Time never warns you how fast it flies; a flash of the wings and a year disappears. And despite the incessant warnings of elders, we tend to think of the expression, “time flies,” as overrated, until we look back and realize how much time has truly passed. I wrongly assumed I had a copious amount of time to create the perfect application that would guarantee me acceptance to my dream college. Unfortunately, I underestimated the speed of time. Recently I struggled through a period of insanity commonly known as applying to college, and I realize now what I should have done differently in preparation. Granted, my situation differs greatly from most high schoolers since I chose to homeschool, but I still went through the same application process. Below I have compiled a list of tidbits I desperately wish I would have known well before applying to college. And while I know this article does seem tediously long and boring, it might just keep you from making the same mistakes I made.

Start Early

Do not wait until you’re an upperclassman to begin building your application, regardless of the mindlessly accepted misconception that junior year is the right time to start. You usually apply for college during the first half of your senior year, and therefore need plenty of time to reach your target ACT or SAT score, especially since most people take the national tests multiple times. Start prepping for the ACT or SAT your sophomore year, and if necessary, find a tutor to work on your weaknesses. ACT and SAT books like the Princeton Review and Barron’s offer insight into the format and setup of the test that can boost your score multiple points. I highly suggest buying a few books and reading them thoroughly. Do not wait until the summer before your senior year to take the ACT or SAT. Your score can not only help you with admissions, but also allow you to graduate debt free depending on where you attend. Go ahead and take the time necessary to achieve a high score.

Apply to college early. Even if you do not want to register as early decision or early action, submitting your application early gives you the opportunity to correct any mistakes. The financial aid office can contact you if your FAFSA does not correspond with the Profile, or if your recommendation letter never arrives, you have time to email the letter before decisions are made. Also, practice interviews in advance with your parents or counselor, and research the college before the interview. By starting early you can submit an impressive application without last minute stress.

Accumulating service hours, taking on leadership roles, and creating a senior project does not happen overnight. During middle school or freshman year find a local organization you love and serve there during the entirety of your high school years. Colleges love to find dedicated students who can stick with something versus students who jump on the newest, shiniest opportunity for a few months and then move on when the novelty wears off. If you want to go on a mission’s trip or create a yearlong senior project like I did, start planning early so you can properly execute the project. Even though you might be an underclassman, go ahead and run for officer positions in certain clubs if you are qualified. During my freshman year I was the Sergeant-at-Arms for Teen-Age Republican Society, and had the opportunity to lead my own service project for TARS. If you enjoy SGA then compete for class president or secretary. Go for it. Start getting involved as an underclassman in the things you love. And this brings me to my next point.

Find Your Passion and Focus

If you have this preconceived notion that colleges want the perfect, well-rounded student, burn that idea to the ground. Colleges like experts and specialists. Do not stretch yourself thin attempting to do everything, especially if you do not enjoy it. Find your passion and dedicate yourself to that passion. I ultimately decided to drop my voice and piano lessons in order to focus on neuroscience and design sprinkler heads that cut down on water consumption. Do not attempt to join half a dozen clubs you do not particularly care about and halfheartedly participate. If you are passionate about engineering, then join robotics and Science Olympiad, compete in FIRST, and maybe even build a device that would help your elderly neighbor reach the groceries on the top shelf. If you love playing an instrument then join the school band, set up a service project where you teach elementary students how to play piano or guitar after school, and work at a local music store. If you want to join a club your school does not currently have or if you are homeschooled, create and lead your own club. Instead of trying to come across as a well-rounded student that can do a little bit of everything, demonstrate your passion by going the extra mile in one or two fields.

The Actual Application

Imagine looking through hundreds of applications over the course of a month or two. It sounds absolutely tedious and painstakingly boring. Things begin to blend together. Therefore, you want an application that entertains the admissions counselor and stands out somehow. Also, you want to give the reader a deeper understanding of your personality. After they finish reviewing your application, you should no longer feel like a stranger. I wrote one of my essays on the science behind zombies and the probability of their existence in the future. It sounds insane, but that was the entire point. It demonstrated my passion for neuroscience, my strange fascination with zombies, and my out of the box thinking. When you write your personal essay, put a little bit of yourself into that essay. Write about how losing your mother at a young age forced you to grow up, or talk about how you had your heart broken in Africa on a mission’s trip. If you think your life seems mundane or ordinary, then find what makes you different. Maybe you collect keychains from every state you visit. Delve into that story. You are unique in some way. Convey that uniqueness.

Also, when listing your activities in the application, use every word to your advantage. Instead of writing “I was Sergeant-at-Arms for TARS,” in the description box, write “I helped lead biweekly meetings, took attendance, organized the Angel Tree Project, and hosted a Mayoral debate as Sergeant-at-Arms for TARS.” Accurately depict and highlight what you did in an activity. If you played a sport and won multiple tournaments, list those tournaments. You only have 150 characters to impress your reader. Use your characters wisely.

For all of the homeschoolers, start your application very early. I cannot express the importance of getting everything figured out well before the deadline. Some colleges require SAT subject tests, the writing portion of the ACT, additional letters of recommendation, or notarized transcripts. Determine what a college needs at least two months in advance and then proceed. If you cannot fulfill any requirements or cannot find the requirements, call the school and get the name of whoever you speak with. Applying as a homeschooler is not an easy task, trust me, I know. Start early, ask for help, and do not give up.

It’s Okay to Not Have Everything Figured Out

I will be attending college in 6 months and I do not even know where I have been accepted, much less where I want to attend. If you do not know what you want to major in or where you want to go to college, it is okay. Just make a list of things you want in a college: size: location: Greek life: religious life: majors: cost. Websites like collegeview.com and bigfuture.collegeboard.com can help you search through colleges to find possible matches. Once you have a list of three or more colleges you like, set up tours or request information. And then apply, and make sure to apply to safety and reach colleges. Don’t just apply to one school and put all your hopes and dreams on that single college. Also, good news, you can always change your major, and you probably will, but nonetheless, make sure to attend a college that at least offers majors you are interested in.

Have Fun

Throughout this article I have stressed the importance of starting early and building a great application, but I also want to stress the importance of making memories and friendships. Don’t be so busy making a life you forget to live a life. Go to the fair with friends or backpack through a national park. Enjoy yourself. Take a day off every week and have “me time.” When you look back at high school, do you want to recall countless hours spent in front of a computer studying or do you want to remember getting lost on a road trip with your friends and spontaneously deciding to go to a concert on the beach? Build an incredible application filled with service hours, great grades, and individuality, and also build an incredible life filled with friendships, no regrets, and sleepless nights filled with adventure.