Does it matter what time of year you start applying to colleges? Definitely the best time to apply is as early as possible. If you do not know how to apply to college there are many resources you can turn to for help online. High school students in their junior year should begin the process of choosing which colleges to apply. Beginning with a list, students and parents should then collect brochures, discuss options with friends and family, and speak to college prep Los Angeles counselors to get a feel for what they want to go to school for and where they might like to attend.

For those students who are confident and ready to apply to colleges, early decision may be the best option. The acceptance rate in this first round of applications is much higher, however if you are accepted you must be absolutely sure that you want to go to that school. Upon acceptance you are then bound to attend that college. Early decision is a definite advantage for the right candidate. If you still want to get a jumpstart on your college applications earl you can go with an early action type of application which allows you to still apply very early but with a somewhat lesser acceptance rate due to the fact that if you do get accepted to a school, you are not necessarily bound to attend that college and may end up going somewhere else, if that is what you want. Both of these early applications are usually due sometime in November.

For all the procrastinators out there, you can still apply and get accepted to colleges through the regular decision application process. These are generally due by the first of the year and then you will know your application statuses by springtime. Acceptance rates vary by college and you can apply to as many as you like or can afford (some applications require a fee just to apply). It is all about personal preference which time you decide to start applying to colleges.

The earlier you begin your planning, however, the better chance you have at getting into the school of your choice. Maybe you are having a hard time figuring out what you want to do, and that's okay, too. Attending college is a major life decision and you want to be sure that you are not applying anywhere due to stress and pressure of deadlines alone. Take your time in deciding what may be the best fit for you so that once you get there you can be confident in your decision.