Competition is increasing, and it’s becoming harder than ever before for students to get acceptance letters. What was an easy and thoughtless feat for people in the 70s and 80s has become a rat race that has so many kids in our country upset and anxious. Not to mention, paying for college is near impossible without taking student loans, making scholarships as appealing as ever.

If you’re intent on getting into a top-notch college with a tuition break, check out these college admission tips you won’t want to miss:

1. Timing:
   Apply EARLY! If your application lands in the hands of reviewers months before the deadline, they are more likely to give you a spot than if you’re vying for it during the final acceptance hours. This is not a time to procrastinate.
2. Personality Pairing:

Every college has its own kind of personality and ideal student that fits in there. If you look at the NY SUNY system, a kid who will be happy at SUNY Purchase will most definitely not fit in at SUNY Cortland. Jocks, artists, theater kids, business professionals, and everyone in-between: take time to find a school that helps you to be YOU.

3. Visit:

You must physically visit your college campus before you decide yes on it. There are physical and aesthetic-related requirements that you may have and not even realize yet. Plus, only on your visit will you really be able to envision yourself there, blending into the student body. Tell your parents it’s time to put new tires on the family car this year.

It’s definitely possible to cheat the application system. Visit the schools, talk to tour guides and students passing you by, and try to make connections while you’re there for your application. Finally, submit it months before the deadline.