Your November Guide to College Admissions

Welcome to this month’s edition of College Admission Secrets, your go-to resource for navigating the college admissions journey with clarity and confidence.

In this issue:

• 💭 Coach Tony’s Thoughts – November is Critical for Deadlines

• 📅 Monthly Action Plan – What every grade level should focus on this month

• ❓ Parent Question of the Month – How early should freshmen and sophomores really start planning?

• 🏫 Insider College Spotlight – UC Davis

• 💰 Scholarship of the Month – UC San Diego Chancellor’s Scholarships for Entering First-Year

• 🔥 Quick Admissions Tip – Top Takeaways from This Year’s UC Counselors Conference

• 🎯 Hidden Opportunity – How to Start Your First Online Business: In-Depth Checklist

No matter where your student is in the process, we are here to help. Let’s dive in!

💭 COACH TONY’S THOUGHTS

November is Critical for Deadlines

November is one of the most critical months in the entire college process. Every decision made this month shapes the final outcomes for seniors and sets the foundation for juniors entering their admissions year. Most families underestimate how much happens between November 1 and November 30 — but this is where focus and follow-through truly separate strong applicants from the rest.

For Seniors:
This is deadline month. Most Early Action and Early Decision schools close on November 1 or November 15, and all UC and CSU campuses close on November 30 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Every essay, activity description, and transcript needs to be reviewed with fresh eyes before submission. Once applications are in, students must check their portals weekly to confirm materials are marked as “received.” It’s also the right moment to begin scholarship season — many national and private awards open in late fall, and reusing PIQs or supplemental essays can save hours later. After submission, the focus shifts to first semester grades and preparing for early results. A deferral or denial is not the end of the road — what matters is having a clear Regular Decision plan ready before December.

For Juniors:
This is the month to move from exploration to strategy. PSAT results release soon, giving a snapshot of where to focus for spring SAT or ACT testing. Juniors should set their first test date, usually March or May, and begin light weekly prep tied to their math and reading skills. This is also the time to review coursework and plan for next year’s schedule. Colleges evaluate rigor in context — which means students should choose honors, AP, or dual enrollment classes that align with their intended major and still allow them to perform well. Families who start building a balanced testing and course plan now will have a much smoother admissions year ahead.

📅 MONTHLY ACTION PLAN

Month of November

9th Grade

• Review your first quarter grades and talk with teachers about how to raise them before the semester closes.

• Stay consistent with your main activities as the school year gets busier and clubs begin major projects.

• Start thinking about which subjects you enjoy most and how they might connect to possible majors later on.

• Use Thanksgiving break to catch up on assignments or start planning small community or creative projects.

• Explore local volunteering or enrichment opportunities you could join over winter break to build experience.

10th Grade

• Check your progress in each class and meet with teachers before finals to clarify any difficult concepts.

• Strengthen involvement in your top two activities and look for ways to take initiative or lead a project.

• Research summer programs that open applications in December or January and note early deadlines.

• Talk with your counselor about next semester’s classes to ensure you are building toward honors or AP level courses.

• Use this quieter month to read, explore new interests, and build academic habits that will help in junior year.

11th Grade

• Review PSAT results and identify specific topics to strengthen before spring SAT or ACT testing.

• Register for your first official SAT or ACT and begin regular practice using free online resources or practice tests.

• Attend virtual college panels or information nights hosted by your school to learn about majors and admissions trends.

• Narrow your college list and begin saving links, deadlines, and requirements for each school.

• Explore summer research, internship, or pre-college opportunities related to your intended major before applications open next month.

• Keep grades steady as first semester performance carries significant weight in college applications.

12th Grade

• Submit all UC and CSU applications by November 30 at 11:59 PM Pacific and save confirmation receipts for each.

• Verify that recommendation letters, transcripts, and test scores (if required) have been received by your colleges.

• Double-check every essay and activities section to make sure details are accurate, specific, and free of repetition.

• Begin applying for scholarships now that application writing is complete, focusing on those with November and December deadlines.

• Continue earning strong grades to protect your midyear report, which colleges review before final decisions.

• Prepare mentally for early results in December and use Thanksgiving break to update your Regular Decision plan if needed.

❓ PARENT QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Do sophomores and freshmen really need to worry about college planning this early, or should they just focus on schoolwork?

The short answer is that they should focus on schoolwork — but with awareness. Ninth and tenth grade are not about creating a college list or writing essays yet, but they are about building the habits and choices that will matter later. Grades from these years shape the GPA colleges review, and the level of rigor students take early on affects what courses they can access junior and senior year. Each semester is an opportunity to build a solid academic foundation that keeps future options open.

Outside of academics, this is also the time to explore. Colleges look for students who show depth, not just activity. Joining clubs, volunteering, or pursuing hobbies allows students to discover what feels meaningful. Those early experiences become the building blocks of a clear and authentic application story down the line.

Bottom Line:
Freshman and sophomore year should feel like discovery, not pressure. The most successful students focus on strong grades, consistency in activities, and curiosity about the world around them. Families who guide rather than push at this stage set their students up for a confident, purpose-driven junior year when college preparation truly begins.

📢 INSIDER COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT

Insider College Spotlight: UC Davis

Located in Northern California near Sacramento, UC Davis offers a mix of small-town community and major research university resources. The campus is known for its open green spaces, strong biking culture, and a welcoming student environment. With over 30,000 undergraduates, Davis provides a large university experience with a collaborative and down-to-earth feel.

Why Consider UC Davis?

• Big-Campus Feel, Close-Knit Community
  At UC Davis, students experience the resources of a major research university while still feeling part of a connected community. Professors are approachable, class discussions are collaborative, and the campus encourages genuine relationships between students and faculty. The university’s bike-friendly design and small-town setting make it easy to build balance between academics and personal life.

• Strong Academics with a Purpose
  UC Davis stands out for its top-ranked programs in biological sciences, engineering, and environmental studies. Students can dive into research, fieldwork, and hands-on learning early in their college journey. The campus is especially well known for pre-med, veterinary, and sustainability pathways, where students gain direct experience solving real-world problems before graduation.

• Collaborative and Inclusive Environment
  Davis is known for its friendly, down-to-earth culture where students help one another rather than compete. The campus community values inclusion, sustainability, and well-being. Support centers, mentorship programs, and student organizations focused on diversity and belonging make it an especially welcoming environment for first-generation and underrepresented students.

• Research and Real Experience
  With one of the largest undergraduate research networks in the UC system, UC Davis encourages students to get involved in labs, design projects, or community-based initiatives from their first year. Whether studying climate impact, human health, or agricultural innovation, students work directly with professors on projects that create measurable impact.

• What Students Should Know Before Applying
  UC Davis values curiosity, consistency, and initiative. Admissions readers look for students who challenge themselves with rigorous coursework, show upward grade trends, and use their time meaningfully outside of class. Commitment to learning and community involvement are just as important as perfect grades.

• Why UC Davis Might Be a Great Fit
  If you want a strong academic environment with a sense of balance, UC Davis is a perfect fit. It’s ideal for students who learn best through experience, care about collaboration over competition, and want a campus where they can grow both academically and personally.

💰 SCHOLARSHIP OF THE MONTH

Each month, we handpick a favorite scholarship that is currently accepting applications. Here is this month’s scholarship:

UC San Diego Chancellor's Scholarships for Entering First-Year

Award Amount: Up to $5,000 per year for four years (maximum of $20,000 total), plus guaranteed housing, priority enrollment, and personalized study-abroad advising.

Deadline: November 30, 2025 (UC application deadline)

Eligibility: Open to entering first-year California residents who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or California Dream Act students. Recipients must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, financial need, and strength across academics, personal statements, and community involvement.

🔥 QUICK ADMISSIONS TIP

Top Takeaways from This Year's UC Counselors Conference

As the UC and CSU deadlines approach, many families focus only on finishing applications, but what actually determines success in November is alignment. In our UC Application Strategy training, we showed how UC readers evaluate the whole picture — the connection between academics, activities, and Personal Insight Questions. They look for depth, direction, and evidence of growth, not perfection. Every part of the application should reinforce the same message about who the student is becoming. That’s why the final review this month should go beyond grammar or word count. Students should read each section aloud, look for repeated phrases or filler, and ask themselves whether the details in their essays and activities truly support their intended major and academic story.

What separates strong applications from average ones at this stage is intentional revision. UC readers don’t expect polished writing; they expect honest reflection and clear motivation. A student who takes the time to refine their PIQs, update activity descriptions with impact, and check for consistent themes will leave a stronger impression than one who adds last-minute awards or edits for style alone. The final weeks of November are about clarity and cohesion — making sure your student’s application feels like one continuous story rather than separate parts stitched together.

Bottom Line: The best UC applications aren’t about doing more; they’re about doing it right. When every essay, activity, and achievement works together to highlight purpose and growth, the reader sees a clear, confident student ready for the next level.

🎯 HIDDEN OPPORTUNITY OF THE MONTH

How to Start Your First Online Business: In-Depth Checklist

Most students don’t realize how valuable a self-initiated online business can be for college admissions. This in-depth checklist walks students step-by-step through how to turn an idea into a real product, from defining a purpose to building, launching, and marketing it. It highlights how online projects demonstrate initiative, creativity, and real-world skills — qualities colleges love to see. Families can use it to help students brainstorm, validate ideas, and showcase impact on future applications.

ONE QUICK FAVOR

Help Us Make This Newsletter Better

We're committed to making every Tuesday newsletter valuable for your family's college journey. Take a second to let us know how we did - your feedback helps us deliver the content you need most!

P.S. We read every reply! Have a burning college admissions question or topic you'd like us to cover?

Hit reply and let us know - we're here to help your family's college journey succeed.