Applications to a four-year college or university are usually due at the end of the fall semester in your child's senior year. But there are many steps to completing an application, so plan ahead. Begin by narrowing the selection of colleges to a manageable number and request application forms from each one. You can also find these applications online at the universities' websites. Your child should also start work on college essays as early as possible, even the summer before senior year.

Here are the general requirements for a college application:

• Application form
• Letters of recommendation (from adults not related to the student)
• High school transcript
• Entrance Exam Scores (such as the SAT or ACT)
• Essay (determined by the college)
• Scholarship form

Parent Action Item:

• Make a plan for completing each application step and keep a calendar with important dates to help your child stay on track.

• Send letters of recommendation several weeks in advance of deadlines.
• To stay organized, agree with your child on a place where all application documents will be kept.
• Remember that the college essays are important and should not have any errors, so encourage your child to find a teacher or mentor who can help with the essay, or ask your child's high school counselor for help. Your child's high school counselor can also explain the process and suggest ways to support him or her. It can be difficult applying to one college, and it can be very confusing to apply to several colleges at once. Work with your child on each step of the application process for each college. Let your child know you are there to support him throughout the process.

There is a helpful College Application Calendar that walks you through the steps beginning the summer before your child's senior year.