Seniors, here is your college admissions checklist for May.  Steve Frappier, director of college counseling at Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove, Fla, provides some timely advice on what seniors should be doing in May as they prepare for college. —Tanya Caldwell, New York Times

Finish Strong
You are almost there, and we are as excited as you are! Before the silly string flies and the confetti pops out of the can, focus on a strong finish. The reset button will be pressed on graduation day, and you must soon prove yourself with a whole new cast of faculty. How you finish now — in terms of positive academic momentum and in healthy decision-making — will be the best way to test your readiness for freshman year. How you end senior year is also how you will be remembered among your peers and among your faculty members. Be smart, in every sense of the word.

Say ‘No Thank You’
Follow up with the schools that have admitted you, by or as close to May 1 as you can, to say that you have decided to enroll elsewhere. A simple e-mail is sufficient, to the general admissions address or to your admissions representative. For some students, these follow-up notes feel awkward, but you have been “invited to the party,” so the least you can do is send a simple R.S.V.P. that you cannot attend. Declining the offer of admission is also a courtesy to the students on wait lists.

Say ‘Thank You’
You have been helped along the way in your college process. Find the time to express gratitude to your teachers, counselors, coaches, advisers, and relatives. Pick the means of communication that suits your style — whether it’s a face-to-face conversation, an e-mail, a phone call, or a card — and let them know how they have been a positive resource for you.

Assess Any Wait List Options
Previous articles have addressed how to navigate the wait list process with a sense of realism. It is O.K. if your interest level for a wait list school “cools off” after placing your deposit elsewhere on May 1. Look within and determine if you want to pursue any wait list offers. Write to any colleges to de-register from the waitlist, if your plans have finalized; continue to remain in touch with the school that you wish to pursue.

Read the Instructions
Your university’s Orientation and Residential Life offices will remain in touch throughout the summer. You will receive a lot of information — from detailed move-in day instructions to how to set up a bank account and more — and you actually have to read it! Keep a folder with all of this information, including a list of helpful campus phone numbers.