News
Briefs
The latest on US college admissions and on schools in Irvine and Orange County: admissions policy, application and test deadlines, and district and school notices. Each item explains who is affected and what to do now, with a link to the original source.
- Articles
- 145
- Last updated
- November 11, 2026
- College admissions policy
- Application and test deadlines
- Essays and transfer
- District and school notices
- Private school admissions
- Aid and visas

Minnesota Early Action II Closes December 1
Early Action II at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities closes December 1 for fall 2027, with decisions by February 28. Deadlines, materials, and next steps.
Rutgers Regular Decision Closes December 1
Regular Decision at Rutgers University–New Brunswick closes December 1 for fall 2027, the same cutoff for honors and merit scholarships. Dates, materials, and next steps.

Santa Margarita Priority Deadline Nov. 15
Priority admission and tuition assistance applications for the Class of 2031 at Santa Margarita Catholic High School close November 15; decisions go out December 1.

BU Presidential Scholarship Deadline Is Dec 1
Boston University's half-tuition Presidential Scholarship requires a complete admission application by December 1, with no extra essay. Eligibility, dates, next steps.

Vanderbilt Merit Scholarships Close Dec 1
Applications for Vanderbilt's two full-tuition scholarships close December 1 and open only after the admission application is submitted. Process, numbers, and next steps.

December ACT Registration Extended to Nov 9
ACT extended early registration for the December 12 test to November 9; late registration ends November 29 with a $42 fee. Dates, fees, and who should register.

USC Performing Arts Deadline Is December 1
USC's dance, drama, and music schools take first-year applicants only by December 1, with merit scholarship review. What Irvine seniors should prepare now.

CSU Freshman Priority Filing Ends Nov. 30
The CSU priority filing period for fall 2027 ends November 30, and the fee is $70 per campus. Course and GPA rules, test score use, and what to check before submitting.

UT Austin Regular Deadline Is December 1
UT Austin's regular first-year deadline is December 1, and official SAT or ACT scores must arrive by December 10. Dates, score rules, and calculus readiness rules.

Dickinson College ED and EA Due Nov. 15
Dickinson College's Early Decision I and Early Action close November 15, and admitted ED students now receive at least $20,000 a year. Dates, materials, and aid rules.

Three OC Graduates Named Presidential Scholars
Three Orange County graduates, including one from Beckman High School in Tustin, were named 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars. How candidates are chosen and who qualifies.

December 5 SAT Registration Closes Nov. 20
Regular registration for the December 5 SAT closes November 20, with late registration through November 24. This brief covers fees, score dates, and the next test.

Union College ED and Medicine Due Nov. 15
Union College's Early Decision I and eight-year Leadership in Medicine program both close November 15. This brief covers dates, requirements, and admission numbers.

Franklin & Marshall ED I Due Nov. 15
Franklin & Marshall College closes Early Decision I on November 15, and early aid estimate materials are due November 12. This brief lists dates and requirements.

UC Continues SAT and ACT Review on Nov. 6
UC's admissions board meets November 6 to continue weighing the SAT and ACT, with a report due February 12, 2027. This brief explains the timeline by grade.

BigFuture Scholarships Close November 30
College Board's BigFuture Scholarships for the Class of 2027 end November 30; applying to college and filing the FAFSA earn entries. This brief lists remaining steps.

Holy Cross Early Decision I Due Nov. 15
College of the Holy Cross closes Early Decision I on November 15, the same day as its interview and financial aid deadlines. This brief lists dates and requirements.

Common App Direct Admissions Grows to 234
Common App Direct Admissions includes 234 colleges in 2026-27, and eligible Irvine students may get offers before applying. This brief covers eligibility and steps.

Trinity College Early Decision I Due Nov. 15
Trinity College closes Early Decision I on November 15, charges no application fee and offers one optional essay. This brief lists dates and requirements.

Pepperdine Early Deadlines Are November 1
Pepperdine University closes Early Decision and Early Action on November 1, and applicants also write a 300 to 500 word essay on faith and campus conversation.

Richmond Early Decision I Due November 1
The University of Richmond closes Early Decision I and Early Action on November 1, and applicants choose one of three prompts for a 350 to 650 word essay.

Rochester Early Decision I Due November 1
The University of Rochester closes Early Decision I on November 1 and also offers a non-binding December 1 priority scholarship deadline for Irvine seniors.

Villanova Early Deadlines Are November 1
Villanova University closes Early Action and Early Decision I on November 1, and Early Action applicants can switch to Early Decision I until November 10.

Bucknell Early Decision I Due November 1
Bucknell University closes Early Decision I on November 1, and applicants must choose one of three colleges: Arts and Sciences, Engineering or Management.

Macalester Early Decision I Due November 1
Macalester College closes Early Decision I and Early Action on November 1, and its Common App section offers two optional college-specific essays.

Bates Early Decision Due November 15
Bates College closes Early Decision I on November 15 and notifies applicants by December 20. There is no application fee and no required supplemental essay.

Colgate Early Decision I Due November 1
Colgate University closes Early Decision I on November 1 and waives the application fee for first-year applications submitted in October.

Lafayette Early Decision Due November 15
Lafayette College closes Early Decision I on November 15 with decisions in mid-December. It offers an optional 20–200 word Why Lafayette essay.

Skidmore Early Decision I Due November 1
Skidmore College closes Early Decision I on November 1 and requires no supplemental essays, so the personal statement is the only essay it reads.

Colby Early Decision Due November 15
Colby College closes Early Decision I and its financial aid deadline on November 15. The college charges no application fee and requires no writing supplement.

Haverford Early Decision Due November 15
Haverford College closes Early Decision I on November 15 and notifies applicants by December 15. The college recommends an interview and is test-optional.

Davidson Early Decision Due November 15
Davidson College closes Early Decision I on November 15 with decisions by December 12. Applicants write two supplemental essays and need a peer recommendation.

Grinnell Early Decision Due November 15
Grinnell College closes Early Decision I and the matching financial aid forms on November 15. The college charges no fee and requires no supplement.

Hamilton Early Decision I Due November 15
Hamilton College closes Early Decision I on November 15; its Supplemental Short Answer and 60-second video are optional. Dates, materials and essay advice.

Williams Early Decision Due November 15
Williams College closes Early Decision and the matching financial aid application on November 15, with decisions by December 14. The college is test-optional.

College Corps Expands to 54 Campuses
California's College Corps service program now lists 54 partner campuses, including Irvine Valley College, UC Irvine and newly added Saddleback College.

Kenyon Early Decision I Due November 15
Kenyon College closes Early Decision I on November 15 with decisions in mid-December. The college is test-optional and accepts self-reported scores.

UC Irvine Ranks No. 4 Public Best Value
UC reported on October 22 that eight campuses made The Princeton Review 2027 Best Value Colleges list, with UC Irvine fourth among public schools.

11 IUSD Schools on 2026 California Honor Roll
The 2026 California Honor Roll lists 245 Orange County schools, including 11 in Irvine Unified and Beckman High School. Here are the Irvine honorees and the method.

State Test Data Breach and Irvine Families
Student data from the past three school years was copied from a state testing contractor. Irvine families can enroll in free identity protection by March 19, 2027.

University of San Diego Early Deadlines Nov. 1
The University of San Diego moves Early Action and Early Decision I to November 1 for fall 2027 and remains test-free. Here are the four rounds and aid dates.

Vassar Early Decision I Due November 15
Vassar College closes Early Decision I on November 15. Test-optional applicants must declare by November 22 whether to include SAT or ACT scores.

LMU Early Decision and Early Action Due Nov. 1
Loyola Marymount University closes Early Decision I and Early Action on November 1, and ED I admits receive an extra $5,000 LMU scholarship.

OC Arts College and Career Event Jan. 14 at IVC
The Orange County Department of Education holds its free arts college and career event on January 14, 2027 at Irvine Valley College in Irvine.

Pitzer Early Decision I Due November 15
Pitzer College Early Decision I is due November 15, with a required writing supplement of up to 650 words. Here are the prompts, materials, and AI policy.

W&L Johnson Scholarship Essay Due December 1
Washington and Lee Early Decision I is due November 1 and the Johnson Scholarship essay December 1. Here are the five prompts, short answers, and AI policy.

Reed College ED I and EA Due November 1
Reed College ED I and Early Action are due November 1, and Reed does not use SAT or ACT scores. Here are the dates, supplement, aid estimate, and credit rules.

Swarthmore Early Decision Due November 15
Swarthmore Fall Early Decision is due November 15, with two short answers of up to 250 words. Here are the prompts, materials, and the college's AI limits.

Tulane ED Due November 1, EA November 10
Tulane University Early Decision is due November 1 and Early Action November 10, with SAT and ACT optional. Here are the round dates, materials, and aid deadlines.

U.S. News 2027 K-8 Rankings for Irvine Schools
U.S. News released its 2027 public elementary and middle school rankings on October 20, with 29 Orange County schools in California's top 100, including four in IUSD.

Study Finds College Living-Cost Estimates Vary
A Hildreth Institute study of 5,235 colleges released October 20 found wide gaps in published living-cost estimates. Here is what that means when comparing net prices.

UW–Madison Early Action Due November 1
UW–Madison Early Action is due November 1, with materials due November 9 and decisions by January 31. Here are the materials, essays, and test score rules.

ASU Guarantees Admission to California ADT Grads
Arizona State University now guarantees admission and junior standing to California community college students who complete an Associate Degree for Transfer.

Carleton Fall Early Decision Due November 15
Carleton College's Fall Early Decision is due November 15 with decisions on December 15 and no application fee, and its admissions readers share essay advice.

Case Western Early Deadlines Are November 1
Case Western Reserve University's Early Action and Early Decision I deadlines are November 1, with financial aid documents due November 15 and decisions in December.

Scripps Early Decision I Due November 15
Scripps College's Early Decision I application, interview, and aid deadlines are all November 15, with decisions in mid-December and a new aid floor from 2027-28.

Middlebury ED Due November 2, No Supplement
Middlebury College's Early Decision I deadline is November 2, and it requires no supplemental essay, so the main essay carries more weight. Dates and requirements.

Occidental Early Decision Due November 1
Occidental College's Early Decision I and Early Action deadlines are November 1, applying is free, and Early Decision admits receive at least $20,000 a year.

Santa Clara Early Deadlines Are November 1
Santa Clara University's Early Decision I and Early Action deadlines are November 1, and it offers an optional 150 to 300 word supplemental essay. Dates and materials.

Wesleyan Early Decision Due November 15
Wesleyan University's Early Decision I application and financial aid deadlines are both November 15, and aid applicants pay no application fee. Dates and materials.

Boston University Early Decision Due Nov. 2
Boston University's Early Decision deadline is November 2, with decisions December 14, and engineering applicants must have a year of calculus. Dates and rules.

Bowdoin Early Decision Due November 15
Bowdoin College's Early Decision 1 deadline is November 15, and its supplement includes two optional short essays of up to 250 words each. Prompts and dates.

Northeastern ED I and EA Due November 1
Northeastern University's Early Decision I and Early Action deadlines are November 1, and the ED early aid review form is due October 18. Dates and rules.

Wellesley Essay Capped at 400 Words
Wellesley College's Early Decision I deadline is November 1, and applicants write a 250-to-400-word Wellesley essay in addition to the personal essay.

Barnard Short Answers, Early Decision Nov. 1
Barnard College requires two short answers for 2026-27, of 50 words and 200 to 250 words, with Early Decision due November 1. Prompts, deadlines, and video.

2026 California School Dashboard Is Live
The 2026 California School Dashboard is live: 77.7% of Irvine Unified graduates were Prepared on the College/Career Indicator, versus 55.2% statewide.

Chapman Early Applications Due November 1
Chapman University in Orange County has November 1 deadlines for Early Action and Early Decision I; aid forms are due November 15. Rounds, materials, and testing.

Wake Forest ED I Due Nov. 15, Interviews Open
Wake Forest's Early Decision I deadline is November 15, and virtual interviews must be requested within five days of applying. Dates, interviews, videos, and testing.

Amherst ED Due Nov. 9, 350-Word Supplement
Amherst College's Early Decision deadline is November 9; the required supplement is a 350-word response to a quotation or a graded junior or senior paper.

IUSD 2025-26 CAASPP Results Released
California released 2025-26 CAASPP results on October 15: 74.33% of IUSD students reached Proficient or above in ELA and 70.65% in math. County and state comparison.

Purdue Early Action and Priority Due Nov. 1
Purdue's November 1 Early Action deadline is also the priority date for merit scholarships, the Honors College, engineering, and computer science. Dates and rules.

UC Irvine Transfer Open House on Oct. 28
Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College history departments take students to UC Irvine on October 28 for a class, tour, and lunch session; RSVPs close October 21.

UT Austin Early Action Materials Due Oct 22
UT Austin's Early Action supplemental materials are due October 22, and official SAT or ACT scores must arrive by the deadline. Round dates and required items.

Boston College 400-Word Essay, Due Nov 1
Boston College asks for one 400-word supplement chosen from four prompts; Early Decision I closes November 1, 2026. Prompt themes, round dates, and testing policy.

Emory's Two Short Answers, ED I Due Nov 1
Emory keeps last cycle's two short-answer questions; Early Decision I closes November 1, 2026, with decisions by December 15. Word counts, dates, and testing policy.

Georgia Tech Early Action 2 Due Nov 2
Georgia Tech Early Action 2 for out-of-state students closes November 2, 2026, with decisions in late January; an SAT or ACT is required. Dates and scholarship rules.

UVA Early Decision and Early Action Due Nov 1
UVA Early Decision and Early Action both close November 1, 2026, with decisions by December 15 and February 15. Dates, testing, recommendations, and change deadlines.

California AB 302 Bars Social Media Mandates
California AB 302, now law, bars public schools from excluding students from clubs and teams for not using social media, starting in 2027-28. What it covers.

NYU ED I Closes Nov. 1; Testing Optional
NYU's Early Decision I closes November 1, 2026, with decisions on December 15, and testing stays optional through 2027-28. Dates, materials, and ED rules.

University of Washington Due Nov. 15, One Essay
The University of Washington first-year deadline is November 15, 2026, with one Common App essay and no recommendations. Key rules for Irvine seniors.

WashU Adds Early Action, Due November 2
WashU has added an Early Action round alongside Early Decision I; both close November 2, 2026. Dates for all four rounds, the 250-word essay, and the optional video.

Claremont McKenna ED I Nov. 1; Two Essays
Claremont McKenna College's Early Decision I closes November 1, 2026, with decisions by December 15; two supplemental essays and a recommended interview. Dates and rules.

Dartmouth ED Closes Nov. 1; SAT or ACT Required
Dartmouth College's Early Decision application, aid materials, and fee are all due November 1, 2026; decisions in mid-December. Dates, materials, essays, testing rules.

Harvey Mudd ED I Closes Nov. 15; Two Essays
Harvey Mudd College's Early Decision I closes November 15, 2026, with decisions December 15; two supplemental essays plus calculus, chemistry, and physics are required.

Sage Hill Tour Oct. 19; Scores Due Jan. 31
Sage Hill School's 2027-28 application for grades 7-12 is open; ISEE or SSAT scores are due January 31, 2027, with a campus tour on October 19. Testing, events, aid.

Tufts ED I Closes Nov. 2; Two Short Answers
Tufts University's Early Decision I closes November 2, 2026, with decisions in mid-December; two short answers vary by school and testing is optional. Dates, aid rules.

THE 2027 Rankings Put Six UC Campuses in Top 100
UC reported October 12 that six campuses rank in the global top 100 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, with UC Irvine at 97. All nine ranks.

CSU Transfer Priority Filing Ends Nov. 30
CSU priority filing for fall 2027 transfer applicants ends November 30, 2026; $70 per campus. ADT admission guarantee, upper-division requirements, and next steps.

Notre Dame REA Nov. 1; Tests Required Fall 2028
Notre Dame Restrictive Early Action closes November 1, 2026. Scores stay optional this cycle; SAT or ACT is required for fall 2028 entry. Dates, essays, and rules.

Pomona Two Essays, Early Decision Due Nov. 8
Pomona College Early Decision I closes November 8, 2026, decisions by December 15. Two supplement prompts of 150 and 250 words, plus recommendation and testing rules.

Portola High Financial Aid Workshop Oct. 19
Portola High School holds a mandatory financial aid workshop for all seniors on October 19, 2026, led by Irvine Valley College, with FSA ID creation. Parent steps first.

Rice Three Essays, Early Decision Due Nov. 1
Rice University Early Decision I closes November 1, 2026, decisions by mid-December. Three supplement prompts of 150, 150, and 500 words, plus testing policy.

St. Margaret's Early Review Due Nov. 15
St. Margaret's Episcopal School early review for grades 6-12 requires an email by November 15, 2026; materials are due December 1. Both rounds, ISEE, and interviews.

Vanderbilt ED Nov. 1; Tests Required Fall 2029
Vanderbilt Early Decision I closes November 1, 2026, decisions mid-December. SAT or ACT optional for fall 2027 and 2028 entry, required from fall 2029.

Carnegie Mellon ED Due Nov. 2, Tests by College
Carnegie Mellon Early Decision for fall 2027 closes November 2, 2026, decisions December 15. Computer Science requires SAT or ACT; other colleges accept several tests.

Cornell ED Due November 1, SAT or ACT Required
Cornell Early Decision for fall 2027 closes November 1, 2026, with other materials due November 13, and SAT or ACT scores are required. Dates, colleges, materials.

Johns Hopkins Essay and ED I Due November 1
Johns Hopkins sets one 350-word supplemental essay for 2026-27, Early Decision I closes November 1, 2026, and test scores are required. Prompt, dates, and materials.

UChicago Two Essays, Early Round Due November 2
UChicago's 2026-27 supplement has a required why-UChicago essay and an extended essay chosen from six options. Early Decision I and Early Action close November 2, 2026.

Brown Essays, Early Decision Due Nov. 1
Brown requires four school-specific essays for 2026-27; Early Decision closes November 1 and SAT or ACT scores are required. Word limits, recommendations, binding terms.

California Eases CalFresh for College Students
California says undergraduates in degree programs at community colleges, CSU, or UC now meet initial CalFresh requirements, up to $306 a month. Who qualifies and how.

Northwestern Early Decision Due November 1
Northwestern Early Decision for fall 2027 closes November 1, 2026, with one required supplement and no personal essay. Dates, recommendations, and testing explained.

Caltech REA Closes November 1, Five Essays
Caltech REA closes November 1; materials are due November 6 and testing by November 30. This brief covers the five STEM essays, the AI rules and the UC exception.

DHS Proposes $70,000 Fee per Student for OPT
A DHS proposed rule would charge schools $70,000 before recommending an F-1 student for initial OPT and $30,000 for each later OPT; comments are due November 9.

How UC Reads Applications, Fall 2026 Numbers
UC republished its account of how applications are read, with Fall 2026 data such as 205,431 first-year applicants. It covers review models, readers and PIQ rules.

Half of UC In-State Undergrads Pay No Tuition
UC published ten financial aid facts on October 7: 52 percent of California undergraduates pay no tuition and the average grant is $24,000. This brief lists them.

Columbia Early Decision Due November 1
Columbia Early Decision closes November 1; testing is optional this cycle and required again next cycle. This brief covers deadlines, binding terms, and supplements.

Duke Early Decision Due November 2
Duke Early Decision closes November 2; the last usable ACT is October 17 and SAT November 7. This brief lists the Early Decision dates and essay rules.

Harvard Short Answers Set, REA Due November 1
Harvard requires five 150-word short answers for 2026-27, and Restrictive Early Action closes November 1. This brief lists the prompts, testing rules, and early limits.

Penn's Three Supplements, ED Due November 1
Penn requires three supplemental prompts for 2026-27, and Early Decision closes November 1. This brief lists the prompts, word limits, testing rules, and aid deadlines.

Crean Lutheran First Round Due November 20
Irvine's Crean Lutheran High School closes first-round materials November 20 and sends first acceptances December 4. This brief lists documents and aid dates.

Georgetown Early Action Closes November 1
Georgetown's non-binding Early Action closes November 1, with alumni interviews assigned after Part 1. This brief lists the timeline, essays, and testing rules.

Oxford Academy Applications Close November 3
Oxford Academy's 2027-28 seventh-grade application closes November 3 at 3:00 p.m. with no late entries. This brief lists seats, documents, and test dates.

Yale Essay Prompts Out, SCEA Due November 1
Yale has published its 2026-27 supplemental essay prompts, and Single-Choice Early Action closes November 1. This brief lists each prompt and its length limit.

Michigan ED and EA Close November 1
The University of Michigan offers Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision, with both early plans due November 1. This brief lists decision and aid dates.

Princeton Essays Out, Early Action Due Nov. 1
Princeton released its 2026-27 essay questions; early action applications and the required graded written paper are due November 1. Prompts, word limits, and paper rules.

Saddleback College Transfer Fair October 7
Saddleback College holds its fall transfer university fair on October 7, followed by a UC transfer admissions panel. Events, reservations, and the UC deadline.

USC Early Decision and Action Close Nov. 1
USC lists binding Early Decision and non-binding Early Action for most majors, both due November 1. This brief covers the differences and financial aid dates.

Irvine Valley College Fall College Fair Nov. 3
The Irvine Valley College Transfer Center set its fall college fair for November 3 and scheduled October UC and CSU workshops ahead of the November 30 deadline.

OCSA 2027-28 Applications Close December 30
Orange County School of the Arts opened 2027-28 applications, due December 30, with the next Preview Day on November 7. Dates for placement activities and the lottery.

UChicago 2026-27 Essays, Early Due November 2
UChicago released its 2026-27 supplemental essays: a required Why UChicago question and a choice of six extended prompts. ED I and Early Action close November 2.

Illinois Early Action Closes November 1
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign set a November 1 non-binding early action deadline, with required materials due by November 7 and decisions on January 29.

SSAT November 14 Late Fee Begins October 25
For the November 14 paper SSAT, a $59 late fee starts October 25 and a $100 rush fee November 1. Dates, levels, and registration steps for Irvine families.

Stanford REA With Arts Portfolio Due October 15
Stanford's standard Restrictive Early Action deadline is November 1, but applicants adding an Optional Arts Portfolio must submit the Common App by October 15.

UC Irvine Fall 2026 Admit Rate Was 30.3%
UC's preliminary fall 2026 first-year data show a 30.3% admit rate at UC Irvine and a middle GPA range of 4.06 to 4.27, with comparisons across seven campuses.

UC Transfer Filing Period Opens October 1
UC's fall 2027 transfer application filing period runs October 1 to November 30. Basic requirements and later dates for Orange County community college students.

MIT Early Action Closes November 1; Eight Essays
MIT's 2026-27 application asks for four 100-to-200-word essays, four short responses, and four activities; Early Action closes November 1. Prompts and required materials.

Four OC Catholic High Schools Hold October Open Houses
JSerra, Servite, Santa Margarita, and Rosary hold open houses October 5 to 19, with the first application deadline November 1. Dates and HSPT schedule for each school.

OCDE Launches Bilingual Family Education Podcast
OCDE and the Orange County Business Council launched a 10-episode podcast in English and Spanish on October 1 covering college preparation and financial aid.

Public Universities With October 15 Early Deadlines
Common App's grid, updated September 25, shows UNC Chapel Hill, Florida State, and Georgia Tech closing early applications October 15. The list and residency limits.

CSS Profile Opens; Early Deadlines in November
The 2027-28 CSS Profile opened October 1, and USC and Stanford ask early applicants to file in November. Fee waiver rules, both deadlines, and documents to prepare.

California Class of 2026 SAT Average Is 1108
College Board's Class of 2026 SAT report puts California's average at 1108, 63 points above the nation. Key figures and how Irvine applicants can use them.

Common App Keeps Its Seven Essay Prompts
Common App keeps last year's seven essay prompts for 2026-27; the open topic was last season's top choice. The prompts and a drafting order for Irvine early applicants.

Early Deadlines Split Between November 1 and 2
November 1, 2026 is a Sunday, and the Common App grid updated September 25 puts some early deadlines on November 2. Dates for colleges Irvine students often apply to.

UC Clears Up Eight Common Admissions Myths
On September 21 the University of California addressed eight admissions myths, including whether campuses share results and whether aid applications affect admission.

UC PIQs Remain Four of Eight, 350 Words Each
UC applications open for submission October 1; applicants still answer four of eight personal insight questions, up to 350 words each, and Irvine seniors should plan now.

December ACT Registration Closes November 6
The last national ACT of the year is December 12; regular registration closes November 6 and late registration runs to November 29. Dates, fees, and who should test.

CSU Applications Open for Submission October 1
CSU applications for fall 2027 open for submission October 1, with priority filing through November 30 and a $70 fee per campus. Timing and next steps for Irvine seniors.

IUSD College and Career Fair Is on October 5
The 2026 IUSD College and Career Fair is on the evening of October 5 in the Portola High School gym. What the event covers, who should attend, and how to prepare.

UC TAG Applications Close September 30
The UC Transfer Admission Guarantee at six campuses closes September 30, and UC Irvine requires a 3.4 GPA; this brief covers shared terms, major limits, and next steps.

FAFSA Is Open, California Deadline Is March 2
The 2027-28 FAFSA is now open. Most California state aid programs and the Cal Grant use a March 2, 2027 deadline. Key dates and preparation steps for Irvine families.

Four AP Courses Have Deadlines Before Exam Week
The AP Art and Design portfolio is due May 7, and Computer Science Principles, Seminar and Research, and World Languages tasks are due April 30, all before May exams.

ISEE Once per Season, SSAT Several Times a Year
The ISEE allows one attempt per fall, winter, and spring/summer season, three a year at most; the SSAT testing year runs August 1 to July 31 with more paper attempts.

UC Applications Close November 30
UC fall 2027 applications opened August 1 and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on November 30, the only filing window for Irvine seniors.

USACO Holds Four Contests, First in January
USACO runs four online contests a year; in 2025-26 three fell in January and February, with a proctored US Open in March, so Irvine students should prepare by December.

November 7 SAT Registration Closes October 23
Registration for the two remaining fall SAT dates closes October 23 and November 20, each with a four-day late window. Also listed: the November 13 AP ordering deadline.

Sources
All boards
Irvine Admissions Weekly
Subscribe to the EDUBUS Irvine Admissions Weekly
One email a week that rounds up the admissions news EDUBUS published that week: college application deadlines, standardized testing dates, and Irvine district updates. Every article links to its official sources.
A Free 30-Minute Planning Call to See Your Child’s Next Step
Share the grade and the goal. An Irvine-based counselor reaches out within one business day with a first, actionable growth and admissions plan. Direction first, courses later.
Scan to reach a counselor on WeChatHotline: (949) 383-4877WeChatEDUBUSerCopy the ID and add a counselor in WeChat







