Summer’s over and there’s plenty of work to be done on the college hunt. Here’s a clip-and-save list of what you should be doing this fall:

• Finish researching colleges and prepare a final college list with reach, target and safety schools. Recommended list is five to nine colleges.
• Identify the number of essays and the specific essay prompts for each college. See if there are overlaps that allow you to use the same essay for multiple colleges.
• Register online for each college at their sites or at www.commonapp.org.
•  Ask teachers in advance if they will write letters of recommendation.
• Prepare materials for recommenders that includes: downloaded teacher recommendation form, stamped addressed envelope and Information Sheet/Brag Sheet/Resume.
• Brainstorm essay topics with parents to help select the theme that allows you to share the most about yourself. 
• Make arrangements with your guidance office to send your high school transcripts.
• Make your own application checklist that charts completion of: application, letters of recommendation, sending test scores, etc.
• Double-check that the correct applications/essays are being sent to the appropriate schools and keep hard copies of everything.
• Visit colleges you didn’t have a chance to see over the summer or consider revisiting colleges of particular interest.
• Prep for the ACT, SAT and SAT Subject Tests as needed. Register before deadlines and have official test scores sent by the testing agency to colleges.
• Discuss realistic financial commitments with parents.
• Explore financial aid and scholarships.
• Study, study, study – first semester grades count.

• Visit colleges when traveling, take campus tours and sit in on college info sessions.
• Attend college seminars, financial aid workshops, etc. to get up to speed on the process.
• Take PSAT practice tests to boost performance on the October PSAT that serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
• Meet with your guidance counselor to review senior courses.
• Create an academic portfolio – save essays and projects that you might reference in your applications.
• Seek out leadership opportunities in your activities.
• And of course, study, study, study.
• Remember that colleges don’t see any senior year grades when students apply for either Early Action or Early Admission – so junior year grades carry a lot of weight.