With the first set of admissions deadlines looming, October promises to be a busy month for local high school students preparing to go to college.

Action Plan:

• Pull Your Applications Together
• Narrow your list of colleges to approximately five to eight, and review it with your counselor. Get an application and financial aid info from each.
• Visit as many as possible.
• Make a master calendar and note: Test dates, fees and deadlines, College application due dates Required financial aid applications and their deadlines
• Recommendations, transcripts and other necessary materials
• Your high school's deadlines for application requests, such as your transcript
• Ask for recommendations.
• Give each person your resume, a stamped and addressed envelope, and any required forms.
• Write application essays and ask teachers, family members and friends to read first drafts.