What to do and when to do it

Preparing for college starts long before you graduate. Here's a guide with pointers for every year you're in high school.
By ANNE MALINEE
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
If applying to college were a game, the rules would go on for pages, not paragraphs.
Playing would take longer than the longest Monopoly tournament, and the stakes would be a lot higher than a pile of paper money.
When you're playing for your future, it's no trivial pursuit. Use our college calendar to avoid chutes and ladders as you devise a strategy for winning a spot in the school of your choice.
Note: Not every student will need to complete all of the steps on the calendar. Items marked with stars (***) apply to students who want to apply to honors programs or more selective schools. When in doubt, ask your college counselor or a college admissions representative.
Ready? Inhale.