A major hurdle in the road to college is the actual application process. No matter how well prepared a student might be academically, if he or she can't create and submit an effective application, there's little chance of getting into the school or program.

Teachers and counselors can assist students in creating more effective admission applications by:

• Helping students understand the various factors used by colleges to determine who to admit.

• Helping students follow admission requirements.

• Making sure students are aware of their application and admission options.

• Working with students to improve their skills in writing application essays.

• Writing effective letters of recommendation for their students.

You can help your students organize their application process by providing a college application worksheet (.pdf).