How to prepare for college admissions starting in high school

The journey from secondary education to a postsecondary institution is often perceived as a high-stakes, stressful sprint confined entirely to the senior year of high school. For many families, this period is marked by acute anxiety, a sense of being overwhelmed by conflicting advice, and the fear that a single minor misstep might compromise a student’s entire academic future. However, empirical data from admissions offices and secondary school counseling organizations indicates that the most successful and least stressful transitions are built upon a gradual, multi-year developmental foundation.

College preparation is not about gaming a complex system or engineering a flawless, sterile student profile. Rather, it is a process of intellectual growth, self-discovery, and consistent, long-term commitment. When students understand how holistic admissions works and approach high school with structured curiosity, they can naturally build highly competitive applications while maintaining their mental well-being.

This comprehensive roadmap is designed to demystify the college planning timeline, providing students, parents, and counselors with an actionable, grade-by-grade guide to navigating the high school years with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

What Colleges Actually Look For In Applicants

To prepare effectively, families must first understand how modern admissions offices evaluate applications. The vast majority of four-year institutions in the United States utilize a holistic review process. This means that admissions officers do not make decisions based on a single numeric threshold. Instead, they evaluate the applicant as a whole individual, weighing quantitative academic performance against qualitative personal attributes within the context of the student’s high school and home environment.

Understanding these factors in the admission decision allows students to allocate their time and energy toward the factors that carry the greatest weight in the admissions committee room.

Academics: The Foundation of the Evaluation

A student’s high school transcript remains the single most critical component of the college application. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), high school grades and curriculum strength consistently outrank all other admissions variables.

Note: Data adapted from the NACAC Fall 2023 Admission Cycle Survey.

When analyzing a transcript, admissions offices evaluate three specific sub-components:

• Grade Point Average (GPA): Admissions offices look at both weighted and unweighted GPAs, but they are highly attentive to the specific grade trajectory. An upward trend—where a student struggles initially in the ninth grade but steadily improves their grades through the tenth and eleventh grades—is viewed highly favorably. To understand the deeper mechanics of this evaluation, students can explore How GPA Matters In College Admissions.
• Course Rigor: Admissions committees evaluate the student’s schedule against the maximum level of challenge offered at their specific high school. Taking advanced courses shows that a student is preparing for the academic expectations of college. For a detailed breakdown of how high schools communicate this context, see How Colleges Evaluate Course Rigor.
• Rigor Pathways: High schools typically offer advanced coursework through three pathways: Advanced Placement (AP) classes, International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, or Dual Enrollment college courses. AP courses follow a standardized, nationally graded curriculum, giving colleges a consistent benchmark. Dual enrollment courses represent actual college work taken through a local institution, offering direct college credit upon passing. Choosing between these options depends heavily on a student’s strengths and the offerings of their high school. Families can review AP vs Honors vs Dual Enrollment to make informed scheduling decisions.

Extracurricular Activities: Depth Over Breadth

A common mistake is “resume padding”—the practice of joining numerous school clubs to compile a long list of activities. Admissions committees easily identify this strategy and place very little value on superficial participation. Instead, colleges look for a cohesive narrative, sustained commitment, and a deep focus in a few areas of genuine interest. For a detailed look at how admissions offices assess these profiles, see How Colleges Evaluate Extracurricular Activities.

Within these activities, admissions offices look for:

• Leadership and Initiative: Leadership is not defined solely by holding an official club title like president or captain. It is demonstrated through taking the initiative to solve problems, organizing events, mentoring younger peers, or starting new programs. To learn how to cultivate these qualities naturally, students can read about Leadership In College Admissions.
• Passion Projects: These are self-directed, independent initiatives undertaken outside the classroom, such as conducting independent research, writing a literature review, building a localized software application, or organizing a community service initiative. To be effective, these projects must reflect genuine curiosity and produce a real, verifiable impact, rather than being pre-packaged, expensive corporate programs. For an in-depth guide on how to design these projects authentically, see Passion Projects Explained.
• Summer Experiences: Summers offer critical opportunities to deepen interests. Meaningful experiences include part-time jobs, local internships, community service, or independent reading, rather than high-fee pre-college programs on elite campuses that do not carry admissions weight. Families can evaluate these options by reading What Summer Programs Are Worth It.

Character and Personal Qualities

With academic metrics frequently clustered at the highest percentiles among applicants to selective colleges, personal qualitative elements serve as crucial differentiators. Colleges seek to enroll students who will contribute positively to their campus communities. These qualities are primarily communicated through:

• The Personal Statement: The main application essay is an opportunity to showcase personal values, self-awareness, and writing ability. Admissions offices prefer genuine, authentic voices over highly managed, artificially complex prose.
• Letters of Recommendation: Recommendations from junior-year core academic teachers provide insight into a student’s intellectual curiosity, classroom citizenship, and response to setbacks. A letter from a teacher who witnessed a student struggle, seek tutoring, and eventually master a difficult subject is far more compelling than a generic letter of praise from a class where the student easily earned an A.

Standardized Testing: Navigating the Re-Standardization Wave

Standardized testing has entered a highly transitional phase. Following a period of near-universal test-optional policies initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the most selective universities in the United States have reinstated standardized testing requirements.

Internal institutional research at highly selective universities (such as Dartmouth, MIT, and Brown) revealed that SAT and ACT scores remain the single most reliable predictor of a student’s first-year college GPA, especially in an era of widespread secondary school grade inflation. Furthermore, admissions offices determined that test-optional policies inadvertently harmed under-resourced students. Without test scores, admissions committees were forced to place greater weight on qualitative metrics like highly polished essays, high-fee summer programs, and extracurricular profiles—elements heavily correlated with family wealth.

This policy shift has created a dual-track admissions environment. Highly selective universities require testing, whereas hundreds of other institisms remain permanently test-optional or test-blind. Students can weigh these differences by reading Should You Take The SAT or ACT and Should You Submit Your Test Scores.

Institutional Priorities: The Invisible Force in Admissions Decisions

A major source of confusion for families is why highly qualified applicants with perfect grades and test scores are sometimes denied admission to selective universities. The explanation lies in institutional priorities—the specific, evolving strategic needs of a university that change from year to year.

These priorities are set by university leadership and may include expanding geographic, socioeconomic, or international diversity; increasing enrollment in specific majors; recruiting varsity athletic prospects; or supporting first-generation college students. Because institutional priorities are largely opaque to the public, applicants must focus on presenting their authentic selves rather than trying to match a specific institutional mold. For a deeper exploration of this topic, see Why Qualified Students Get Rejected From Selective Colleges and What Are Colleges Looking for in Applicants.

The Four-Year High School Roadmap

To navigate high school productively without experiencing academic panic or physical burnout, students should approach their preparation through a structured, phase-based framework.

This roadmap breaks down the admissions process into distinct annual milestones, allowing families to manage preparation incrementally.

Freshman Year: Building the Foundation

Why This Year Matters

Ninth grade represents the entry point of the secondary school transcript. While colleges rarely expect academic perfection during this year, freshman grades are recorded on the official high school transcript and contribute directly to the cumulative GPA. Establishing strong organizational systems, academic habits, and curiosity during this year prevents GPA deficits that are difficult to correct later.

What to Prioritize

• Cultivating Strong Study Habits: Focus on time-management techniques, systematic note-taking, and active study methods. Mastering these skills early is vital to handling the increased workload of honors and AP courses in later grades.
• Broad Extracurricular Exploration: Ninth grade is a period for broad experimentation. Students should join various school clubs, sports, or community service organizations to explore their interests without pressure.
• Establishing a Counselor Relationship: Introduce yourself to your school counselor. Understanding graduation requirements early and establishing a positive rapport ensures better scheduling support in the future.
• Reading and Writing Development: Dedicate time to independent reading outside of school assignments. Continuous reading is one of the most effective ways to build the vocabulary, critical thinking, and writing skills required for future standardized tests and college essays.

What to Avoid

• Overcommitment and Early Burnout: Joining ten different clubs simultaneously leads to superficial involvement, academic distraction, and physical exhaustion. Focus on exploring a few options deeply rather than accumulating a long list of passive memberships.
• Ignoring Academic Support: Waiting until the end of a semester to seek help when struggling in a course is a critical mistake. Establish a habit of visiting teachers during office hours or seeking tutoring early.
• Treating Ninth Grade as “Irrelevant”: While some colleges do not weigh freshman GPA heavily, these grades are still factored into the cumulative GPA reported on the transcript. A weak freshman year puts unnecessary pressure on a student to earn near-perfect grades in subsequent years.

Recommended Mindset

The recommended mindset for the ninth grade is structured curiosity. Students should actively seek out new challenges, ideas, and activities while maintaining a firm commitment to their foundational academic responsibilities.

Freshman Case Illustration

The Scenario: Consider Student A, who enters high school determined to build a resume for medical school. Student A takes an overwhelming course load, joins five science-related clubs, and spends weekends volunteering at a local clinic. By the end of the year, Student A is exhausted, has earned a B- in biology, and feels burned out.

Now consider Student B, who enters high school with an open mind. Student B takes a balanced, challenging course load, joins the debate team, tries out for cross country, and volunteers at a local animal shelter. Student B discovers a strong affinity for public speaking and animal care, maintains a strong GPA, and enters the tenth grade with a clear sense of direction and high energy.

Freshman Year Checklist

• Establish a centralized digital organization system for assignments and schedules.
• Register for a balanced selection of core academic courses.
• Join 3 to 4 diverse extracurricular activities to explore interests.
• Schedule an introductory meeting with your school counselor.
• Read at least 3 books outside of school assignments during the summer to build vocabulary.

Sophomore Year: Developing Direction

Why This Year Matters

The tenth grade is a transitional year where students begin to move from broad exploration to selective commitment. Admissions committees look to see if a student has started challenging themselves academically and narrowing their extracurricular focus toward areas of true interest.

What to Prioritize

• Incremental Rigor Scaling: If the student performed well in ninth grade, they should take one or two honors or AP courses in their strongest subjects. This demonstrates academic ambition without overwhelming their schedule.
• Extracurricular Focus: Begin narrowing down activities. Transition from being a passive club member to taking on greater responsibilities, proposing new initiatives, or seeking early leadership positions.
• Early Testing Awareness: Take the PSAT in October if offered. This provides a low-stakes diagnostic tool to plan future test preparation. In late spring, students should take a practice SAT and a practice ACT to determine which exam aligns better with their strengths.
• Exploration of Summer Opportunities: Start researching meaningful summer activities early. This could include securing a part-time job, registering for a local volunteer role, or designing a small personal project.

What to Avoid

• Prestige Chasing: Selecting academic courses or extracurriculars solely because they “look good” on an application. If a student has no genuine interest in STEM, taking an overly demanding physics course that results in a C hurts their application more than taking a high-level humanities course where they can excel.
• Comparing Progress with Peers: Tenth grade is a common period for peer comparison, which often leads to unnecessary academic anxiety. Focus on individual growth and personal goals.
• Believing You Need Everything Figured Out: Students are not expected to commit to a specific college major or career path during this year. The focus should simply be on identifying broad areas of interest.

Recommended Mindset

The sophomore mindset should be selective commitment. Focus on identifying your core academic and extracurricular strengths, dedicating more time and energy to those areas, and letting go of activities that do not bring genuine satisfaction.

Sophomore Case Illustration

The Scenario: Student C continues to participate in six different clubs in the tenth grade, attending meetings occasionally but contributing little. Student C has no deep involvement to write about in their applications.

Student D, recognizing a genuine interest in environmental science, drops two unrelated clubs. Student D focuses on the school’s environmental club, proposing a new campus recycling initiative and volunteering regularly at a local park. Student D also takes AP Environmental Science, earning a solid grade and demonstrating a clear, focused interest.

Sophomore Year Checklist

• Register for 1 to 2 advanced courses (Honors or AP) in areas of academic strength.
• Sit for the PSAT in October as a diagnostic exercise.
• Identify 2 core extracurricular activities to deepen involvement.
• Take full-length diagnostic practice tests for both the SAT and ACT in late spring.
• Secure a meaningful summer experience (job, volunteer role, or personal project).

Junior Year: Strategic Positioning

Why This Year Matters

Junior year is widely considered the most important year of the high school journey. For students applying during early decision or early action cycles in the fall of senior year, the junior-year transcript is the most recent complete academic record that admissions officers see. It is also the year when standardized testing plans are executed and key relationships for letters of recommendation are solidified.

What to Prioritize

• Optimizing Course Rigor and Grades: Maintain high academic performance while taking a challenging course load. Admissions committees look for students who push their academic limits during this year.
• Standardized Testing Execution: Finalize a preparation schedule and take the official SAT or ACT. Ideally, students should complete their first official testing attempt between December and May of their junior year, leaving room for a final retake in the summer or early fall if necessary.
• Securing Letters of Recommendation: In late spring, ask two core academic teachers from your junior year if they would be willing to write letters of recommendation. Provide them with a completed questionnaire outlining your favorite class projects and academic growth.
• Initial College List Construction: Research colleges to build a balanced list of reach, target, and safety options. If possible, visit college campus tours or attend virtual information sessions to assess fit. For a detailed guide on managing this process, see How To Build A College List.

What to Avoid

• Academic Overload: Registering for too many AP classes, which can lead to low grades. It is far better to earn an A or B in three AP classes than a C or D in five.
• Ignoring Financial Fit: Families often make the mistake of researching colleges without discussing financial realities. It is crucial to use net price calculators early to understand what schools are realistic options.
• Delaying the College Search: Waiting until the summer before senior year to begin researching admissions requirements can lead to rushed choices.

Recommended Mindset

The junior year mindset is disciplined execution. This year demands high organizational skills and the ability to balance intense academic work with long-term strategic planning.

Junior Case Illustration

The Scenario: Student E delays thinking about standardized tests and college lists until the summer after junior year. Student E enters the senior year feeling overwhelmed, scrambling to study for the SAT while trying to write several college essays simultaneously.

Student F develops a structured study schedule for the SAT during the winter of junior year, taking the test in March. Student F also researches colleges during the spring, narrowing down a list of ten schools and asking two teachers for recommendations before summer break. Student F enters the summer prepared and organized.

Junior Year Checklist

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October to qualify for National Merit scholarships.
• Complete a standardized testing plan, taking the SAT or ACT at least once by May.
• Meet with your school counselor to discuss your initial college list and senior year course selections.
• Formally request letters of recommendation from two core academic teachers in late spring.
• Build a balanced college list of 8 to 10 schools, prioritizing financial and academic fit.

Senior Year: Executing the Application

Why This Year Matters

Senior year is the culmination of the preparation process. While academic records and extracurricular profiles are largely established, the focus shifts to strategic execution: organizing application materials, drafting essays, applying for financial aid, and maintaining strong academic performance to avoid “senioritis”.

What to Prioritize

• Drafting and Refining Essays: Start drafting the Common Application personal statement during the summer before senior year. Once the school year begins, focus on school-specific supplemental essays, tailoring each essay to show why that college is a good match.
• Selecting Application Deadlines Strategically: Decide whether to apply through Early Action (EA), Early Decision (ED), or Regular Decision (RD). ED is a binding commitment suitable only if a student is certain about their top-choice school and satisfied with early financial aid estimates. EA offers early notifications without binding commitments. For a comparison of these timelines, see Early Action vs Early Decision.
• Applying for Financial Aid: Complete the FAFSA and the CSS Profile as soon after their opening dates as possible. Many states and colleges distribute financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis, making early filing critical.
• Maintaining Academic Performance: Do not let grades drop. Colleges can rescind admission offers or reduce financial aid packages if a student’s senior-year grades decline significantly.

What to Avoid

• Rushing Essays Last-Minute: Writing personal statements and supplements days before the deadline often results in generic, unpolished essays.
• Failing to Verify Financial Aid Requirements: Missing school-specific financial aid deadlines or neglecting to complete the CSS Profile can prevent a student from receiving institutional grants.
• Senioritis: Assuming that admission is guaranteed once initial applications are submitted, leading to academic neglect in the final semesters.

Recommended Mindset

The senior year mindset is strategic execution and preservation of energy. Students must stay highly organized, meet deadlines consistently, and maintain academic momentum while managing application-related stress.

Senior Case Illustration

The Scenario: Student G experiences senioritis, letting their grades slide from Bs to Ds after receiving an early acceptance letter. In June, the university contacts Student G to request an explanation for the academic decline, ultimately placing their admission on probation.

Student H maintains their academic schedule, continuing to earn solid grades in AP courses through graduation. Student H submits their financial aid paperwork early, secures housing, and transitions to college smoothly without academic or administrative complications.

Senior Year Checklist

• Finalize your college application list, including all deadlines, essay requirements, and fees.
• Draft and finalize your Common App personal statement by late August.
• Complete and submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile starting in October.
• Submit all Early Action/Early Decision applications by their late October/early November deadlines.
• Request that your school counseling office send your mid-year and final transcripts to your colleges.

What If You’re Starting Late?

For students who realize late in high school that they want to prepare for college, panic is unnecessary. There are highly effective pathways to build a strong profile even with a compressed timeline.

The Junior-Year Pivot

Students who begin their college preparation in their junior year should focus on high-impact, immediate actions:

• Immediate GPA Stabilization: Focus intensely on academic performance. Earning strong grades in the junior year demonstrates academic growth and determination to admissions offices.
• Targeted Standardized Testing: Take a practice test immediately to decide between the SAT and ACT, and schedule a prep routine targeting spring and summer testing dates.
• Extracurricular Quality over Quantity: Do not try to join five different clubs to make up for lost time. Instead, identify one or two existing interests and seek out significant involvement, such as volunteering for a local organization or taking on a leadership role in an existing club.

The Senior-Year Emergency Plan

If a student begins the process in their senior year, the focus must be on efficiency and maximizing options:

• Constructing a Realistic List: Prioritize schools with high acceptance rates, rolling admissions, or straightforward academic requirements. Ensure the list has a strong foundation of target and safety schools.
• Highlighting Personal Growth in Essays: Use the personal statement to address your personal journey. Explain any circumstances that led to your late academic focus, showing maturity and self-awareness.
• Securing Financial Aid Immediately: File the FAFSA as early as possible to access federal, state, and institutional aid.
• Leveraging Community College Transfer Pathways: If academic or financial profiles make direct admission to a four-year university difficult, remember that starting at a community college is a highly effective, cost-efficient path to earning a bachelor’s degree.

Different Paths, Different Strategies

Because every student has unique academic goals, financial situations, and personal backgrounds, college preparation strategies must be tailored accordingly.

Highly Selective “Ivy Plus” Candidates

Students aiming for the top 50 highly selective national universities and liberal arts colleges face an extremely competitive environment with single-digit acceptance rates.

• Rigor and Testing: Candidates must take the most challenging courses available at their school and aim for test scores near the top of the university’s mid-50% range (typically 1500+ SAT or 34+ ACT).
• Thematic Depth: These schools look for “angular” students who excel in one specific area, rather than well-rounded students who do a little of everything. Cultivating a deep, verifiable interest—such as published research, advanced creative work, or high-impact community leadership—is essential.

State University Applicants

For students targeting large public state systems, the admissions process is often more predictable and formula-driven.

• GPA and Course Requirements: Public universities often use specific GPA and course-distribution baselines (e.g., four years of English, three years of math) for automatic admission or merit-based scholarships.
• Demonstrated Interest and Financial Aid: Many state schools do not track demonstrated interest, but submitting applications early in the fall of senior year is often required for institutional scholarship consideration.

The Community College Transfer Pathway

For many families, community colleges offer an affordable, accessible route to earning a bachelor’s degree. Research from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) shows that while 80% of community college students intend to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree, only 33% successfully transfer, and only 16% complete their degree within six years.

To beat these statistics and transfer successfully, students must plan strategically:

First-Generation College Students: Overcoming Structural Barriers

First-generation college students—those whose parents do not hold a bachelor’s degree—often face unique systemic challenges, including underfunded secondary schools, limited access to professional test prep, and unfamiliarity with the higher education landscape.

To navigate the selective college admissions process as a first-generation student, individuals should:

• Proactively Seek Mentorship: Connect early with school counselors, teachers, or community college access programs (such as TRIO, McNair, or local access initiatives).
• Highlight Your Story in Essays: Share your unique personal background and perspective in your personal statement. Admissions committees value the resilience, self-direction, and perspective that first-generation applicants bring to a college campus.
• Focus on College Affordability: Look for colleges that offer generous financial aid packages or specific scholarships and support programs for first-generation students.

Undecided and Exploratory Students

It is completely normal not to know what you want to major in when you apply to college.

• Flexible Academic Planning: Choose core academic courses in high school that keep your options open.
• Targeting Supportive Colleges: Look for universities that offer exploratory programs, robust advising, and the flexibility to wait until the end of your sophomore year to officially declare a major.

Biggest College Admissions Myths

Misinformation about college admissions often leads to unnecessary stress and strategic mistakes. Here is what actual institutional data reveals, moving past the common misconceptions.

• Myth: “It is nearly impossible to get accepted to college.”

• The Reality: While headlines focus on the single-digit acceptance rates of a few highly selective universities (e.g., Harvard and Yale accepting less than 4% of applicants), these schools are the exception. According to data from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the average freshman acceptance rate in the United States is approximately 78% for public colleges and 70% for private colleges. Over 80% of institutions accept more than half of their applicants, meaning there are many high-quality, accessible college options.

• Myth: “Without a 3.9+ GPA, you won’t get in or get scholarships.”

• The Reality: Because grading scales and weighting systems vary widely across different high schools, colleges do not look at GPA as a single, static number. Admissions committees use a holistic review process, evaluating course rigor, grade trends, and local context alongside the raw GPA to understand how a student challenges themselves within their school’s environment.

• Myth: “You must know your major before you apply.”

• The Reality: Most colleges do not require students to declare a major until the end of their sophomore year. While expressing academic interests in essays can show direction, applying as an “undecided” or exploratory student is incredibly common and does not hurt your chances of admission at most comprehensive universities.

• Myth: “Expensive summer programs are required to stand out.”

• The Reality: High-fee summer programs hosted on prestigious college campuses are often selective only by a family’s ability to pay. Admissions officers are rarely impressed by these paid experiences alone. They prefer to see genuine, localized experiences, such as a summer job, community volunteering, or a self-directed passion project that shows true initiative.

• Myth: “A single bad grade ruins your chances.”

• The Reality: Admissions committees deeply value growth and resilience. A transcript showing an upward trend—where a student overcomes early academic challenges and improves their grades in later years—is often viewed highly favorably by admissions officers because it demonstrates maturity and academic readiness.

Grade-By-Grade Checklist Summary

This consolidated checklist serves as a quick-reference guide for families to track progress throughout high school.

Freshman Year Checklist (9th Grade)

• Register for core college-preparatory courses in English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language.
• Introduce yourself to your high school counselor to review your graduation requirements.
• Set up a physical or digital planner to build time-management and study habits.
• Join 3 to 4 different extracurricular activities to explore interests.
• Read widely during school breaks to build vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Sophomore Year Checklist (10th Grade)

• Scale your academic rigor by taking 1 or 2 honors or AP courses in your strongest subjects.
• Narrow your extracurricular involvement to 2 or 3 core activities, taking on more responsibility.
• Sit for the PSAT in October as a diagnostic exercise.
• Take full-length, timed practice tests of both the SAT and ACT in the spring to choose the best test for you.
• Find a meaningful summer experience (such as a job, volunteer role, or personal project).

Junior Year Checklist (11th Grade)

• Maintain high academic performance; your junior-year transcript is crucial.
• Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October to qualify for National Merit scholarship consideration.
• Complete your first official SAT or ACT attempt by May, using study guides and practice tests.
• Build a balanced college list of 8 to 10 reach, target, and safety schools.
• Ask two core academic teachers in late spring if they would write your letters of recommendation.

Senior Year Checklist (12th Grade)

• Draft your Common App personal statement over the summer before your senior year.
• Complete the FAFSA and the CSS Profile starting in October to secure federal and institutional financial aid.
• Finalize your list of application requirements, tracking early and regular deadlines.
• Submit all Early Action/Early Decision applications by their late October or early November deadlines.
• Maintain solid grades throughout your senior year; send your final transcript to your chosen college after graduation.

A Grounded Approach to the Road Ahead

Preparing for college admissions is not about achieving absolute perfection or executing a series of transactional maneuvers to impress an admissions committee. Highly competitive, compelling college applications emerge naturally over four years when students commit to their own growth, challenge themselves academically within their limits, and engage deeply with their local communities.

Every student’s path through high school is unique. By approaching this journey with structure, consistency, and self-awareness, families can ensure that the college admissions process is not a source of chronic anxiety, but rather a rewarding period of transition into a successful postsecondary life.