Tom is right. There is no set pattern. At our house colleges sent letters every week and never called, called a few times over the summer, or called every week like clock work. some colleges sent no letters at all and never called, called a few times over the summer, or called every week like clock work. Some sent emails, some started recruiting in the fall, som in the summer. Some sent Chrismas cards two years in a row.
There was no set pattern. I think the first letter Jr. got from the school he signed with was regarding the official visit in September.