July 2025 Checklists

The personal statement, meaningful engagement, volunteering with intent

At a glance… 

Upcoming webinar:

“The Brainstorming Blueprint for a Personal Statement They’ll Remember”

Tuesday, July 8th at 3:00 pm EST

Hi, I’m Dani—one of the mentors here at Admissions Angle—and I’m stepping in to write this because Noelle is too humble to say it herself: she’s the personal statement whisperer.

Over the years, Noelle has helped students craft essays that earned acceptances from Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Georgetown, Dartmouth, Penn, Columbia, and many more. Helping students find their voice and shape a compelling story is truly her superpower.

Next week, she’s hosting a free webinar on one of the most challenging (and often overlooked) parts of the writing process: brainstorming. If you're hoping to write a standout personal statement, this is a session you won’t want to miss!

Office Hours:

My office hours are open to ALL subscribers this coming Thursday, July 3rd, at 3:00 PM EST. Join me in the Substack chat then!

ACT deadlines:

• August 1st registration deadline for September 6th test (no August test!)

Upcoming SAT deadlines:

• August 8th registration deadline for August 23rd test (no July test!)

• August 29th registration deadline for September 13th test

Critical topics:

• Summer plans

• Common App personal statement

• Review and reflect

9th graders

If you’re a freshman, then your jobs this month are:

• Set Your Intentions: With middle school in the rearview mirror, summer is the perfect time to think about how you want to show up in high school. Find a quiet, comfortable spot (bonus points for SPF!) and take time to reflect on your goals—both big and small—for the next four years. Write them down, and map out a plan to start working toward them.

• Get Ahead with Required Reading: If your school has assigned summer reading, now’s the time to dive in. Don’t forget to double-check with your school or program to be sure! No required books? Try exploring Barnes & Noble’s list of “16 Books Everyone Should Read Before High School” to keep your brain engaged.

• Sharpen Your Time Management Skills: High school moves fast, with assignments, projects, and activities piling up quickly. Use this summer to build habits that will help you stay organized, whether that's setting reading goals, juggling summer activities, or carving out time to relax without falling behind.

• Build Your Social Circle: Reach out to friends or future classmates for hangouts, group chats, or summer meetups. Strengthening your connections now can make the transition to high school feel a lot less intimidating and a lot more fun.

Parents of 9th graders: