05. Monthly Action Plan — Grace Abernathy
This calendar outlines a focused, month-by-month schedule to keep your college applications on track. Each phase builds toward strong, complete submissions for Vanderbilt University, The University of Tennessee–Knoxville, and Belmont University. Follow the sequence closely, and refer to the corresponding sections (e.g., §06 Essay Strategy, §07 Recommendations) for deeper guidance on execution.
| Month |
Key Actions |
Target Outcomes |
Month 1
(Early September) |
- Gather a complete list of all AP, honors, and dual-enrollment courses taken to date. If your school uses different designations, clarify them for your counselor.
- Request a counselor note verifying the rigor of your academic schedule and your GPA context within your high school.
- Review each target school’s Early Action/Early Decision deadlines and decide which (if any) you will pursue. Vanderbilt’s Early Decision I could be an option if it remains your clear first choice.
|
- Academic record documented and verified.
- Counselor confirmation of course rigor secured.
- Preliminary ED/EA plan established.
|
Month 2
(Late September – Early October) |
- Prepare for SAT retake if you plan to improve your 1360; otherwise, finalize a test-optional decision based on each school’s policy and your current score profile.
- Register for the next available SAT date (typically October or November).
- Continue refining your activity list and résumé—note any leadership or tutoring roles that demonstrate your commitment to education.
|
- Testing plan locked in (retake or test-optional).
- Registration confirmation received.
- Updated résumé ready for counselor and recommenders.
|
Month 3
(October – Early November) |
- Plan and begin a small-scale education or literacy project that can be completed within the semester. This could involve tutoring peers, organizing a reading drive, or collecting data on literacy engagement—keep it measurable and authentic to your interests.
- Document your process and early outcomes (photos, reflections, or data summaries) for future use in essays or interviews.
- Confirm all application portal accounts (Common App, school-specific portals) are active and linked to your counselor.
|
- Project launched with clear goals and early results.
- Evidence of initiative gathered for essays.
- All application systems tested and ready.
|
Month 4
(November – Early December) |
- Draft your main reflective essay connecting your tutoring experiences and interest in education policy—see §06 Essay Strategy for narrative structure and tone.
- Seek feedback from mentors, teachers, or counselors on clarity, authenticity, and voice.
- Refine your education project summary into a concise paragraph for your activities section.
|
- Essay draft completed and revised with mentor input.
- Project documentation ready for upload or inclusion.
- All materials aligned with your Education/Teaching major focus.
|
Month 5
(December – Early January) |
- Finalize recommendation requests—confirm each recommender understands your academic rigor (see counselor note) and leadership impact in tutoring or community engagement.
- Double-check that each recommender has the correct submission links and deadlines.
- Complete all remaining application sections: short answers, supplemental essays, and résumé uploads.
|
- All recommendations requested and confirmed.
- Application materials finalized and polished.
- Ready to submit before priority or regular deadlines.
|
Month 6
(January – February) |
- Submit all Regular Decision applications and verify receipt of transcripts, test scores (if applicable), and recommendations.
- Send thank-you notes to recommenders and your counselor.
- Continue tracking your education project’s outcomes for potential scholarship essays or interviews.
|
- All applications successfully submitted and confirmed.
- Professional follow-up completed with recommenders.
- Portfolio of experiences ready for scholarship or interview use.
|
Checklist Summary
- Academic Documentation: Verified by counselor by end of Month 1.
- Testing Decision: Confirmed by Month 2.
- Project Evidence: Compiled by Month 3–4.
- Essay Polishing: Completed by Month 4–5.
- Recommendations: Finalized by Month 5.
- Applications Submitted: All materials complete by Month 6.
By following this timeline, Grace Abernathy will have each application component—academic record, testing plan, project engagement, essays, and recommendations—completed in a logical sequence that maximizes quality and minimizes last-minute stress.