Make three or four photocopies of the application you will prepare. The next step is to carefully read the instructions given at the top of the application. Failure to follow these instructions means you will not be considered at this school. Now accumulate all the information needed about you and your family and enter it into the photocopies. Once you are sure you have all the correct information in the right spaces and it is accurate to the best of your knowledge, you can prepare the actual application.
Most applications have a section for factual information and a section for a personal essay.
Type all applications unless otherwise instructed by the school. One common mistake when filling out admission and financial aid applications is leaving blank spaces. Any blank spaces on the application tell the institution that it is not complete. Most institutions will return the application to you with a note of what you need to fill out.