Congratulations! Hitting “submit” on a college application is no small feat. You’ve worked hard to bring together all your accomplishments, essays, and recommendations into a compelling package for admissions. But don’t get too comfortable just yet—there are a few important steps left to make sure everything is in place for a successful application season. Here’s what to do next to stay on top of things and avoid common post-application pitfalls.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and proclaim that most every conversation around college includes some discussion about rankings. The crazy thing is, rankings, like those touted by the now-highly controversial US News & World Report, have little to nothing to do with whether a school is right for a given student. A deep-dive into the criteria for these ‘rankings’ reveals that actually very little has to do with the quality of the student experience.

Embarking on the college admissions journey involves not only choosing the right institutions but also strategically navigating the various application deadlines. It’s never too early to understand these options, so you can strategize your individual application plan and stay on top of each deadline.

As college-bound juniors and seniors embark on the challenging yet exciting journey of college admissions, one aspect often remains shrouded in mystery: demonstrated interest. Read on as I unravel the significance of demonstrated interest, its role in admissions, and unveil the best strategies to showcase your genuine enthusiasm for the colleges that value this aspect.