For thousands of students across the country, September marks the beginning of the college application process. There’s a lot to do in the months ahead—apply for financial aid, take admissions test like the SAT, and get letters of recommendation. It can be an exciting, yet stressful, time, but it will all go much more smoothly with a little advanced planning.

Check out our top five steps that will help make you a great college candidate:

Step one: continue to take challenging courses – many high school seniors succumb to the “senioritis” syndrome—that feeling of apathy that strikes towards the end of a student’s high school career. Remember, colleges definitely take your senior grades and coursework into account when considering you for admission! Colleges are looking for students who have demonstrated a strong desire to learn and challenge themselves all throughout their schooling. By opting to take a strong course load their senior year, students are sending the message that they are ready to embrace the challenge of higher education!

Step two: find out what tests you need to take – although many vocational and trade schools don’t require prospective students to take the SAT or ACT, many four-year colleges do. You have to sign up for the SAT and ACT three weeks in advance, so make sure you’ve studied up well before then! Keep in mind that you can always take the test again if you don’t do so well the first time around.

Step three: decide what colleges you’d like to attend – this might be the hardest part of the college admissions process because there are so many choices! Do you want to attend a vocational school, a community college, or a four-year university? It all depends on what career path you’d like to pursue! Even if you’re not sure of what profession you want to enter, having a well-educated worker has always been a top priority for employers.

Step four: find the college application – most colleges have electronic applications, so you can check out your school’s website to locate the application. If you’re still not sure what school is right for you, Top-Colleges can provide you with free information on any of our featured training centers, universities, and colleges that interest you.

Step five: check out some financial aid options – in order to qualify for federal and state sponsored grants and loans, you need to submit the FAFSA. You should start getting your tax return, W-2 form, and other paperwork in order because you will need it in order to answer questions about how much money you and your parents will be able to contribute to your education. Also take some time to start looking for outside scholarships. When the time comes to write your tuition bill, you’ll be thankful that you’ve got some financial aid to help you out!

If you’re still feeling overwhelmed by the college application process, remember that there are lots of people out there who want to help! High school counselors can answer all your application questions—from how to order transcripts to what admissions deadlines you need to make. If you’re currently not in high school, don’t hesitate to request information from your school’s financial aid or admissions office. They are there to help make your admissions process as seamless as possible.