How Colleges Admit Students: Anatomy of an Admission Decision College Exploration: Getting Off on the Right Foot A Calendar of Exploration, Decision-Making, and Application Tasks The First Step: Taking a Look at You Mounting a Search: Getting Answers to Your College Questions High School Course Selection: Relevance to College Admission Learning about College Options: Getting the Best Information Using the Internet to Explore and Apply to Colleges Making the Most of the College Fair Experience Campus Visits: Getting Ready to Go Campus Visits: Being There and Afterward Admission Plans: Modes of Admission Access Degree of Difficulty: Understanding the Admission Competition College Admission Tests: Strategies for Preparation Admission Essays: Putting Forth Your Best Effort Narrowing Options: Deciding Where to Apply The College Application: Making It Work for You Understanding College Costs Types and Sources of Student Financial Aid Making Financial Aid Forms and Applications Work for You After the Application: What Happens Next? Off to College: Getting Ready for Your Freshman Year Parents and the High School-to-College Transition Educational Success: How Counselors Can Help You School to College: Counselors as Your Allies Some Closing Words about Expectations.