If college is on your radar, don’t wait until senior year to start thinking about applications. The earlier you start preparing, the more options you’ll have—and the less stressful the whole process will be.

With Christmas around the corner, the countdown to January college application deadlines is officially on. In the rush to hit “submit” and check applications off your to-do list, it’s easy to overlook small but critical details.

Maybe you’re halfway through the process, scrolling through endless college websites and trying to make sure every detail is perfect. Sound familiar?

With so many things going on, timing is essential when it comes to applying for college. You don’t want to miss important deadlines or miss out on valuable opportunities. I hope this checklist will create some breathing room (and sanity!) for you.