Whether you’re a counselor or a student, everyone loves fall! ’Tis the season for cozy sweaters, warm drinks, apple picking, Halloween costumes, and more. But while there’s a lot of fun to be had, there are also a lot of exciting life changes on the horizon for students who still need to plan for college and stay on top of their studies. Work these college planning to-do’s into your fall plans and help your students set themselves up for success as we head toward the end of the calendar year.
General college prep and planning
- 9th grade: Get involved! Now that freshmen have gotten the hang of high school, they should start joining student clubs and getting involved in the community.
- 10th grade: Sophomores should start studying and schedule a time to take the PSAT, especially since the SAT is now digital, which may affect their test-taking strategies.
- 11th grade: If they haven’t already, now is a great time for juniors to start building their college lists. It doesn’t mean they have to conduct all their research now, but thinking ahead and creating a college search spreadsheet will set them up for success.
- 12th grade: College planning is getting real for seniors. Right now, they should be arranging letters of recommendation, refining their college essays, and searching for more scholarships.
Month-long observances and events
- National Bullying Prevention Month: Promote the importance of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion by sharing advice on How to Combat and Prevent Bullying in Your School Community.
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Learn more through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and find resources you can share to help people recognize and stop domestic violence.
- Financial Planning Month: October is the perfect time for families to openly communicate about finances in preparation for college financial responsibilities.
- National Book Month: Celebrate reading this month by encouraging your students to pick up a new book with these great recommendations.
- National Pizza Month: Celebrate a month’s worth of one of the most universally loved foods. Be sure to give our quick homemade microwave pizza recipe a try!
- Diversity recognition: LGBT History Month, Global Diversity Awareness Month
- Health awareness recognition: Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Blindness Awareness Month
- Cultural recognition: Hispanic Heritage Month (ending October 15), Polish-American Heritage Month, Filipino-American History Month, Italian-American Heritage & Culture Month, German-American Heritage Month
Tuesday, October 1
New CollegeXpress easy monthly scholarship opens
A new month means a new easy scholarship giveaway from CX with our Werewolf vs. Vampire Scholarship Contest! Starting October 1, students can register on CollegeXpress (or log back in) and tell us if a werewolf or a vampire would win in a fight for a chance to win $1,300.
World Vegetarian Day
Today’s the day to celebrate and educate others on the vegetarian way of life.
- The Ultimate Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to Good Eating in College: If your students are looking for a school that supports their diet and lifestyle, here’s an article that walks them through vegetarianism in college.
International Coffee Day
It’s no secret that a lot of students (and counselors) love coffee. Celebrate the beverage that keeps us going by sharing 10 of the Best Colleges and Universities for Coffee Lovers.
Free SAT prep class
Students can prep for upcoming SAT test dates by signing up for a Digital SAT Online Trial Class with Kaplan taking place on Tuesday the 1st from 7:30–9:30 pm ET.
Wednesday, October 2
Start of Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of the Jewish New Year that lasts two days and leads up to Yom Kippur on Friday the 11th. Shanah tovah (have a good year)!
College Essay Guy webinars
Each month, the College Essay Guy (Ethan Sawyer) packs his calendar full of webinars and events on everything from personal statement writing to skill building to understanding college finances. Be sure to check out all his offerings for counselors, parents, and students this month, and encourage those from low-income households to inquire about pay-what-you-can options.
Friday, October 4
World Animal Day
Learn more about this animal welfare movement and find ways to help all the other creatures that live on our planet with this year’s World Animal Day theme, “The world is their home too”!
Saturday, October 5
SAT test date
Today is an SAT test date for students across the country.
World Teachers’ Day
Sponsored by UNESCO and Education International, World Teachers’ Day is observed to help the world better understand the role of educators in the development of students and our society overall. Make sure your students wish a Happy Teachers’ Day to their faves ahead of the weekend!
Sunday, October 6
Start of Get Organized (GO) Week
Observed since 1991, this week is the time to stop putting off those projects you’ve been meaning to do and get organized!
- How to Get Organized and Manage Your Time as a High School Student: If some of your students are struggling, these simple tips can help them get organized, complete their homework efficiently, and manage their time better in high school.
Start of Fire Prevention Week
Fire safety is important for us all, especially with the extreme regional weather changes we’re all witnessing. Help the National Fire Protection Association spread awareness through their campaign, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!”
Start of Customer Service Week
This week celebrates the important role customer service workers play in our daily lives. Drop a worker some extra kindness (and maybe an extra tip) this week!
Free ACT prep class
Kaplan is offering their usual monthly ACT Live Online Trial Classes to help students prepare for the standardized test. The first of two free sessions planned for this month takes place on Sunday the 6th from 6:00–8:00 pm ET.
Monday, October 7
ACT late registration deadline
Today is the late registration deadline for the October 26 ACT test date (additional fees apply).
Tuesday, October 8
Ada Lovelace Day
Named after the English mathematician and writer, Ada Lovelace Day (ALD) is an international celebration of the achievements of women in STEM!
College Admissions Secret to Success webinar (part 1)
Write Track Admissions is hosting a free college admission webinar featuring CEO Hamada Zahawi, who has over 16 years of consulting experience and a proven track record of helping students navigate competitive admission processes. This session will focus on the current admission landscape, preparing your profile and assembling your applications, plus letters of recommendation, standardized tests, and financial aid. Register now to attend on Tuesday the 8th from 1:00–2:00 pm ET.
Wednesday, October 9
Digital SAT webinar for parents
Kaplan is also connecting with parents this month to help them master their role in standardized testing with a webinar called Gaining the Advantage: A Parent’s Guide to the Digital SAT taking place on Wednesday the 9th from 8:00–9:00 pm ET.
Thursday, October 10
World Mental Health Day
Let’s draw attention to the importance of mental health and facilitate conversations with students on how to improve theirs. With this year’s theme of “Mental health is a universal human right” in mind, here are some Great Mental Health Habits for Students to Establish.
College Admissions Secret to Success webinar (part 2)
Write Track Admissions is hosting another free college admission information session for students on October 10 from 1:00–2:00 pm ET. This one covers crafting your story and personal statements, submitting your applications, and timeline strategies.
Friday, October 11
National Coming Out Day
Coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, or however you identify can be hard and scary. Let’s support students together to help them find comfort and confidence in their identities while sharing them with the world!
- Resources and College Search Tips for LGBTQ+ Students: Most colleges offer LGBTQ+ resources to provide support for all students. Learn more about them to help you recognize and recommend colleges that will support students for who they are.
Sunday, October 13
Start of Earth Science Week
Celebrate and promote Earth science education this week! The theme for 2024 is “Celebrate Science Everywhere.”
Free scholarship and digital SAT webinar for parents
Like usual, Prep Expert’s Dr. Shaan Patel is offering a revamped free parents webinar on strategies to help teens win college scholarships and ace the new digital SAT. The event will take place on October 13 at 5:00 pm ET. Be sure to share this opportunity to help parents and students who are still familiarizing themselves with the new test format!
Monday, October 14
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Today celebrates and honors Native Americans while commemorating their histories and cultures.
- College Search Q&A: Partnership With Native Americans: Many Native students don’t think college is an option for them. Learn how PWNA and the American Indian Education Fund can help those students succeed.
Canadian Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving to our neighbors to the North!
Free ACT prep class
The last chance for students to prep for the ACT with Kaplan this month will be on Monday, October 14 from 7:30–9:30 pm ET.
Friday, October 18
Regular SAT registration deadline
Today is the regular registration deadline for the November 2 SAT test date.
SAT scores released
Scores for the October 5 SAT test date should be released today and will be sent to colleges within 10 days.
Sunday, October 20
National Day on Writing
As designated by the National Council of Teachers of English, today celebrates the beauty of writing and all the ways we engage with it in our lives. It’s the perfect day to encourage your students to start (or finish) writing their college application essays!
Start of National Chemistry Week
Chemistry is an incredibly interesting and important subject students should consider pursuing in college. They can learn more about National Chemistry Week and this year’s theme of “Photographing and Imaging” through the American Chemical Society.
Tuesday, October 22
SAT late registration deadline
Today is the deadline for changes, cancellations, and late registration for the November 2 SAT test date (additional fees apply).
College application webinar
Students who want in-depth guidance on college apps can sign up for Moon Prep’s Crash Course: A Step-by-Step Guide for Applying to College taking place on Tuesday the 22nd from 7:00–8:00 pm ET.
Thursday, October 24
United Nations Day
Today celebrates the 1948 founding of the United Nations, an organization dedicated to world peace and the protection of human rights.
- Why Model UN Is the Perfect High School Extracurricular: If your students are looking for a fun and impressive activity to put on their college applications, Model UN could be a great option.
Saturday, October 26
ACT test date
Today is an ACT test date at centers across the country.
Monday, October 28
National Immigrants Day
Immigrants make up an important percentage of our population, making the US the melting pot that it is. Acknowledge the day by learning specific tips for the college search for undocumented students.
Thursday, October 31
Halloween
Happy Halloween from the CollegeXpress Team!
- Campus Ghost Stories: Beware of These School Spirits!: Every university should have a good campus ghost. Here are a few scary stories from real college students to get you in the Halloween spirit!
CollegeXpress Werewolf vs. Vampire Scholarship deadline
Today is the deadline for our Werewolf vs. Vampire Scholarship Contest! Make sure your students don’t miss this easy opportunity by answering the question before midnight on Halloween night for a chance to win $1,300.
Even as the academic year gets busier, every student should be taking the time to research colleges and apply for scholarships—easy things to do right here on CollegeXpress when you register or log back in!
