This is a private space. Please enter the password to continue.
This is your launching pad for getting into college, winning scholarships, and figuring out the golf recruiting side. Bookmark this page.
You are 17 months away from graduation and roughly 5 months away from the single biggest deadline of your high school career. Let's make this run.
A note: this page is a starting point, not the whole map. It's curated to get you moving. Use it alongside your school counselor, mentors, and your own research. Things change. Stay curious.
From right now to your first day of college. Every milestone is here. Don't skip ahead, but don't lose track either.
The 2026-2027 application cycle officially begins. All your drafted essay work carries over.
First real deadline of your senior year.
Six schools due same day: UVA, Virginia Tech, University of Florida, JMU, George Mason, Stetson ED. Plan everything backward from this date.
UVA ED by Dec 15. Most EA by mid-February. File FAFSA in October for financial aid.
UVA RD (Jan 5). VT, UF, VCU, JMU, CU Boulder RD (Jan 15).
Compare admits, financial aid offers, scholarship awards.
Commit to one school. Submit enrollment deposit.
Welcome to year one.
Check items off as you complete them. Your progress saves automatically on this device.
It's optional at most of your schools, but a strong score unlocks scholarships and tips reach schools in your favor.
| Test Date | Register By | Late Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2026 | Aug 7, 2026 | Aug 11, 2026 |
| Sept 12, 2026 | Aug 28, 2026 | Sept 1, 2026 |
Visit collegeboard.org for the full schedule including spring/summer 2026 dates. Aug or Sept 2026 are your last chances before Nov 1 deadlines.
30-60 minutes of Khan Academy SAT prep, 4 days a week, beats a single weekend cram. Consistency wins this game.
Every school on your list accepts the Common App. That means one form, one essay, one set of recommenders, ten applications.
Create your account →Personal info, family info, demographics, school details, GPA, classes, and honors. This is the data dump. Knock it out in one sitting.
List up to 10 activities ranked by importance. Golf goes here, prominently. Also include leadership roles, jobs, volunteer work, hobbies that matter.
Tip: Quality > quantity. 5 well-described activities beat 10 vague ones. Use action verbs and specific numbers (hours, wins, dollars raised, people impacted).
The single most important part of your application. You pick one of 7 prompts. This one essay goes to every school you apply to via Common App.
The 7 prompts cover:
The truth: The essay isn't about the topic. It's about who YOU are. Admissions officers already see your grades and scores. The essay is the only place they hear your voice.
You'll invite 2 teachers + 1 counselor through the Common App platform. They submit recommendations directly. Ask before school ends in June 2026 so they have summer to write.
Most schools have additional short essays. UVA has a few short answers. Virginia Tech has 4 required personal statements, so plan extra time.
$30-$85 per school. Fee waivers available based on FAFSA. Submit by the deadline for each school. After submitting, you'll get an applicant portal email within 24-48 hours from each school.
All accept the Common App. One application, one essay, all ten schools. Each one is worth exploring on your own.
A three-year residential Islamic seminary* in Macungie, Pennsylvania. Rooted in the three pillars: knowledge, devotion, and service. A path worth knowing.
The full-time Seminary runs three years*, moving students from foundational literacy in the Islamic sciences and Arabic language into classical text-based study and, finally, into practical training for community service.
Arabic reading proficiency, basic speaking and listening skills, and the study habits serious learning requires. By year's end, a student can recite the Quran, read voweled Arabic texts, and explain the individual obligations (farḍ ʿayn) of the religion.
Arabic grammar deepens, texts are read without vowels. Fiqh study through primary texts in either the Shāfiʿī or Ḥanafī school. Training in Quranic recitation with tajwīd. First practical service: teaching the essentials of Imān, Islām, Iḥsān and delivering a Friday khuṭba.
Classical Arabic texts across the Islamic sciences. Advanced study of tafsīr, sīra, ʿaqīda, and hadith. Hands-on training to serve their communities: teaching, conducting nikāḥ, overseeing funeral rites, and establishing gatherings of remembrance.
* Details above are for Al-Maqasid’s three-year seminary. They are also developing a gap program — more details to come.
"Dedicated to knowledge, devotion, and service as a way of life. Disciplined in managing a demanding academic schedule. Active in congregational prayer and gatherings of remembrance. Serious about sacred knowledge, committed to the spiritual path, and prepared to give the program full attention."
Print this. Tape it to your wall. Set reminders for two weeks before each.
Over $100 million in scholarship funds go unawarded every year. Spend an hour a week on this and you'll graduate with less debt.
Opens October 1, 2026. File it even if you think you won't qualify. It unlocks federal aid AND is required for most merit scholarships.
studentaid.gov →Create a profile on 2-3 of these. They'll match you to thousands of opportunities.
Low odds, but 5 minutes to enter. Apply once a month minimum. Total monthly time: 30 min. Potential: thousands.
Smaller pools = better odds. Your in-state residency matters.
If college golf is on the table, this section is non-negotiable. The recruiting timeline runs ahead of regular admissions.
If you want to play D1 or D2 golf, this is required before a coach can officially recruit you. Do it before junior year ends. Costs ~$100. Fee waivers available if FAFSA-eligible.
eligibilitycenter.org →Full-ride golf scholarships are extremely rare. Most successful college golfers get a partial athletic scholarship stacked with academic merit aid. Strong grades + test scores = more total money.
Virginia State Golf Association scholarship for VA high school seniors with an interest in golf. Ability not required, but participation in VSGA Junior Circuit helps. Awards require attending a Virginia college (UVA, VT, JMU, GMU, VCU all qualify).
Helps families afford to compete in AJGA tournaments ($300-600 each). Covers entry fees and travel. To date: 1,784 junior golfers awarded, $14.8M in college scholarships earned by ACE Grant graduates.
ajga.org →Need + merit-based scholarships up to $5,000 per year for First Tee alumni. If you haven't participated yet, look up First Tee – Greater Washington DC.
firstteedc.org →Based on what successful Virginia recruits play. Multi-day events count for national rankings.
What every coach you email needs to receive. Keep it tight, professional, and personalized to their program.
Every URL referenced on this page, sorted by category. Bookmark what you need.
"Haleem, you've got everything you need to make this happen. The work is laid out. The dates are clear. All that's left is the showing up. Day by day."
Built with love for you.
— Dad