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Getting ready to apply for college, but the application process seems tedious? Don’t get discouraged. There are plenty of ways to tackle that mound of paperwork and meet those application deadlines. All it takes is a little planning and prioritization.

The following are tips on how to stay on top of the college application process:

1. List all the schools that you want to apply to and rank them in order of importance. Most school counselors recommend students apply to a minimum of four colleges, with five to eight being the standard. However, the number of colleges that you apply to may be fewer or more.
2. Choose a selection of schools so you have backups in case you are not accepted to your first choice. Select your top two schools that you are confident you will be accepted to and follow those choices with schools in which you have a good chance of being accepted. Finish the list with schools in which you might have a chance of being accepted.
3. Once you have created your prioritized list, focus your efforts on the actual application process. Remember, quality should be emphasized over quantity, so don’t feel that you have to put an equal amount of effort into each application you fill out. Concentrate your efforts on your top schools first, then the second tier and so on.
4. Each school has a specific application deadline. Make sure to complete and send your application before the deadline for consideration.