Hey seniors! We have finally come to that point in our lives where we have to start thinking about what we plan to do after we graduate high school. Although graduation might seem farther away than we might think, before we know it, we will have our diplomas in our hands! This mere thought can seem a bit overwhelming and bitter-sweet.

Some of  us may be worrying about taking the SAT’s or ACT’s, finishing up college essays, narrowing down our list of colleges on Naviance, and completing our profiles for the Common App. Essentially, it all comes down to these decisions that will ultimately change your life. But hey, no pressure— we are all in the same boat here.

The website “How Stuff Works” recommends applying to six to eight schools. Within this list, you should have likely schools— places where there is a high chance you will get accepted, two or three target schools—where your chances of being admitted are fifty-fifty, and a couple of reach schools— places on the top of your list, but aren’t sure you would get accepted. When it comes to actually selecting a college, you should be asking yourself the following types of questions: Is the college I’m looking at big or small? Does it offer the majors or programs I want? Do I see myself spending the next two or four years of my life there? Once you answer these questions based on your personal preference, you can start thinking about the actual college application process.

Usually during the fall of your senior year, you would start gathering all the necessary elements in order to apply to college. Included are teacher recommendations, SAT and/or ACT scores, high school transcripts, resumes, GPA’s, community service hours, and more. Whatever you do, do not procrastinate! Try your best to do a little bit of your applications each night, and always be sure to apply to the colleges about a week before the cut off date so your application is secured in the college’s systems.

To the juniors, next year is your year! Start preparing for the SAT’s and ACT’s and start looking at colleges that offer programs that interest you. During your spring season, I recommend going on college visits and see how the students act on campus. Try getting a summer job in the field you might be interested in, too. It’s never too late to get involved in community service or other extra curricular activities either— join clubs that interest you!

To the sophomores: after your first year of high school, now you should start thinking about where you should go to college and what you might want to major in— it’s never too early! When possible, try to go to career and college fairs close by. Aim to take harder classes and continue participating in the clubs you have been interested in.

To the freshmen: enjoy your first year of high school! Before you know it, the next three years are going to be flying by and you will not even know where the time went. If you can, try to challenge yourself by taking harder classes your sophomore year. Also, get involved in clubs that interest you. Bring your friends if you do not want to go alone, but getting yourself out there will definitely help you transition into your future years in high school, which will definitely help you in college.

To the seniors: don’t get discouraged— although this process can be stressful at times, remember that your fellow peers are going through the same thing and you can always reach out to your teachers and guidance counselors if you need help. Best of luck in all of your future college endeavors!