This final year of high school might be full of memorable times, challenging classes, new anxieties, and a fair share of senioritis—the urge to move on from your high school experience to new horizons. Amidst all of your academic, social, and extracurricular deadlines, you now face the pile of college applications. Completing a college application is a process—an investment of time, money, and energy that you'll want to feel is well-spent. A commitment is required to present yourself effectively, so approach the application as an opportunity. Applying to college is a chance to focus on who you are and what you are seeking.

Think of the application as an occasion to compose a mosaic of yourself. Each piece is a connected part of the whole picture. The individual chips must complement one another and contribute to a unified portrait of yourself. Consider the following strategies as tools to put into your art box as you assemble this colorful image.

Know the application. Applications differ from school to school, but the following elements are common to most college applications:

	The Application Form: This is the basic form for providing your name, address, and social security number. Be sure to fill it out neatly and completely. Many colleges allow you to fill out an application online. Others accept the Common Application, a general application form used by over 150 independent colleges.

	Application Fee: While many colleges will waive their application fees if you are eligible, the cost can range from $25 to $60 and is nonrefundable. Check to be sure that you include your application fee with each application you submit.

	Transcript: Your guidance counselors will complete this official document. It reports your coursework, grades, and attendance record to college admissions officers. As you consider your plans for senior year, evaluate your course of study and your academic goals as they will be reflected in this important part of your college application.

	Standardized Test Scores: Be sure to have your SAT®, SAT Subject Tests™, and/or ACT scores reported to the colleges of your choice. Check the deadlines for registering for these exams so that you can submit your scores to your universities in a timely manner. Visit the College Resources section of this site for more information.

Letters of Recommendation: Pinpoint teachers who know you well, taught you recently, and will likely devote time to writing something specific to represent you. It is a good idea to provide teachers with a resume of your experiences and a form with the specifics of the recommendation. Let them know when you need the letter and whether the letter should be given to you or mailed to the school. Explain to your teachers what particular program or goals you have identified at a specific school. Give teachers ample time to write the letter before it is due and remember to thank them!

	Essay: This is the element that sets applicants apart in the minds of the admissions officers. They try to assemble classes of unique individuals who represent various experiences, geographies, and skills. A memorable essay is one of the best ways to reveal the true you.

	Interview: Arrange an interview on campus or with an alumnus in your area to make a personal impression. Since most schools don't require an interview, this is an extra bonus to help you stand out. You'll want to be on time, look put together, and speak thoughtfully.

Audition/Supplementary Material: If you are applying to a particular art program, an audition or portfolio may be required. Some colleges welcome supplementary material, so sending original poetry, music, or art may introduce your talent. Pick your best work. Ask teachers or artists to help you decide on what will make the cut. Read carefully to determine whether or not supplementary materials will be accepted. Don't provide an original score of your musical if the school isn't going to consider it.

Select schools that feel right for you. Each school you apply to should be one that you can see yourself attending, whether you consider it a first choice or a “safety” school. Keep the particular school in mind as you complete each application, considering why you feel that the school is a fit for you. As you put together the pieces of an individual application, envision yourself at the school. This strategy might help convey the impression that you and this college are a good match.

Plan to meet your deadlines. Pacing yourself is an important strategy. Give yourself a realistic timeline when creating a schedule for yourself.

	Create a plan of attack. Maybe you want to dive head-first into the application with the earliest deadline or begin with your first-choice school. Whatever you decide, be sure that you remain on top of the required dates of submission—not just for the application proper, but for the test scores, letters of recommendation, etc.

Invest in a calendar that you can post above your desk, in your locker, or somewhere prominent to keep you on track to complete requirements on time. Write down important dates for each school. Try color coding the dates according to school or requirements. For example, you might write deadlines for letters of recommendation in green and dates for test registration in purple or you may record all application deadlines for one school in red and for another in blue.

Use the application as a chance to present yourself on paper. There's no need to be modest in your essay. Piece together all of your valuable high school accomplishments and brag about them. Be specific about your leadership roles and significant contributions to an area of interest. Whether you were president of the student body, editor-in-chief of the newspaper, a rated athlete, or a volunteer organizer, emphasize how your experience inspired or formed you.

Focus on your essay. What would like the university to know that you haven't stated elsewhere in the application? Use the freedom that the essay gives you to write about your passions.

Remember the housekeeping details. If you take your time, you'll make sure that the details are not overlooked. (Did you sign the application? You didn't put the wrong check in the envelope, did you?) Also be sure to proofread your application and essay with care. The spelling check feature on your computer won't notice if you have aspirations to attend an Ivory League school. Be sure that each piece of your application is well-polished to shine.