Meet with a college counselor. If you are an American high school student, sit with a college adviser at your high school and discuss your options. College counselors have relationships with school administrators and will be able to tell you if your grades and test scores measure up for admittance. International students desiring to study in America will meet with an overseas education adviser, who is affiliated with the United States Information Services or the United States Embassy. This person educates students on American colleges and admission procedures.
Research schools by going to the Web site of the school you are interested in. Check out the school's majors, information about student activities and housing, events, teacher profiles and the application process. Compare the schools you are interested in and make notes about the differences. Visit any schools you can in person. School Web sites give an important overview of what colleges have to offer, and will tell you requirement expectations. If you are an international student, make sure your school credits transfer to qualify for admission.
Write an essay, specifically following the directions, about something that has significant meaning to you. What you write about and how you present the information to the admission committee can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection. Capture the reader's attention with an essay that features a relevant topic, is creative and grammatically free of errors. Have a professional proofreader or someone skilled in writing and editing to look over the essay for content and proofreading errors.
Apply to colleges about one year in advance. Fill out the application either online or by printing out the application. Gather all the necessary documents, transcripts, ACT or SAT scores and personal recommendations that are required and follow directions to send the papers to the admissions office. Include any requested fees. Your application will not be considered until your file is complete with all the necessary paperwork requested.
Review financial aid and scholarship information. Find out what is required for both and decide if you are a candidate for either. Read college literature or talk with a counselor and find out what is needed to apply. Follow through on all paperwork and documents if you are a candidate.