First, this post should sum up most information for you:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/admissions-hindsight-lessons-learned/588508-tips-college-admission-process.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/admissions-hindsight-lessons-learned/588508-tips-college-admission-process.html</a>
Second: If you have read that and still havn’t found your answer, just post a specific question, as the above forum was made for answering the questions you asked.
Third: Just so I don’t sound like a cranky old man:
Do: Have fun! Go to Prom! Don’t waste your senior year worrying about IB/AP exams, and college admissions. You should focus on them, but if you fixate you will not enjoy senior year.
Don’t: Succumb to senioritis. It’s easy, lazy, and ultimetaly a horrible idea. You WILL regret it, it is much easier to slog through the last few months and get things done, rather than regretting it later.
Do: Start early, the earlier you apply the better, that being said make sure you have quality essays, recs, etc. Rushing through is a bad idea. Research, research, research some more. If you know what you want to do, then find a college that is well known for it, even your safety should have good programs that you will be interested in.
Don’t: Wait till the night before, only apply to Top-Tier, get your hopes up (they will most likely get crushed; tough life, suck it up), be a cocky b**** (you will regret that too).
Do: Read CC, but take everything with a pinch of salt, it isn’t always accurate. Give back to CC after you go through the process, by trying to give helpful and ACCURATE info.
Don’t: Obsess over CC, put to much stake in chances (unless the message is “look at these colleges instead”), be ‘that guy’ and tell EVERYONE how worried you are ALL the time. Honestly no-one but you and your immediate family cares, your friends have their own problems.
Finally, have fun, I actually enjoyed applying to colleges, but I’m just weird like that. If you do your research well you won’t have to worry about going to college, that is what your safety is for.