Decision (binding), not Early Action. Big difference — see the ED note below.
South Carolina – EA is real and correct. ✓
⚠ The binding-ED decision — you can only pick ONE
Three schools on your list are Early Decision (binding): NYU, Boston College, and Fordham. If you apply ED and get in, you must attend and withdraw all other applications. You can only apply ED to one school. This is a family + money decision — talk it through with your grownups and Rose before committing. If finances matter, ED limits your ability to compare aid offers.
☆ Reach / lottery
NYU — Common App + STARS. ED only (ED I ~Nov 15 / ED II ~Jan 1, binding) or RD ~Jan 5. Far-reach.
UCLA — UC app, test-blind, 4 PIQs. No early round; Nov 30. Far-reach. Family in the CA system.
University of Michigan — offers EA (non-binding), ~Nov 1, rolling-style releases. Reach.
Boston College — ED (binding), ED I ~Nov 1. Reach. (One of your three ED options.)
UC San Diego · UC Davis · UC Irvine — same UC app as UCLA, one Nov 30 deadline, test-blind, 4 PIQs. These are strong match-range UCs that balance UCLA nicely — smart to have three UC options on one application.
◎ Match — the healthy middle of your list
Rutgers (NJ) — in-state = far lower tuition, and family familiarity. Requires STARS. A strong, affordable anchor. Rolling-style; apply early.
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) (Ewing, NJ) — in-state "public ivy" feel, mid-size, top-rated NJ public. Strong match + very affordable. Business is well-regarded. Offers EA + ED. A great "feeling confident" anchor.
University of Maryland – College Park — big, spirited flagship near DC; Smith School of Business is nationally ranked. EA deadline ~Nov 1. Match/reach; strong business fit.
Fordham (NY) — offers ED (binding) and EA. Catholic, NYC. Gabelli School of Business is a real draw. You attended their Summer Leaders Academy (July 2026) — that's demonstrated interest; mention it in your "Why Fordham" essay. Match/reach.
University of South Carolina — EA (non-binding), ~Oct 15. ✓ Your EA label was right. Darla Moore School of Business is top-ranked (esp. international business). Match.
Davidson College (NC) — small, selective liberal arts; offers ED + EA. Reach/match.
Clemson (SC) — EA, early deadline ~Oct 15; requires STARS. Match. Note the early doc deadline.
Villanova (PA) — registered for Business Fall Preview Day, Sep 13. Offers ED I/ED II + EA. Villanova School of Business is nationally ranked. Ask about business-school application requirements at the visit. Reach/match.
Ohio State (Columbus) — huge Big Ten flagship, big spirit. Fisher College of Business is top-ranked. EA deadline ~Nov 1 (also priority for scholarships). Match; strong business fit.
Indiana University – Bloomington — Kelley School of Business is elite (one of the best undergrad business programs in the country). Direct admit to Kelley is competitive — apply early and note if a separate business application/essay is required. EA ~Nov 1. Match/reach for business.
✊🏾 HBCUs — business-strong, and family ties
Howard University (Washington, DC) — the flagship HBCU. Its School of Business was the first AACSB-accredited business program in DC and carries a powerful alumni/corporate network. Strong finance, marketing, and management. EA deadline ~Nov 1. Reach/match — a genuinely prestigious business pipeline.
North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, NC) — the largest HBCU, with the AACSB-accredited Deese College of Business (its accounting program was the first HBCU one recognized by AACSB). Family familiarity — Dominique is there. Requires STARS. Match; big school spirit, strong business/engineering.
Both are on the Eastern seaboard, both business-strong, and both give Matthew a very different — and affirming — campus experience to weigh against the PWIs on his list. Worth real consideration, not just backups.
◐ Still following (from earlier) — decide in or out
Boston University · Bucknell · Syracuse · Bard · San Diego State — on your radar but not on the final note. Confirm with Rose whether they stay or go.
Balance check — this list is much healthier now
Reach/far-reach: NYU, UCLA, Michigan, Boston College, Howard (+ Fordham/Davidson/Maryland lean this way).
Match: Rutgers, TCNJ, South Carolina, Clemson, NC A&T, UC Davis/Irvine/San Diego — strong spread.
"Feeling confident":TCNJ and Rutgers as in-state options are your likely anchors that protect your spring. NC A&T adds an affordable match with family ties.
Business thread: Indiana (Kelley), Ohio State (Fisher), Maryland (Smith), South Carolina (Moore), Villanova (VSB), Howard, Fordham (Gabelli), NYU (Stern), NC A&T (Deese) — your list is now stacked with top business programs. Name business as your through-line in essays; a list this consistent tells admissions something.
Early-plan and deadline details here are from recent public sources and can shift year to year — verify every one on the official admissions site and with Rose. Especially confirm the Oct 15 deadlines (Clemson, USC), which land before the WFS 10/31 target.