Matthew's College Process Tracker

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

⚑ 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.

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.

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.

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.
• Strong supplemental essays matter — the essay workbook's "Why NYU" question feeds this.

UCLA

• 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.

⚠ 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.

◎ 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.
• Fordham (NY) — offers ED (binding) and EA. Catholic, NYC. Match/reach.
• University of South Carolina — EA (non-binding), ~Oct 15. ✓ Your EA label was right. 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.

◐ Still following (from earlier) — decide in or out

• Villanova — registered for Business Fall Preview Day, Sep 13. Offers ED I/ED II + EA. Ask about business-school application requirements at the visit.
• 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.