Rising seniors who spend time working on college applications this summer, will be glad they did so in the fall. What should be on the summer "to do" list?

1. Prepare an Academic and Activities Resume. The resume consolidates information on activities, honors, awards, leadership and community service experience needed for the fill in portion of the college application. Also, the resume can be a source of ideas for the application essay. It is a good idea to provide teachers and guidance counselors, preparing recommendations, with copies of this resume because it provides a more complete "picture" of the student.

2. Register for and begin the Common Application. Over 500 schools participate in the Common Application. Students who will be applying to member schools can start their applications now. Starting early allows applicants to complete the sections in a thoughtful manner. It is not necessary to complete the entire application in one sitting. You can save your entries and return to the application at a later time and with a fresh eye.

3. Draft the Core Essay. The Common Application essay questions are available now. School supplemental essays, as well as other application essays, are typically released in August. Don't procrastinate and leave all the writing to the fall, when there are competing demands of homework and extracurricular activities. Start brainstorming ideas, outlining and drafting. Completing the core essay is a big accomplishment and greases the wheels for the remaining essays.

4. Visit and/or Research Colleges and Universities. If you haven't finalized your list of prospective schools, continue to research and visit colleges. Make sure the list of schools you will be applying to is "balanced", reflecting a mix of reach, mid range and safety schools.