It's panic time for high school seniors as the start the college admissions process.  It really shouldn't be, but competition for admission to many colleges has never been tougher.  And there is a lot to do:  retake SAT/ACT if necessary, narrow down the list of schools for application, polish that college essay, get teacher recommendations, and don't miss a deadline.  And keep up your grades and activities!

So let's take a deep breath and break it down.

First of all, test scores.  There is still time to retake the SAT or ACT is the scores aren't what they should be.  A number of schools are moving toward test optional in the application process and this might be worth considering.  The other thing to keep in mind:  test scores are only one piece of the application.  Think of the college application as a puzzle and all the pieces have to fit.

Next, it is time to whittle that list of colleges down.  Some kids will have 15 schools on their list.  The idea here is to be applying to somewhere between 6 and 8 schools.  At least one should be a school that you know you can get in.  At the other end should be a "dream " school.  With more that 3000 colleges and universities in the US and Canada there is more than one good fit school for a student.

How about that college essay?  More than anything, I think this causes the most angst among students.  The thing to remember is that admissions officers will read thousands of essays.  It is unlikely that a student will come up with a new topic.  What it should be is the student's own work, speak to the prompt and provide insight into what makes the applicant tick.

Next there are the teacher/counselor recommendations.  The student should be asking a teacher that they have had a good experience with.  These are important because they provide evidence of integrity, positive character traits and an interest in learning.

And finally, keep track of the deadlines.  If there is one hard and fast rule in this, it is that there is no hard and fast rule.  Every school will have something a little different, whether it is in the application requirements, deadlines, or tests submitted.  Keep track of it all!  Colleges are not flexible in this area.

One last thought:  Check you Facebook page and email address.  Anything questionable there can cause a candidate to be rejected prematurely.  It's not worth it.