You've spent months, maybe over a year, researching, visiting and applying to colleges. The months of November, December and January delivered the stress of completing applications. Now, the months of February and March are wrought with the tension of waiting for decisions to arrive come April. So what do you do?

Many admission offices provide useful information addressing any logistical concerns you may have during the interim between clicking submit and receiving a decision -- no really, they do... check your email -- but what else should you be doing to ready yourself academically, socially and personally for college?

First thing, first -- take care of business. By this I mean that you should make sure that the FAFSA and any necessary financial aid forms are complete, and you should search for and complete any scholarship applications to which you can apply. College is an investment, but it's an expensive investment and you should do your part to help you and your family pay for it.

After that, the best advice I can offer is to wait patiently and shift your focus elsewhere.

Focus on school. College courses are going to be demanding and require that you invest yourself in your studies in a way that you may have not before. Working hard all the way through senior year is a great way to prepare yourself to take a step up with your academics when you get to college. And college admission officers love to see that a student has finished the year strong when reviewing final transcripts -- and they do review final transcripts!

Focus on home. Whether you go to a college that is 20 minutes or 20 hours from home, you're going to be seeing family and friends a lot less than you're used to. Appreciate the time you have with them now. The culmination of any experience, especially high school, can bring with it a lot of "drama." Do your best to see past this. Enjoy family dinners or attending a sibling's soccer game. Support your friends as you work hard to finish high school, celebrate receiving acceptance letters and cope with admission denials.

Focus on you. For many students, college will be a time of newfound independence, and it's wise to use these next few months to prepare for this. Assume new responsibilities at home, in school or at a job. Take more management over your own schedule. No one is going to be telling you what to do and when at college -- unless you really lose out on the roommate lottery -- so try and get used to doing it for yourself now. Demonstrate to your parents that they can trust you to make good decisions -- they'll feel better and worry less when you're gone.

No doubt senior year of high school has been a hectic and stressful time thus far dealing with the impending deadlines of numerous college applications. But by now you're finished or nearly finished with all of that, and for two short months you have a reprieve from these added pressures. Tough decisions linger in the spring, but as my former colleague at the College of William and Mary, Senior Assistant Dean of Admission Wendy Livingston writes, "Until then, try to relax, take a deep breath, and just enjoy this time when applications and college decisions do not have to be on the forefront of your mind.  That's what April is for."

Gather 5 or more friends for coffee at your home and Educational Advocates will give an informal talk on Navigating the College Admissions Process and answer your group's questions. If you host an event, we will deduct 10% from any of our professional service options. This program is suitable for parents of freshmen, sophomores or juniors. Call 617-734-3700 or email to schedule your event today.