With summer still in full swing, about the last thing anybody wants to think about is the start of school in the fall. However, for many teens in the region, the start of this coming school year also means the start of the college application season. As someone who has just recently undergone this process and is preparing to enter as a freshman in college this fall, I offer here some general advice on how to get started applying for college.

The most important thing is to start early. As Lillian Sherburne of the graduating Boothbay Region High School class of 2018 asserts, “Applying in itself is like having an extra class: Make time for it, but also pay attention to your other classes that you are currently taking.”

The best way to do this is to start, if possible, during the summer, when students are not yet bogged down by homework or sports events. Students can start filling out their online Common Application — an undergraduate college admission application accepted by more than 700 member colleges — writing their college essay or beginning the college touring process. Speaking from personal experience, it can be quite stressful when the May 1 deadline to commit to a school is only days away and you have yet to visit all the colleges you were accepted to. If college visits are fairly spread out, it could be beneficial to bring a notebook to write down thoughts about each college while the details are still fresh in your mind.

Choosing which colleges to apply to can be overwhelming. Certain basic qualifiers should be considered, such as distance from home, cost, conditions on campus and whether or not the college offers the field of study you wish to pursue.

BRHS staffer and longtime counselor Kerrin Erhard recommends the “Four Fit Way:” 1. Research yourself; 2. Research the schools; 3. Narrow the list; and 4. Make a match. Students should take stock of their personal preferences and research schools that fit their needs first, instead of instantly applying to name brand colleges, such as Ivy League ones, etc. Filters can be found on College Board or high school platforms like Naviance to aid students in finding schools that fit their specifications.

The majority of colleges require you declare your major on your application.This can be disheartening for some students unsure of their future careers or how to fit their passions into a field of study. However, there is no harm going into a school with an undeclared major. Erhard advises these students to “Try out different classes, maybe ones that align with some of the favorites from high school  .. .your ‘major’ will eventually make itself known to you.” As for students who know what they want to do, it can be tempting to go to a college that has a very specific area of study, whether it be in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) or the humanities, students should consider if a college has a wide enough range of study in case they decide to switch their major.

The last piece of advice Erhard gives to college-bound students is to check their emails, as colleges often send important information about the application process, housing, financial aid, and more through this method.