Gaining admission to college used to be a painfully laborious process: Pouring over reams of applications, carefully filling out boxes with all the relevant information, constantly sharpening your pencil so that the ScanTron machine could read all your vital statistics. Truth is, it probably wasn't that different from taking the SAT's, except that this was a process that lasted for weeks or months, as opposed to a few hours on a Saturday morning.

These days, however, the admissions process-like so much else in the world-has been streamlined, digitized and generally been made a whole lot easier than it ever was in the past. Sure, it may seem daunting when you consider the fact that things have changed so much, but the truth is that, with a little bit of legwork, you will not only be able to fully understand this brave new world of trying to get into school, you'll be fully capable of using it to your advantage. Here's a quick lesson on how.

Learn to Love the Internet

Not all colleges and universities have digitized their admissions process, but many of them have. So the first thing you should do once you've narrowed down your choice of schools to see if they have an electronic version of the application. Many schools these days have both e-versions and printed ones, and in order to encourage prospective students to file their applications electronically, they often charge a lower fee for its processing than they do for a print one.

Once you've gotten a general handle on what's involved in the application process, you should poke around the website. There are many advantages to applying to school electronically, so the more fully you understand the process, the better advantage you can take of it once you begin.

Sure, it may be tempting to just apply the old-fashioned way, but the truth is that it's not only more time-consuming, but risky, too. Indeed, there are innumerable issues at work with print applications that simply are not an issue with electronic ones, not the least of which is the fact that you can edit an online application (which is not possible without re-starting your print one). Additionally, most of them have built-in tracking devices that confirm that it's been successfully submitted (no such luck with the printed versions unless you spend the big bucks on registered mail) and you don't run the risk of spilling anything on it or forgetting to include any of the materials that you might with a paper application. Indeed, there are just too many advantages to filling your application online to not consider it.

Plus, many of the online versions have built-in fail-safe systems that let you know if you have forgotten to complete any sections before they even allow you to submit it.

Plan Early

The admissions process, whether you choose to go the online or traditional route, is a long one. After all, it's not just about filing your papers, writing an essay or two and calling it a day. You will be required to get recommendations from past professors or employers or co-workers, a process that you should begin as early as possible. Just make sure that you also send these people any supplemental sheets that they need to fill out for each individual school (in addition to their written remarks)-the last thing you'll want to seem is unprepared, especially if they are doing you the favor of writing you a recommendation in the first place.

You should also take note of the fees associated with applying for school. Whether it's college, grad school or some other kind of education that you hope to pursue, you will likely have to spend some amount of money to even apply. Make sure you have enough put away to be able to afford this: It's often not a great deal of money, but you definitely don't want to be caught short in that department.

Then there's the issue of any standardized tests that you have to take. Whether it's the SAT's, GRE's or other fear-inducing acronym of an exam, research when they're being given and sign up for them early. You'd be shocked by how many people take them, and spots for the exams are limited. Make sure you reserve yours early to avoid any problems later on.

The Dreaded Essay

The part of the application process that people tend to fear most is the essay. This is probably because most jobs do not require a great deal of artful writing. And the prospect of being judged not only on what you have to say about yourself but by the ways in which you say it is absolutely terrifying to most people. So the more you can prepare yourself early on, the better prepared you'll be once the time comes to write it.

How do you do this? Practice. Gather your thoughts, jot down ideas, go back and read essays you wrote when you were last in school. Get books that deal with this sort of thing. And once you actually have written a draft, have friends and family members read it for both content and style. The more people who see your essay, the better your chances will be of submitting one that represents your finest efforts.

Most important of all, though, is to relax and try to enjoy the process. Because the truth is, you are doing all of this to make yourself into a better and more successful person. So no matter how much work there is, always keep in mind that it's for the best of all possible purposes: Your future.