So you are officially a senior. Only one more year of high school and then you are off to pursue the major of your choice at a college you love! Simple, right?

Well, yes and no. Applying to schools requires much more than filling out forms and writing a few essays. More practical students spend ample time researching and visiting schools, crafting an appropriate college list and seeking extracurricular opportunities to build their resumes. The summer is a crucial time to prepare, search, and begin to formalize your college application plans - and the good news is, you have two and a half months to spend getting started before senior year starts up. So take a look at these for maximizing your summer days to best prepare yourself for the fall when you finally apply to college!

Get Involved: Depending on the selectiveness of the colleges you are applying to, admissions counselors are looking for applicants who are productive and positive during their time off. Whether it is traveling, taking a pre-college summer class, volunteering or working, make sure you are doing something! It looks good on college applications, prepares you for college and work experiences and is simply a good way to be active in a positive way.
Continue to visit schools: Do you best to visit college campuses. If you really want to see schools while classes are in session, many colleges begin the school year during the last week or two of August. Whether you can go in August or during the other summer months, visiting schools is a vital part of the college application process. Get to the campus, walk around, ask questions and imagine yourself there. Make sure to contact the undergraduate admissions office prior to the visit to see if they offer an information session or guided tour while you are there.
Begin narrowing down your college list: With many application deadlines beginning in November (some earlier), it is now time to eliminate some colleges from your list. You should end up with about 8-10 colleges on your list; all of which you would be hapapy to attend. Make sure to have at least 2-3 colleges that you are certain you will be accepted to, often referred to as safety schools, in addition to 3-4 target schools that are a good fit for your academic profile, and a 3-4 reach schools that may be more selective based on where you're at.
Research school-specific application guidelines: Colleges differ across the board on application procedures including how to apply (Common Application or their own custom form); deadlines for regular decision, early action/early decision, priority and rolling decisions; and application requirements such as SATs, subject tests, and additional supplements. Be sure to have all of the requirements and deadlines organized in one centralized location, such as a Google doc or Excel spreadsheet, to reference easily.
Work on your résumé: A résumé is required by most schools during the application process, so you want to be prepared. You can search the internet for clean and professional templates to use as a base. Try your best to remember and document everything you have been involved in and accomplished during your time in high school and get them down on paper in an organized format. Getting started on your resume now may also help you identify holes in your experience - take the opportunity to take stock of what you've accomplished and decide if it may be worth spending the summer building up travel, volunteer or work experience.
Make your plan for admission testing: Determine ahead of time if you will need to take or re-take any of the admission tests that colleges accept. For the SAT, there are testing dates in October, November, and December, and if any of your colleges require subject tests (SAT II), remember to sign up during one of these test dates. You cannot take the SAT and SAT II the same sitting, so remember to plan accordingly! Similarly, there are ACT test dates in September, October, and December and you may want to spend some time this summer studying vocabulary or brushing up on math rather than cramming once back at school.
Begin filling out your Common App: The Common Application becomes available on August 1. Why not create an account and begin working on the application before the start of the school year? While there is no need to rush, it will be helpful to get familiar with the application and see what other supplements - like short answers and other essays - are needed for different schools. Also, if you haven’t done so already, you may want to get started on the main Common App essay, and feel free to send it to your college counselor to help with editing.
Keep in touch with your counselor: Whether your work exclusively with your school's college advisor or have a private counselor, make sure you use him/her as a resource. College counselors are here to help you, so ask your questions, share your ideas and plan ahead to make the most of the college application process. It will all pay off as decisions roll in.

Best of luck with your search. Contact joe@jdkcollegeconsulting.com if you have any questions about the application process or Tweet us at @JDKcollege.

This post has been adapted from its original publication in June 2014.