Do your homework early. Research career ideas and colleges with majors that could lead to careers that interest you.
Don鈥檛 wait until the week before a deadline to ask a teacher or a coach to give you a letter of recommendation.
Don鈥檛 show up at an interview without knowing enough about a school to explain why you鈥檇 make a great contribution there. A surprising number of students start chatting about their intended major only to find, in embarrassment, that the college they are interviewing for doesn鈥檛 even offer it.
Research costs and financial aid thoroughly, and as early as possible. 鈥淣ever overlook a college simply because of the published cost,鈥� says Kris Roach, director of admissions and financial aid at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. 鈥淔or many students, what they pay out of pocket for a college education is very different than the published price because of merit-based scholarships and need-based financial aid.鈥�
And don鈥檛 delay filing financial-aid paperwork. Some schools may have rolling admissions, but their grants tend to be doled out on a first-come, first-served basis.
