Summer is a great time for college bound high school seniors to get a jump on some of the tasks ahead during the fall college application season. Here are 10 things rising seniors should be doing before their final year of high school begins:

Set up an Account and Start Applications

More than 700 colleges require students use the Common Application (link) to apply to college. Still others use the Coalition Application (link), or various state system applications. Now is a great time for students to set up their account and review the information required in the each of these applications. Although they are to due for a few months, getting a jump on it will take pressure off during the year.

Work on your College Essays

Students should review the essay prompts in the Common Application (link) and for any other colleges they are considering that do not use the Common Application, such as state college systems like the University of California (link). It’s a good time for students to determine which of the essay prompts they will respond to, create drafts, and finish essays by the end of the summer.

Create/Refine the College List

Most students have some idea of which colleges they may be applying to, and their chance of admittance based on their grades, scores and activities. Now is a good time to refine the list, keeping it to no more than 10, and making sure there are equal numbers of reach, target, and safety choices.

Finalize your Resume

Summer is ideal for students to finish their resumes and their list of activities and accomplishments. This information will be required in the Common Application and the applications of many other colleges.

Visit your Top College Choices

Even if school is not in session, it is still beneficial for students to visit their top college choices,  if financially feasible. Many colleges look favorably upon applicants who show interest in attending their college by visiting in advance. If there’s no time or money available for visits, students should still register on the school’s website and social media sites to demonstrate their interest.

Clean up social media sites

Many college admissions officers report that they review some applicants’ social media sites to ensure that the applicant is a good fit for their university. Students should go through all of their social media posts to ensure that they pass the grandmother test — would you be embarrassed if your grandmother saw any of your posts?

Work/Intern

Sitting around playing video games or simply hanging out with your friends is not going to make an admissions officer think you will be an asset to their institution. Get a job or an internship, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. Bonus: these experiences are  often fodder for a strong college essay.

Save $$$

College is expensive. Save money from that summer job. The more you can contribute, the less you’ll require in loans or support from family. 

Ask your Teacher for Recommendations

If you haven’t done so already, select a teacher who knows you well and values your contribution in his/her class to ask for a recommendation. Don’t wait until the fall, when teachers are busy teaching classes and helping students.

Take/Retake SAT or ACT

If you’ve already taken the test, evaluate whether your score accurately reflects your academic ability. If not, study on your own online or with a test prep company, and take it again. Both testing agencies offer an August test, which would take the pressure off of testing during the academic year.

Have Fun!

Yes there’s a lot to do, but don’t forget to have fun! If well organized and on top of your tasks, you can do all of the above and have fun with friends and other activities during the summer.