Write the compelling essay
Essays are an important component of college applications because they give students a chance to share their experiences and explain what makes them unique.
The best essays communicate something about the student that cannot be found elsewhere in the application. Students can find tips for writing essays here. The essay prompts for The Common Application are available here.
Register for the SAT or ACT
Many colleges require students to submit SAT or ACT scores in addition to their applications.
However, some colleges are moving away from requiring students to submit test scores. FairTest has a list of colleges and universities that are test-optional.
Students should find out if the colleges to which they will be applying require SAT or ACT scores.