Fall semester during the senior year of high school is an electric time. As the weather cools social calendars heat up. There is homecoming, dances and talk of senior trips. During all of the excitement it may be tempting to block out the 900 lb. gorilla in the room: College admissions. Fall is crunch time for students and their college search.

If senior year of high school is the first time a student even thinks about applying to a college, then the process will be that much harder for them to navigate. The key to success in college admissions is to start early; preferably in junior year of high school. Most colleges have application and admission deadlines that are open months, and sometimes, in excess of a year before the expected starting date.

College admissions can be a tricky part of the college search process. It's the time in a student's life when they have virtually no control over the outcome. Once an application is sent and all transcripts, reference letters and other accompanying documents reach the school-the decision is pretty much in the hands of admissions officials.

The waiting process can be less difficult if students have done their work beforehand. Starting early is the key. Some colleges begin awarding admission spots to students as they receive acceptable applications. Other schools wait until one universal deadline has passed and then examine the applicants. Getting started early will help ensures the student hits all of the deadlines.

Another tip for success would be getting others involved in the application process. Asking pertinent questions of guidance counselors and using the resources they have available can be quite advantageous. Guidance counselors know more about the college admissions process than most other people students may have access to. Also, running important decisions by parents and other family members can also be helpful-as some of these people have gone through the same stressful situation, too.