Start the new academic year off right with your students by planning ahead with this month's edition of the CollegeXpress College Planning Calendar. This calendar walks you through important holidays, standardized test dates, and more coming up in the month of September.
General monthly planning
- High school freshmen: Starting high school is a major change for students! Make sure they’re not getting blindsided with silly advice that won’t help them in the long run.
- High school sophomores: Students should keep up their focus and momentum from freshman year and avoid the sophomore slump as the semester begins.
- High school juniors: Junior year is a big deal! It’s when the college search starts ramping up in earnest—and that means life’s going to get stressful. Help your students with stress reduction advice that can also be applied to senior year.
- High school seniors: There’s not much time before seniors need to dive into college admission responsibilities. Prep them by sharing four important things they should do as they start the school year.
- College freshmen: New college students are in for an adjustment period as their first semester begins. If you’re in touch with any of your former students, help them prepare with Our Best Advice for Freshman Year of College.
Month-long observances and celebrations
- National Suicide Prevention Month: This important month of recognition also includes Suicide Prevention Week, which starts on September 4. If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
- National Deaf Awareness Month: Deaf Awareness Month also includes International Week of the Deaf, which starts on September 25. Learn more from the American Society for Deaf Children.
- Self-Improvement Month: Encourage students to work on themselves with these 7 Easy Ways to Make Your Semester More Mindful.
- Classical Music Month: Classical music has evolved a lot over time, and many students still learn classical instruments when they’re young. Celebrate their musical accomplishments this month!
- Hispanic Heritage Month: Learn more about this cultural celebration below.
Friday, September 2
SAT Regular registration deadline
Today is the Regular registration deadline for the October 1 SAT test date.
National College Colors Day
Celebrate your alma mater and encourage your students to get excited about their future college by repping school colors today! Learn more on the College Colors Day website.
Saturday, September 3
College application four-week webinars
College Essay Guy Ethan Sawyer is hosting four weeks of webinars on How to Apply to College: A Step-by-Step Course on Creating an Outstanding College Application. The course consists of two parts:
- How to Write a Personal Statement: Saturdays from 1:00–2:30 pm ET
- How to Write the College Application & Supplemental Essays: Saturdays from 7:00–8:30 pm ET
Students can register for one or both of these pay-what-you-can courses, and plan to attend through October 1.
Monday, September 5
Labor Day
Happy Labor Day! Enjoy your long-weekend festivities!
Tuesday, September 6
Fight Procrastination Day
Most students succumb to procrastination at one point or another! Have them check out the tag “procrastination” on CollegeXpress to find great articles and advice to fight it.
Free scholarships webinar
Imagine Scholarships is hosting a live webinar on Scholarship Strategies That Work to help students find, organize, and win the awards they apply for. Register for free to learn from CEO Sherri Graff, an independent educational consultant and former first-generation student, on Tuesday the 6th at 8:00 pm ET.
Thursday, September 8
Free SAT/ACT score webinar for parents and students
Prep Expert’s Dr. Shaan Patel is offering another free SAT/ACT webinar on 10 secrets to raising standardized test scores and winning big scholarships to top colleges. Parents can sign up for this webinar that starts at 6:00 pm ET on Thursday the 8th.
International Literacy Day
Literacy and learning go hand in hand! Learn more about world literacy from the International Literacy Association.
- 10 Fiction Picks for College Bookworms: Drop everything and celebrate literacy with these great works of fiction.
Friday, September 9
SAT scores released
Scores for the August 27 SAT test date should be released today and will be sent to colleges within 10 days.
National Stand Up to Cancer Day
This day is promoted by Stand Up to Cancer, a charitable organization that helps fund and develop promising cancer treatment for patients. Consider donating to help students who are also patients (and anyone else) get the treatment they deserve!
Saturday, September 10
ACT test date
Today is an ACT test date at centers across the country.
Sunday, September 11
Patriot Day
This day commemorates the lives of everyone who was lost in the World Trade Center terrorist attacks over 20 years ago. May they rest in peace.
Monday, September 12
Start of National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week
This week starts just before the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month and recognizes the hundreds of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) that work to support and educate Hispanic students across the country. Learn more by reading our article on How to Celebrate and Honor Hispanic–Serving Institutions Week.
- Hispanic-Serving Institutions 101: What Students Should Know: Help your students learn more about the benefits of HSIs and why one may be the right choice for them.
Wednesday, September 14
Start of National Coding Week
Coding is a valuable skill that’s useful to students pursuing many different fields. Not sure how to convince them? Have them check out our blog on Why It's Important for Students to Learn How to Code.
Thursday, September 15
First day of Hispanic Heritage Month
A celebration of all things Hispanic culture, this month should be spent learning more about the history of Hispanic people and the important impact they’ve had on our country.
- Hispanic Heroes Throughout History: Los Hombres & Las Mujeres: You and your students can learn about inspirational Hispanic historical figures with our Heroes of History series.
Friday, September 16
ACT Regular registration deadline
Today is the Regular registration deadline for the October 22 ACT test date.
Mexican Independence Day
Today marks the anniversary in which Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1810.
Saturday, September 17
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
Many people immigrate to the US for education reasons, often seeking US citizenship with it. Today celebrates the process of becoming an American.
- Undocumented Students' Challenges Without Citizenship: Learn about challenges faced by undocumented students in the college search to better help them through the process.
World Cleanup Day
Coordinated by the global organization Let’s Do It!, World Cleanup Day is a global social action program dedicated to cleaning up our planet. Encourage your students to get out there and make the world a little more beautiful!
Tuesday, September 20
SAT Late registration deadline
Today is the Late registration deadline as well as the deadline for changes or cancellations for the October 1 SAT test date.
Wednesday, September 21
ACT scores released
Scores for the September 10 SAT test date will be released anytime between today and November 5.
Thursday, September 22
First day of autumn
Welcome to fall weather, football, apple cider, and pumpkin-picking season!
American Business Women’s Day
Encourage your students to get invested in business early and become the businesswomen of their dreams with our blog on 8 Ways to Get Business Experience in High School for College Admission.
Sunday, September 25
Start of Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of the Jewish New Year that lasts two days and leads up to Yom Kippur. Shanah tovah (have a good year)!
Friday, September 30
ACT Late registration deadline
Today is the Late registration deadline for the October 22 ACT test date.
National Podcast Day
Podcasts are a great way to learn, pass the time, and widen your perspective on certain topics. Encourage your students to pick up one of these 4 Interesting Podcasts to Listen to on Your Study Breaks in honor of today.
CollegeXpress Fall Flavor Giveaway deadline
Starting September 1, students have a chance to win a $500 scholarship plus a $100 coffee shop gift card as part of our Fall Flavor Giveaway. All they have to do is register on CollegeXpress by Friday the 30th and answer this question: What is your favorite fall flavor or treat?
Have your students joined the CollegeXpress community yet? Refer them here! You’ll be entered to win our $500 Refer-a-Friend contest, and after they create a free account through your unique link, they’ll have a chance to win not only our easy monthly scholarships but our annual $10,000 scholarship contest as well.
