Take any SAT II exams you need in November. Check your schools of interest to see their requirements for the last date you may take the tests.

Oh, and, BTW, you do not have to have your SATs completed before you submit your college applications, just by the deadlines required by your colleges of interest.

Visit campuses of interest to you. For a reach school, however, that is far away, apply first, and if you are accepted, then spend the time and money for a visit.

Be thinking about filling out college applications, and writing the Application essays.

Print out paper copies of all your applications so you can practice filling them out, figuring out what goes where, and deciding how to prioritize activities, while you can shuffle the pages around.

Submit online, ahead of the deadline, if possible.

Glance over our list of essay topics so you can be thinking about them and making notes in your Brag Book about possible essays for your college applications.

Where are the applications?

When are they available?

When are they due?

By now you should be familiar with the websites of schools that are of interest to you. This familiarity should include information about college applications and related requirements. Register and sign up on their web sites. This is important. Oh, and, use an adult sounding email address. Hawaii Surfer Dude is not an adult email address.

Don't choose a school because of its name or designer-label reputation, look for schools where you will feel you belong, that your family can afford, and that offer possibilities that are important to you.

Fine arts majors, may be required to apply first to the school, and then to the college or department of his or her interest. That second portion of the process may include a video or other portfolio items related to the student's talent.

Athletes may been communicating with a particular coach (good idea) who will require videos, CDs, or DVDs of the student's activity in that sport.

APPLY: Admissions Web Sites for all Public Colleges and Universities in the United States

Private Schools: The Common Application may also require that the student fill out their "Supplementary Form". Make a list of your "reach schools", "sure thing" schools, and safety net" schools.

The Common Application is used by almost 600 colleges and universities; most, (but not all, such as The University of Michigan for fall 2011) are private institutions,

This application makes it easier for you to apply to multiple schools, since you will fill out one college application, write one essay, and then designate which schools are to receive your application.

All this information will be available at the Common App site by mid-July for the 2010-2011 applications.

We have information about the Common Application essay requirements on our Application Essays pages and on Common Essay Topics

Depending on your grades, athletic ability, or talents in some area such as drama, music, or other fine arts, you may be contacted by schools who have learned of you and your skills. Stay in touch via email with your contact. And if a school seems particularly interested in you, ask your contact the department's process for your college application College Interviews

Here's an exchange heard frequently in house-hold across the United States and Canada:

Parent: "How was school today?"

HS Senior: OK."

Parent: "How are your applications coming?"

HS Student: "OK."

Parent: "How are your essays coming?"

HS Senior: "OK."

Parent: "What about your teacher recommendations?"

HS Senior: "OK."

Parent: "Did you have your transcripts and scores sent?"

HS Senior: "Not yet."

Parent: "Did you talk to your counselor today?"

HS Senior: "Can we talk about something else already?"

Ways to Avoid the inevitable parent-student friction:

There's nothing like the fall of your senior year to drive your parents crazy, making them hover and nag, sweat and complain. College applications deadlines loom ominously in the not-so-distant future, and not a day goes by without your mom or dad reminding you of them.

In the meantime, you are also stressed between school, senior activities, SATs, and college stuff. (Possibly because you didn't do what I suggested earlier, you did what I would have done in your place-put it off.)

So, the most important thing to remember during this time is this: These are the people who want the best for you.

To give support in the area of parent-teenager relations, we've come up with a few tips to help you work more effectively with your parents, who, don't forget, are generally the people who will be paying all or part of your college expenses. In addition, these ideas will help you be organized in your college applications process.

Besides, this will help you, too.

• Fill them in whenever you take a single step forward, like giving your recommendation forms to a teacher or requesting that your SAT scores be sent to a school. The more they know, the happier they'll be and the less they'll feel they have to ask.

The college applications and admissions process is difficult for everyone, parents included. While it may seem to you that your parents only care about whether you get into a good school, keep in mind they are dealing with some other issues as well, such as today's frightening financial considerations, and emotions about you leaving home. Sending you off to college will be tough on your parents, especially if you are the first son or daughter to leave the nest.

Go easy on them.

	Enter your search termsSubmit search form
	Web www.Everything-about-college.com

Return to the top of college applications

College Admissions Portfolio

Writing Application Essays

Everything About College Home Page