One of the toughest parts about senior year of high school is applying to higher education institutions. College applications can be scary as they are the first long applications any student, for the most part, will have to fill out in his or her life. It is important, however, to plan ahead and to plan smartly when applying for college.

The worst mistake any high school senior can make is to blow off their entire summer without giving the slightest consideration as to which college they would like to intend. Applications don’t need to be filled out during the summer, but it is a good idea to create a short list of preferred colleges early. Remember that you should go to a college you want to go to. Driving, or flying, down to a campus and looking at the different buildings, dorms, and surroundings is always a good idea. And campus visits are never easier to pull off than in the summer when there are no classes to attend.

It is also important to be realistic about which college you will attend. Everyone, for the most part, wants to be able to go to the best school possible and to be in the Ivy League. That doesn’t mean that everyone should apply to Ivy League schools. Most colleges post their standards for student’s entry on their home website or through brochures. If they don’t, there is a good chance that your high school counselor knows the information. After creating a list of schools you would like to attend, ensure that you have the grades, extra activities, test scores, and whatever else is needed to get in.

It is never a bad idea to aim a little high, but don’t waste money on a school you know you have zero chance of attending. Sending in a college application costs money, usually fifty to a hundred bucks, and blindly applying to twenty or thirty different schools is just not smart.

On the flip side, always apply to a school you know will accept you. Don’t take admission into any school for granted and always try to have a reliable backup. You don’t want to be sitting out a year because you didn’t apply to enough schools.

When it comes time to actually write the applications, by this point you should be narrowed down to about five or six choices, make sure the applications get done a couple weeks before they are due. Schools always tend to read and review applications as they are sent in, and there is a good chance that an early entry on the edge will get the nod over a late entry in the same position.

If you have sent in all of your applications, ensured that you filled out one for a school that is guaranteed to offer admission, and have the right credentials, feel free to relax and enjoy your senior year. There is no reason to be scared about not gaining any admissions.