This is for all the Juniors out there (and even some ambitious and forward-thinking freshman and sophomores) who are thinking, “How could I get a head start for college apps? How can I make myself the best candidate for my #1 pick?” Well, I can’t guarantee you an acceptance to your top choice, but these tips will help you get ahead of the application game and avoid the scramble during the first semester of senior year.

1. Go to the CCC

They are extremely helpful and resourceful over there. Juniors: now is the perfect time to schedule a one-to-one with one of the College Counselors and talk admissions, school choices, your brag sheet, your senior schedule and pretty much anything and everything you want to ask/know. Each session is supposed to take 30 minutes approximately, but I spent an entire period in there asking questions. Get your butt over there and request to schedule an appointment. It’s worth it!

2. Get The List narrowed down

If you’re anything like me right now, you have 20 million-zillion schools you want to apply to and you have a huge amount of Reach schools, but maybe it’s looking a little bare as far as Target schools and Safety schools go. Reach schools are great, but you need to have a solid list of target and safety schools under your belt. Take an honest look at your cumulative GPA, SAT/ACT scores and AP scores to see where you realistically fit. Sites like collegeprowler.com, princetonreview.com, and Naviance can help with statistics of each school’s acceptance rate,  average accepted GPA and test scores. You also might want to look at what you want to study and where you want to be geographically in the country. This will help you narrow down your choices to a reasonable list of Reach schools, Target schools, and Safety schools that will minimize application costs and get you to a school thats right for you.

3. Start looking at the Common App/UC App

The UC App and Common App are both available online, so you can get ahead by looking at the format and seeing what is expected of you when you apply. Also, essay prompts are available online as well, all it takes is a simple Google Search. UC prompts tend to only slightly change every year, and Common App prompts are said to change every year, but they basically pertain to the same kind of theme. You can start thinking about what you want to write about that you think will make the biggest impression on the admissions officers. For Juniors: Prompts are usually made available during the summer. Want to really get a head start? Get a rough draft done before summer ends! It seems like a lot, but it will seriously ease the process as a 1st semester Senior.

(TIP: While on my UCLA tour, my tour guide told my group to refrain from addressing any deaths as events that shaped you as a person. This may or may not go for all UC’s, I’m not quite sure. But she specifically said that they get boatloads of essays on tragic deaths of relatives, and she said that they are easily forgotten by admissions officers. Just a tip!)

4. Start talking to admissions officers – NOW

Got a PERFECT school in mind? Call the admissions office. E-mail them. Introduce yourself. Ask questions. Let yourself be known in the most positive way possible to the people who are going to put your app in the YES pile or NO pile. If you play your cards right, they may pick up your application, see your name, and remember you as the girl/guy who asked lots of questions, seemed smart, and was determined to get into their school. You can imagine how they might read your app differently if they see a familiar name rather than just a name of a stranger. I can’t promise you a YES – but it’s worth a shot.

5. Don’t stress out too much

Juniors: This is for you. Second semester stinks. SAT + ACT + AP Tests + GPA = supposed death. But we go to a top-notch public school, and a lot of colleges recognize us as a very good school that stresses academic rigor. Things may seem pretty grim right now, but I can honestly say that your are probably going to get a college/university. Even if it isn’t your dream one, you are going to get a college education and a degree that will enable you to get employment after college. And even if you don’t go to your supposed “dream” college, you are probably still are going to have the time of your life, learn a lot, and experience a really good college experience. So, don’t stress. Just work hard, aim for the best, and see what happens.

Here’s a good quote to remember in trying times:

“Shoot for the moon, if you miss, you will land among the stars” – Proverb