In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that my college process was definitely not stress free- mostly because I was not the best at completing things in a timely manner. While it’s true that crafting well polished applications takes hard work and dedication, I now believe that with the right mindset and approach, it can be done efficiently and with relatively little stress. In this article I would like to share the lessons I learned during my personal experience with the college process, and give some tips to avoid common mistakes.

Firstly, I suggest that you enter the college process aware that things don’t always unfold as planned- especially with respect to scheduling. Life often gets in the way, and “I’ll get to it tomorrow” becomes a phrase you will find yourself saying more than you think. Try to make a calendar that will give you a good visual representation of how long you have until your next deadline.

It’s crucial to note that as much as you probably want it to be, your first draft of your Common App essay will most likely not be your final one; give yourself ample time to write at least 3-4 different versions of your essay. Doing things little by little is the best way to get things completed for your application in a timely manner.

Definitely get everything started ahead of time! Writing a supplement on October 31st is not a position you want to be in- and this is coming from someone who’s been there. Check that you have seen every part of the application done much earlier than November 1st.

During freshman and sophomore year, if you happen to be near a college of interest on a spring break trip or summer vacation, visit it! Make sure to take pictures and good notes in your “college notepad” so that you remember your time there and what your first impressions and thoughts of the school were.

If you have an older sibling who is visiting colleges, you should tag along! I saved a lot of time during my junior year by taking good notes, photos, and videos when I visited colleges with my older sister and I firmly believe it’s always worth it to take a visit to a school if you can. However, you don’t necessarily need to fit time into your schedule for college visits during freshman and sophomore year- that can be reserved solely for junior year.

You also shouldn’t forget to get excited about the process! You’re looking for the place where you’ll spend the next four years. In your search, make sure you’re happy with EVERY school you apply to! Why put work into applying somewhere that you really don’t like or can’t see yourself at?

Talk to your college counselor about schools within your range of safety and reach that you think you would like and that they recommend. Investigate them! Use the school’s website to watch videos, read about programs, and try to get a feel for the school.

Websites such as “College Confidential” aren’t great places to look, as they are often biased and unreliable.

I suggest you develop a “pro and con list” and put the aspects of a school you are looking for and definitely want in the pro section, and the things you absolutely do not want in the con section; this is a good method for narrowing down your search and ruling out places that have the attributes you aren’t looking for. Keep in mind that this is a list for your preferences- not your parents’ or your counselor’s. Making sure your voice is the loudest in your search is extremely important.

Good luck with your process, and know that everything will work out in the end!