Juniors: Do you want to avoid the last minute stress of college applications? Well then start planning now. It is simple enough to create a game plan. Sit down and look over the college you would potentially apply to. Look at the early action, early decision and regular decision deadlines are. Get in touch with the college or university’s representative, and find out what score you should be aiming for on you SAT and/or ACT, along with what courses you should be taking your senior year.

Plan to take your SAT and ACT late in junior year, leave the early senior year test dates for improving your score if need be. The earlier you take them, the more time you have to study and improve in specific areas. Prep courses can be beneficial, but also pricey. Khan Academy offers a free study course, with daily questions and full-length practice tests.

Make sure to visit the colleges you are interested in. Location and climate can be a major factor in choosing the perfect school. Going into the dorms can give you a better feel for how to pack when it comes time to moving in.

Start considering what teachers you want to write your recommendation letters. Often times your junior core teachers are good picks; they know you well enough and are often willing to write your recommendation. Senior teachers are always options but if you plan to apply early decision or early action, the teacher doesn’t usually have enough time to get to know you.

Research scholarships that you may qualify for. Most programs usually require a certain GPA, along with a recommendation letter or two. There are scholarships for everything under the sun. Find a search portal and enter any information that may apply to you. Applying for a scholarship can never hurt, but make sure to stay on top of the process.

If you take the time to create a game plan now, you will be stress free come application season. Always remember your teachers and counselors are resources, your English teachers are often willing to review college essays with you and your counselors will assist you in those tricky application portals.

College may be approaching, but you have a way to reduce the stress. Don’t worry — you got this!