An empty spreadsheet form headed Collage Requirements Tracker with sections for required tests, recommendations, skills and certificates, each a table of goals

Planning systemPart 1 of 2Drawing 10.1 of 37

The plan

The plan has one number on the front sheet and the three year timeline under it. It's eighteen sheets, 287 formulas and a set of macros.

StatusBuilt and used, 2019 to 2021, last version 10.0
SizeTwo workbooks, 40 sheets, about 300 formulas, plus macros
SpanA plan running from eighth grade to twelfth, 2020 to 2025
Built inExcel, no code beyond what the spreadsheet gives you

Sheet 02 of 03/Shape

How it's put together

Every goal on the front page rolls up into one percentage. Each area breaks down into smaller pieces under it, like the SAT, which splits into math, math with a calculator, English and writing.

A wide spreadsheet calendar covering 2021 to 2023 month by month, with scattered days highlighted in orange and a few in blue and magenta — *PL 04*Three school years laid out day by day, with the deadline days marked in orange.

Sheet 03 of 03/Program

Written for more than one person

It's written in third person all the way through, with lines like "skills that parents and advisor want students to learn." The timeline also runs two birth-year groups, tagged 2006 and 2007, side by side on the same lanes.

A Gantt style spreadsheet timeline with year and grade header rows and coloured horizontal lanes for each long running commitment. Two lanes have had names painted out — *PL 02*The plan runs from 2020 to 2025, eighth grade to twelfth, with a lane for each commitment: tests, internships, Congressional Award, science fairs, rocketry, TEDx and college applications.