This article was originally published on Big Future.
Applying to college is a big job, but you can make it easier by breaking it down into a series of small steps.
1. Get Informed
Colleges want to know the real you. When you apply to colleges, you don’t have to try to make yourself look better by listing the kinds of accomplishments or writing the kind of essay you think they want to see. If you’re honest about who you are and what you’ve done, you’re more likely to end up at a college that’s a good fit for you.
What else can you learn before you get going?
- More important truths about college admission
- The components of a college application
2. Talk to People
Tell your family, your school counselor, your teachers and anyone else you’re close to that you’re applying to colleges. Talking about what you want for the future — and the ways college will help you get there — is a great warm-up for college applications.
3. Brainstorm
Most applications ask you to describe what you’ve done in and out of the classroom. Start thinking about your activities, honors and awards, and make a list of those that mean the most to you. You can also write down some notes on your favorite classes and the reasons you like them.
4. Get Organized
If you can keep track of everything you need, you’ll be ahead of the game. For each college you’re applying to:
- Create a real and a virtual folder for storing documents.
- Print a checklist to track your progress on each part of the application.
Gather these numbers and resources:
- Your Social Security number
- Your high school code
- A copy of your high school transcript
- Your score report from a college admission test
Now you’re informed, inspired, organized and ready to begin. For more details on the college admission process, visit Applying to College: FAQs.