Being a senior is rough. On top of taking an advanced course load, you need to worry about applications to colleges and scholarships. If you haven’t gone through this process before, it can all seem very daunting and scary. Here are 5 tips to help you apply to college.

The early bird gets the worm. Sending applications in early is important. If you apply as soon as possible, there is a chance that you will get an admission decision early too. You are also placed on many priority lists, so you are eligible for more money, which is extremely helpful.

It’s not that hard. It’s very, very easy to apply to most colleges. It’s monotonous, sure, but they all require the same basic information. Make sure that you’re consistent with the information being shared on your application.

Make like Nike; just do it! Sitting down and finding time to do it is hard, but it’s rewarding when it’s finished. If you’re planning on attending an Iowa state school, the applications take less than an hour. It’s an easy way to get an application out there.

Keep it small. Make your application list small. Choosing two or three schools, one of them being a bit of a reach, is smart. It saves you time, and you can have quality over quantity in your applications.

Predetermine your rank. Make sure that you have your first choice, second choice, etc. Do your research beforehand, visit all kinds of colleges, and make sure that wherever you apply, you would be happy.