Welcome to October! For the Halloween-lovers, now is the peak of the festive season. For others, it’s simply a month warmed by seasonal lattes, cozy sweaters, and leftover candy. Depending on where you live, nature may start to prepare for the oncoming winter. For students, it’s also when your Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) choices, final essay polish, and financial-aid preparations all seem to converge.
So, what you do this month can really make a difference.
In this article, we’ll map a week-by-week plan, lock your deadlines, and avoid the October mistakes that quietly derail strong applicants. Ready to make this month work for you? Let’s start with a quick calendar so you always know what comes next.
October at a glance: week-by-week for seniors
Let’s focus on the necessities first. Other than a great Halloween costume, what else should you be planning?
In an ideal world, this is what the month would entail for college applicants.
Week 1: Lock in the plan
Start by fixing the big pieces in place. Finalize your ED/EA shortlist, confirm whether you’re testing again this month, and make sure every recommender is fully briefed. The sooner, the better.
Want to prep like a pro? Start the planning process by creating a simple tracker with 5 columns for each college on your list: deadline type, test policy, extra materials, scholarship/priority date, and who sends what. Keep this for future reference for your big picture.
Quick checklist:
- Finalize ED/EA target(s) and back-up EA/RD schools.
- Confirm recommenders and the counselor school report process.
- Build a “missing items” tracker for each portal.
- Decide on testing: sit, skip, or superscore strategy.
This video explains some of the other deadlines you’ll be facing in more depth:
Week 2: Line up people & pieces
This week is all about coordination. Send thank-you notes and a one-page brag sheet to your teachers. Include the programs you’re applying to, your intended major or interests, and a few bullet points that highlight your impact.
Meanwhile, finalize your activities list and rough-in supplements for any school with October or early-November deadlines.
But here’s the catch: many colleges tie merit consideration to priority application dates. For example, at the University of Oregon, applying early makes you eligible for the Stamps Scholarship, one of the most competitive merit awards in the country. If a school’s site mentions “priority” for scholarships or housing, treat that date like a must-hit deadline.
Quick checklist:
- Share due dates with recommenders; confirm which colleges they’ll cover.
- Draft top-priority supplements; batch similar prompts to save time.
- Identify any extras (portfolios, uploads, or honors applications).
- Sort your list by “priority date first.”
Week 3: Draft polish
Move those drafts from “done” to “ready.” Run a structured, time-boxed edit on your personal statement and your earliest-due supplements: structure pass, clarity pass, voice pass, polish pass.
Then perform a 10-minute portal audit to catch hidden requirements like program-specific essays, fee waivers, or optional short answers that aren’t really optional for competitive majors.
Need help getting started? Empowerly counselor Denard walks you through how to get your essays out of your head and onto the page:
Week 4: Submit & verify
Aim to submit ED/EA applications at least a week before the official deadline. Immediately after submission, confirm that your status pages show the correct materials: application received, school report pending or received, teacher recs in progress, and score-send status. If anything is listed as “awaiting,” follow up politely and document the date.
Pro tip: Save all confirmation screens as PDFs and keep them in a single folder labeled by college and date. If a portal misreads a document later, you’ll have proof ready. With it, keep a copy of your essays in PDF format and records of submission for recommendations and test scores. Even a self-reported log is better than nothing.
Quick checklist:
- Submit ED/EA apps on your internal deadlines.
- Verify each portal’s “received” items within 24–48 hours.
- Track official test-score sends or self-reported entries.
- Schedule a short follow-up with your counselor if a school report is still pending.
Seniors: key deadlines & milestones (what MUST be ready)
Even if you aren’t planning to submit early, there’s plenty to juggle! Your goal? Avoid the tricks and don’t miss the treats.
Early Decision vs. Early Action
If you are thinking early, by late October, you should be past the “deciding” stage and into the “finalizing” stage. That means a settled list, signed ED agreement if applicable, complete supplements, and a clear plan for how scores and forms will arrive. If your ED application isn’t truly ready, it’s wiser to file EA/RD with polished materials than to rush ED. Quality wins.
Still unsure? It’s time to make the call. Ask yourself: Is this my clear first choice? Do I have all the materials ready now? Would I be happy skipping all other offers?
If not, EA or RD may be a better strategic move.
If you are going early, these are your must-have items:
- Final college list with ED/EA flagged.
- Completed main essay and top supplements.
- Confirmed teacher recs and counselor forms.
- Score-send plan with buffer days.
Priority & scholarship deadlines
This goes for everyone: treat the word “priority” as a signal. Many colleges use it to trigger merit review, competitive housing, or earlier decision timelines. Build your sequence so priority schools get submitted first, even if their official regular deadline is later.
Your move:
- Sort your list by priority deadline and submit in that order.
- Note any departmental or honors deadlines that are separate from general admission.
- Keep a short list of external scholarships due in late October or November.
School-specific requirements
One hidden reason applicants miss opportunities in October: school-specific extras. Some majors require additional prompts. Arts programs may require SlideRoom portfolios with separate due dates. Honors colleges might ask for extra essays or recs. Make a quick grid (or update your original tracker) for each target college, so nothing slips through the cracks.
Look for:
- Major-based prompts or program essays.
- Portfolio or audition requirements with their own timelines.
- Honors and scholars applications.
- Short “optional” answers that are effectively expected.
Essays: final polish in October
This is where strong applicants separate themselves. The goal isn’t to write more, it’s to show more with fewer, sharper words.
Starting from scratch? Panicked about the deadlines?
Here’s a quick guide to supplement triage:
- Finish ED/EA supplements first.
- Then complete priority or scholarship-linked applications.
- Batch similar prompts to reuse ideas ethically and efficiently, customizing every time.
On the other hand, what if you have too many words? Too much to choose from?
Here’s what to cut at the end:
- Resume-style repetition of activities already listed elsewhere.
- Generic reflections like “I learned leadership.”
- Long throat-clearing before the moment that matters.
Want more structure like this? Check out this blog article for a thorough editing process, or this 7-day sprint framework to keep momentum without over-editing.
Recommendation letters & school forms
Strong recommendations are built on clarity and gratitude. Confirm who is writing for which colleges and make the process easy.
Teacher recommendations:
- Share a one-page brag sheet with highlights, context for your major, and deadlines.
- Send a short thank-you with your target dates and how their letter will be submitted.
Counselor forms and FERPA:
- Make sure you’ve signed the FERPA release if required.
- Ask your counseling office about internal submission timelines so you’re aligned.
Testing in October
Not every senior needs to take a test this month. The key question is whether a new score will improve your superscore or unlock a threshold for scholarships or specific programs.
Should you sit for a test?
- Yes, if your practice tests suggest a realistic sectional gain that changes your admissibility range.
- Maybe, if you need a concordant or minimum score for a program or scholarship.
- No, if your time would yield bigger returns on essays and supplements.
Score-send timing:
- Official sends can take days. Build buffer time and check whether self-reported scores are allowed at submission, with official scores to follow.
- Verify that your portals show the correct test date and that names and birthdates match.
Superscoring strategy:
- Target one or two sections for improvement rather than spreading prep thin.
- Align your study plan with the subscore gains that matter most for your list.
Financial aid & scholarships
Financial planning belongs in October just as much as essays and deadlines. The earlier you organize, the smoother your spring will be.
FAFSA and CSS Profile forms:
- Figure out whether you need to fill out the FAFSA and/or the CSS Profile. Some will need only FAFSA; others also require the CSS Profile or additional institutional forms.
- Gather all the information you can: prior-prior-year tax information, W-2/1099s, asset snapshots, and household details. Keep digital copies in a secure folder.
- Questions? Check out this guide to the FAFSA in 2025.
Priority merit and departmental awards:
- Many merit decisions are tied to the application priority date, not a separate scholarship application. Submit those colleges first.
- For schools with extra scholarship forms, note both dates and build them into your Week 2–3 plan.
After you submit:
- Monitor portals for missing items or verification requests, and respond promptly.
- Save every confirmation page as a PDF.
- Keep a simple log of dates, forms, and contacts in case you need to reference a conversation later.
Underclassmen: October moves that pay off
This article centers on seniors, but October is useful for everyone. If you’re looking for a general checklist of what you should take care of this semester, download our complete 2025 student checklists for your grade year to take with you.
Freshmen:
- Choose one sustained activity to invest in and establish a weekly study rhythm.
- Capture quick notes when something energizes you; these become future essay sparks.
- Checklist: https://empowerly.com/applications/student-checklist-freshman/
Sophomores:
- Treat the PSAT as a low-stakes skills snapshot. Focus on study habits you’ll reuse for APs and junior-year testing: active recall, spaced repetition, and short daily practice.
- Checklist: https://empowerly.com/applications/student-checklist-sophomore/
Juniors:
- Register for winter or early-spring SAT/ACT dates if testing is part of your plan.
- Start your college list research and note programs that excite you.
- Build relationships with two teachers who could become senior-year recommenders.
- Checklist: https://empowerly.com/applications/student-checklist-junior/
Conclusion: your next steps this fall semester
October doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you work with a clear plan. Break the month into weekly goals, file scholarship-eligible and early applications first, and verify each portal before deadlines. When in doubt, quality beats speed: a polished EA submission or a well-timed ED application is stronger than a rushed file.
Your move now:
- Finalize college list and ED/EA plans
- Confirm recommenders + send brag sheets
- Polish personal statement and key supplements
- Submit early apps 5-7 days early
- Check portals for missing items
- Complete FAFSA and CSS Profile
- Track deadlines and merit deadlines
- Start a document folder for each college
You can do this!
If you’d like backup on your list, essays, or financial aid plan, explore our guides or connect with an Empowerly counselor to finalize your October strategy. With a steady plan today, you’ll enter November confident and on schedule.
