AUGUST - OCTOBER

—— Make sure you're on track to graduate in the spring.

—— Continue taking college-prep and AP classes. Keep your grades up and don't forget about your extracurricular commitments. In short, do everything you can to keep senioritis from taking over your life.

—— Make a list of the 10 colleges and universities you're interested in, and plan your campus-visit schedule.

—— Create a calendar that will help you keep track of all the pertinent dates for submitting applications, financial aid forms and scholarship competitions.

—— Begin work on your application essay(s), and submit it for review by a group of people who will provide feedback you value and trust.

—— Determine who you want to write your recommendation letters, and talk to each person about your goals. Give each letter writer a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a copy of the recommendation form with the college name on it.

—— Let your counselor know which schools need to receive your transcript and letters of recommendation. Allow at least two weeks for your school to provide all the required information to each college. Make photocopies of each application you submit.