It is never too early to being researching colleges and making your college list. From freshmen to junior year you will have numerous opportunities to learn more about colleges and what they have to offer. By senior year you should finalize your college list and select the schools you will be applying to on Scoir and Common App. Click here for more information on narrowing and finalizing your college list.

Every year the PSAT is offered to students so they may be exposed to the SAT's structure and questions. The junior year PSAT is a great indicator of your score level and will help you target areas for improvement. SAT and ACT testing takes place throughout junior and senior year. The common date for your first SAT is March of your junior year but you can create your own study schedule and register for an earlier date. Students are suggested to try both the SAT and ACT, as well as try to super-score. You can take standardized testing throughout your senior year to qualify for Bright Future, however test scores for universities tend to be due by December. Click here for more information on prepping for the SAT / ACT.

The summer before senior year is a great time to get ahead on your college application. Consider creating your resume and brag sheet early on so you can check them off your to-do list. Keep in mind that your resume will be useful for both college admissions and scholarship applications. Additionally, most teachers will require a brag sheet or resume before writing letters of recommendation so make sure you have the paperwork done ahead of time.

Letters of recommendations are another important factor within your college application. Most schools require or accept optional letters of recommendations from teachers, counselors, mentors, coaches, community leaders, etc. Check with each school's requirements and policy on recommender's, some universities might not accept letters of recommendation or require them from specific subjects or counselors. In August and September you should contact teachers and request a letter of recommendation. Keep in mind that some teachers might get more requests and may take longer to write the recommendation, so ask at least a month or two before the deadline.

Summer is a great time to begin working on the core of your college applications. Consider brainstorming and creating rough drafts for the Common App essay early on. It can be hard to write a moving and unique essay on one try, so make sure to take your time so you can perfect your writing. Similarly, the activity section of the Common App requires a lot of thought and dedication so starting before school starts is a smart choice. Also, filling out basic information on your Common App is a great way to stay productive and on top of the application process. For more tips and information on the Common App profile, essays, and activities section, click here.

School-specific prompts tend to change yearly with each application year, so it is best to wait for your application year's prompts to be released. Colleges release their new prompts to the Common App in August through September. You should first complete your Common App profile (including the activities and essay) before beginning on your college specific supplements. For more tips on completing supplements click here.

Depending on the type of admission you choose to apply, your application deadlines as well as deadlines for financial aid documents can vary. Priority admissions, early decision, and early action tend to have deadlines in November. Regular decision and Early Decision II tend to have deadlines in January or February. Remember to check with each school's deadline to stay on schedule and send all required material on time. To learn more about what each type of admission consists of click here.

On October 1st, the FAFSA (Free Application Federal Student Aid) opens. The earlier this application is submitted, the more funding is available so get it done early! In addition to the FAFSA, you should also complete the FFAA (Florida Financial Aid Application) to be eligible for state grants and scholarships such as Bright Future's. Some universities might also require a CSS profile or proof of state residency via documentation. To learn more about financial aid, click here.

Apart from financial aid deadlines, stay on top of scholarship deadlines. Some schools automatically consider students who apply by a certain deadline for scholarships. If the school requires a separate application for scholarships make sure to accommodate your schedule and complete it timely. Some popular private national scholarships have deadlines in the Fall and Winter months. To learn more about scholarships click here.

After completing a university's main admission application you might consider applying to some special programs they have to offer. Be aware that some universities will ask you inside their Common App application if you are interested to apply for such programs and will provide you with the application supplements. Other universities might have the application for these programs separate from their admissions Common App application, and others may be by-invitation only and are chosen by the admissions committee based on your initial application. Stay up-to-date with the programs deadlines and application requirements.

Below are some programs from in-state universities that might interest you:

• UF: Honors, URSP, Promise, Innovation Academy, PaCE, Lead UF, Medical Honors Program

• FSU: Honors, CARE Summer Bridge, Honors Medical Scholar, Honors Legal Scholar

• UCF: Honors, Burnett Medical Scholars, Lead Scholars, EXCEL, COMPASS, L.E.A.R.N

• FIU: Honors, QBIC, Marc U* Star

• UM: Honors & Scholars Programs

• NSU: Honors, Premier Programs

While working on college admission applications you may find several national scholarship opportunities to apply to. However, most local scholarships open in January and run throughout the spring and summer. By then you should have already submitted most, if not all, of your college applications. While waiting to hear back from college decisions you can dedicate your time and energy to applying for scholarships. To learn more about scholarships click here.