You shouldn’t delve into the college application alone. From SAT help to application deadlines, there’s a lot to learn. And why not learn from those actually making the decisions?

Below is the advice of three admission professionals from three of the top schools in the country.

Kate Lazo, assistant director of admission at Stanford University

Essays and samples: Beginning your essays before classes start will help immensely in the long run. Not only will you have more time to ponder topics and to edit your essays, but also your stress level will be reduced and you will be able to enjoy your senior year.

Don’t forget that colleges will consider your writing mechanics as well as the content when reviewing your essays. Make sure that your essays tell your story but don’t neglect spell checking and proofreading.

Deadlines and requirements: Once you’ve finalized your college list, create application checklists for each school. Many colleges have similar, but not identical, application requirements so make sure that you submit the required credentials to each school.

Most colleges close for the winter holidays and don’t re-open until after the application deadline. if you wait until the last minute to seek information, you might be out of luck.

Letters of recommendation: Give those doing the recommending ample time to compose their letters. Remember that your teachers and counselors are doing you a favor and be courteous to them. Place your requests for letters during the first few weeks of the school year.

Other: Remember that this is your application. While you should certainly feel comfortable requesting feedback from those who know you well, at the end of the day you are the one who is applying to college and your application should represent you as a person and a student.

Henry R. Broaddus, dean of admission at College of William & Mary

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