A-QuEST GANTT CHART (EARLY & GENEROUS COLLEGES)

aquest
Dec 6, 2025
3 min read

Dear Doclings & Parents/Sponsors of Y41 Cohort,

I hope this finds you well and in high spirits despite the passing (re)birth-pains of Cat. 5 Hurricane Melissa.

Here is the brand-new Gantt Chart that I promised during this past week’s Family Consultations. Please ensure that you make a copy and share its information as legally permitted with your household and, where prudent, with your guidance counsellors and recommenders. This will help to keep everyone on time and working in coherent partnership.

For granular detail, background, and general reference, you may continue to keep the proven attached A-Q Checklist at hand for your personal use. However, this Gantt Chart now supersedes it for the management of your entire Application Project, as it explicitly incorporates the scheduling realities created by the pre-, actual, and post-Hurricane Melissa disruptions to Jamaica’s institutions for the foreseeable future.

Live wisely in our world, and adjust deftly as you interact with the worlds outside—where colleges and Mr T, Mrs K, Mr Z, Miss N, and the many other decision-makers reside, work, and may significantly influence your hopes, dreams, and legitimate educational aspirations to the North, South, East, and West of this Rock.

A-QuEST GANTT CHART

(Re: EARLY & GENEROUS COLLEGES)

by Dennis A Minott, PhD

Application Window: Early January → Early February

Cycle: September → February (Post-Melissa Adjusted)

TASK / MONTH SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB

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0. Finalise selecting those MOOCs, Q S H is key Q S H is key Q S H is key

0. Finish MOOCs Finish MOOCs Finish MOOCs Finish MOOCs Finish MOOCs Finish MOOCs Finish MOOCs Finish MOOCs

1. Expand College List (30+10→15) ████████ ███████

2. Finalise Early & Generous List ████████

3. Personal Statement: Draft 1–6 ████████ ███████████ ███████

4. Supplements (8–20 essays) ████████ █████████████████

5. Request Faculty Recommendations ██████ ███

6. Transcript + Concordance #2 ██████ ████ ████

7. Family Consultation #1 █████

8. ISFAA/CSS: Data Gathering █████████

9. ISFAA/CSS: Finalisation ████████ ████

10. ACT/SAT Final Sitting (optional) ███████ ███

11. Order Score Reports ████

12. A-QuEST Essay Reviews ███████ ███████████████████

13. Uploads: Resume, Essays, Docs ███████████

14. APPLICATION SUBMISSION

(Jan 5 → Feb 7) ███████████████████

15. Financial Aid Chasing ████████████

NOTES (A-QuEST Standards & Expectations)

1. September–October: Build the Foundation

Finalise selecting those MOOCs, Q S H is key
Expand college list widely (LAC+USA+Far East) before tightening.
Draft early versions of Personal Statement.
Secure transcripts, CSEC/CAPE records, and Concordance documentation.
Begin Recommendation choreography.

2. November–December: The Writing Season

Heavy drafting and redrafting of PS + 8–20 supplements.
ISFAA/CSS Profile preparation with parents.
WHIFF and Concordance reviews with A-QuEST.
Begin earliest uploads to CommonApp or direct portals.

3. January–Early February: Submission Season

Submit all applications between 5 January and 7 February.
Submit ISFAA/CSS Profile early in the window.
Upload all final recommendations, transcripts, and financial docs.
A-QuEST conducts final essay checks and portal scans.

4. February–April: Financial Aid & Decision Season

Follow-up with Financial Aid Offices.
Explain Melissa-related transcript or timing delays if necessary.
Prepare for interviews.
Decision responses expected mid-March → early April.

INTERPRETATION FOR DOCLINGS

Bars (████) show effort intensity, not perfection.
Tasks overlap intentionally, reflecting A-QuEST’s proven pace.
January is non-negotiable peak season.
Melissa delays are already absorbed in the structure.
The plan is written for those requiring generous financial aid—my target cohort.