Monthly Action Plan

05 Monthly Action Plan

This calendar focuses on the remaining months before application deadlines. Each step is designed to strengthen how your academic preparation and literacy‑focused work are presented to Vanderbilt University, The University of Tennessee–Knoxville, and Belmont University. Several steps reference other sections of the plan for execution details.

Month Priority Actions Target Outcome
May
  • Begin structured SAT or ACT preparation and evaluate whether a realistic improvement beyond your current 1360 SAT is achievable within the available testing dates.
  • Outline a plan to expand your literacy tutoring initiative over the summer by identifying nearby elementary schools or community organizations that could partner with your program.
  • Create a simple system for tracking participation and outcomes (student attendance, tutoring hours, reading progress) that can be used throughout the summer.
 Testing strategy decided and tutoring program expansion plan ready before summer begins.
June
  • Continue focused SAT/ACT preparation; schedule a summer test date if your early practice scores indicate meaningful improvement is possible.
  • Begin outreach to potential partner elementary schools, literacy organizations, or school contacts to support the expansion of the tutoring initiative.
  • Recruit additional high school volunteers who can assist with tutoring sessions so the program can serve more students.
 Testing timeline locked and the tutoring initiative actively expanding with additional volunteers.
July
  • Run tutoring sessions consistently and track measurable outcomes such as number of students served, tutoring hours, and observed reading progress.
  • Continue SAT/ACT preparation and complete at least one full-length practice test under timed conditions.
  • Begin a preliminary list of teachers, counselors, or supervisors who could later validate the literacy initiative or write recommendation letters.
 Strong mid‑summer progress on tutoring outcomes and clearer understanding of potential test improvement.
August
  • Collect concrete results from the tutoring initiative: number of students served, frequency of sessions, and any reading‑level improvements or qualitative progress.
  • Ask participating teachers or school staff to provide brief written confirmation of the program and its impact.
  • Finalize testing decisions and complete your last planned SAT or ACT attempt if improvement remains realistic.
 Documented evidence of tutoring impact ready to include in your activities list and recommendation materials.
September
  • Assemble academic context materials: transcript copies, available school profile information, and documentation showing the most rigorous courses you have taken at your high school.
  • Formally request letters of recommendation from teachers and provide them with a short summary of your academic interests and tutoring initiative.
  • Begin preparing application materials and essays (see §06 Essay Strategy for structure and narrative focus).
 Recommendation letters requested early and academic context organized for applications.
October
  • Complete first full drafts of all required essays for Vanderbilt, UT Knoxville, and Belmont (see §06 Essay Strategy).
  • Compile clear evidence describing your leadership in the tutoring initiative, including participation numbers and teacher validation collected over the summer.
  • Finalize your Early Decision / Early Action strategy and prepare any early applications for submission.
 Early application materials nearly complete and leadership impact clearly documented.
November
  • Submit any Early Decision or Early Action applications by the required deadlines.
  • Review remaining applications to ensure that activities descriptions clearly highlight leadership, tutoring program scale, and classroom engagement.
  • Confirm that recommendation letters and transcripts have been sent successfully.
 Early applications submitted and remaining applications fully prepared.
December
  • Submit all remaining Regular Decision applications if any are still pending.
  • Verify that application portals show all materials received, including recommendations and test scores.
  • Prepare short updates describing the tutoring initiative’s final impact in case schools allow mid‑year updates.
 All applications submitted and application files complete.
January (if applicable)
  • Send any mid‑year academic updates required by your colleges.
  • Provide optional updates highlighting final tutoring participation numbers or additional teacher validation.
  • Monitor application portals and respond quickly to any requests for additional information.
 Colleges receive the most current academic and leadership information before review concludes.

Grace, the key goal of this timeline is disciplined execution. By documenting the scale and outcomes of your literacy tutoring initiative, organizing academic context early, and evaluating whether a late test improvement is realistic, you ensure that admissions readers clearly see both your preparation for college and your commitment to education.

Testing Strategy →