Educating students and families about the college application and admissions process is my professional mission, and a good way to reach students and families is… on TV! Margaret Larson graciously invited me to her show, New Day Northwest, to talk about reducing the stress that students and parents experience during the college application process. Although there are only a handful of steps associated with applying to college, knowing those steps: GPA, SAT/ACT, essays, recommendations, extracurriculars, FAFSA/CSS, and developing an appropriate college list, one of the most critical parts in creating a competitive application is starting early! If you are a sophomore, or even a freshman, there are many things you can start doing now to prepare for college applications and to be much more competitive for admissions… and scholarships. Don’t delay, reach out to those who know the current application process, the culture and mission of individual colleges and universities, and can help guide you to the best possible college for you and your family.