Apply to colleges that you have a realistic chance of being accepted by. Since most colleges and universities require an application fee, there's no point in applying to colleges that have SAT score requirements significantly higher than yours. While your references and essay can help to sway an admissions recruiter, they will not completely make up for a large gap between the SAT requirements of the institution and your lower scores.
Request an application package well in advance of when you would anticipate starting college. Most colleges have application deadlines for fall, spring and summer start dates. Many colleges and universities offer a downloadable application on the institution's website. You may wish to set up an appointment with an admissions counselor to discuss your application, as well as determine if the institution feels like a good match for you. Many colleges and universities offer campus tours and information sessions for potential applicants.
Create a list of individuals who have some knowledge of your abilities to write reference letters for you. This could be former (or current) instructors, employers or a supervisor with a charitable organization that you have volunteered with over the summer. Normally you will be asked to provide two or three letters of reference. In other cases you will only need to list the names of your references with contact information.
Brainstorm ideas for your essay. Pay special attention to any parameters that the essay portion of the application has, such as a word count. Think about why you want to go to college. Personal anecdotes from your life that can help to give the admissions recruiter a sense of who you are can be useful in producing a successful essay. For example, a story about how as a child you ran away from home for a day to visit a planetarium because you were fascinated by space can help to sway an admissions recruiter.
Edit your essay to ensure there are not grammatical or spelling errors. You may want to have a parent or teacher review your essay to offer advice and to proofread it for errors.