The process of applying to college should start no later than the end of 11th grade. By junior year, your academic transcript is almost complete. Your college application should be completed as early as the summer before your senior year (if you are applying for early acceptance) or no later than the fall of senior year (if you want to gain a competitive edge).

You will not have access to your first quarter grades so your cumulative GPA from 11th grade is all that admissions officials will see until your latest grading period is reported. That is why your performance in junior year is so pivotal to your college admission success.

By this time, you will have taken the SAT at least twice to score the highest possible score by which colleges will judge you. Admissions officials will have access to all your scores but you can pick and choose which ones to submit with your application from among your composite score. You can also select the highest scores from your Subject Tests (SAT II) scores.

In the summer after junior year, you should have a draft ready of the common college application, as well as any individual college application. You should also have about three different drafts of your essay because some of your college choices will ask different essay questions.

Update your resume with your most current activities, honors, awards, and community service, organized in descending order by dates. Many high school guidance counselors will work with you to provide a checklist of everything you need.

Request your letters of recommendation from teachers who know your work well or a trusted employer. Choose wisely to assure that they will write a powerful letter on your behalf.

Your financial aid paperwork should also be filled out with the help of your parents. Any letters for scholarship requests and grants will have to be mailed also to meet the different deadlines.

And do not think that your final grading period will not be weighed by college admissions officials whether or not you have been admitted yet. They have plenty of students on the waiting list ready to take your place if you don't make a strong showing until the very end. The schools will also be looking for your Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores that will count toward college credits.

Steps toward successful applications

It has never been more stressful or competitive to get into college. A record-breaking number of high school graduates are choosing higher education. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics more than 65% of high school students from the class of 2006 enrolled in colleges or universities in this country. Those numbers have been steadily trending upwards since 2001. So, with a larger pool of students to choose from—up to ten-thousand applicants annually in many colleges—it is becoming more difficult to stand out from the pack. Here is a simple guide to help you make an impression.

Start with the basics; get good grades — the higher the better. If you had a mediocre freshman or sophomore year, push yourself harder in junior and senior year. Your cumulative GPA counts; you may not graduate in the top ten percent of your graduating class but you don't want to be in the bottom portion either. A high GPA gets you noticed and it might also earn you money from the financial aid office of colleges that offer "merit-based" scholarship awards.

Challenge yourself with the toughest courses you can handle. Most high schools offer advanced placement (AP) courses and you need to take them up on it. Taking these courses will strengthen your academic appeal and actually help you earn college credits before you even get there. *(Some of the "elite" colleges may not accept these credits). Even if you don't get A's on these courses challenging yourself shows college admissions officers that you are serious about your education.

Prepare for and Ace College Board tests. While colleges claim they are putting less weight on SAT scores, don't risk slacking off now. Colleges gauge a student's academic preparedness on their SAT or ACT scores and doing well on these will get you noticed. You can increase your score by either studying on your own with a good SAT prep guide, by taking an SAT prep group course, or by hiring a private tutor.

Don't sit on the fence. Get involved in extracurricular activities, community service and athletics. This will not only make you a well-rounded student but it will also make you a more desirable college applicant and standout. Don't just pick something that looks good on the application or that your friends have joined, choose something that excites you. Colleges look for students who take a leadership role and not just followers. If you can form your own community service organization or club you will really break out of the pack.

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