The college admissions process descends on high school seniors in full force when the school year begins each fall, and there are many steps to it. Some students feel like the work equates to taking an additional course. To get a head start on the process, many students take advantage of the summer season before senior year begins. While students don’t have to dedicate part of the summer to college application preparation, doing so provides a huge advantage once the busyness of the admissions process starts.

Our checklist of college-related summer tasks below can help students get organized and stay on track as they prepare for college admissions. Have the students in your life follow this list.

• To begin, decide what tool you’ll use to keep track of all college admissions and financial aid requirements and deadlines, such as an Excel spreadsheet, MEFA’s College Application Manager, or a notebook.

• Visit colleges as much as you can. Admission offices employ students as summer tour guides who are eager to show you around and tell you all the reasons they selected that school.

• Start to narrow down your college list to roughly 7-10 institutions. If you’d like a tool to help you learn about new colleges, consider MEFA Pathway.

• Decide when you’ll be applying to each school—will you participate in Early Action or Early Decision?

• Begin to work on your college essay. View the essay as a chance to tell the admissions committee who you are, what you value, and what they would not know about you from the rest of your application.

• If you haven’t already, pinpoint three individuals for letters of recommendation, including at least one junior year teacher.

• If you feel you need to improve your standardized test score, plan to take the ACT^® and/or the SAT^® this summer, and take advantage of the free test prep offered on each exam’s website.

• Get your resume/list of activities pulled together. Do this with a parent or friend to get help capturing everything you’ve done since freshman year.

• Have an honest family discussion about how you’ll pay for college. Is there a 529 U.Fund account or U.Plan established? MEFA’s SAI Calculator can estimate eligibility for financial aid, while college and university Net Price Calculators will give you a better sense of what you will be expected to pay.

• If you’re thinking about pursuing the arts or playing a sport in college, your application process may include a few additional elements, such as an art portfolio, audition piece, or film footage. Use this time to get done what you need.

• Make sure your social media/online profile is appropriate and professional.

• Many schools like to see your interest in them—use social media to connect with schools, sign up for admissions information, and connect with the admissions office over phone or email. Make sure the student is completing these tasks, not the parent.

• See if a school you’re considering requires an interview, and get that scheduled.

And finally, take some time to relax. Senior year will be busy, so take advantage of having a little downtime to connect with family, go to the beach, enjoy outdoor activities, and hang out with friends. Take a deep breath and recharge after what was likely a busy junior year. And get excited about the coming months. They’ll be busy, but you’re about to embark on an exciting time as you finish your high school career and plan for your future.