You'll need to narrow that list of schools sooner rather than later so that you can prepare for campus visits and devote the necessary time to wow your school's admissions office.

Before you take your visit, especially if there is an interview involved, you will want to get to know the school - its history, its philosophy, its traditions, etc.  Take these visits seriously; the school will.

The Perfect Resume is one that will show an admissions officer why you belong at the university and why the university is the best fit for you... all in a matter of seconds.  

To build that resume, you need a plan - that's where I can help.

The biggest benefit to Early Action/Early Decision is that you increase your chances of acceptance.

For students who have already decided which school best suits their needs, Early Action (EA) is a no-brainer.  

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If your school offers Early Decision (ED), you should know that these plans do come with an obligation.  

Apply for as many scholarships as you can stand- there are literally thousands of them.  Once your grades are in, it will be time to apply for school - especially any schools with Early Decision or Early Action.  You'll need to have a schedule, and you'll need to stick to it; you have a lot of applications to send.

...and again, and again if you have to.  The state of Oklahoma offers guaranteed-money scholarships based strictly on your test scores, and universities and scholarship committees will absolutely factor your scores in.  

The Perfect Essay will showcase your unique talents, goals, and experiences.  It will be free of grammar and spelling errors but will be written in your voice.  It will allow the reader to know you better and - if you do it well - to like you.   

You will want to complete your FAFSA/CSS early so that you have a good idea of whether you qualify for grants and what you can count on with student loans.

Offers from your EA/ED schools will come at the end of the calendar year.  You can expect other offers in the spring of your senior year.  It's time to compare schools:

• What are the costs versus return on investment?  

• Is the school rigorous?

• Does it accord to my values?

• Is the location good?

• Etc., etc., etc.