It is college application time, and those who are applying to some of the top colleges and universities in the country should expect a great deal of competition in their attempts to attend the school of their choice.

In 2011, a number of the most prestigious schools saw an increase of applicants, which brought the acceptance percentage much lower. It is important for both students and parents to be informed in the college application process in order to find a good school for the student.

Standardized testing scores are definitely taken into account when schools are looking for prospective students. It is also important if parents can find a class or helpful tool for students to use before they enroll for the tests, they should do so.

"Few students are able to score well on standardized tests without some form of test preparation. Highly specialized tests such as the AP, IB and SAT II exams cover a breadth and depth of content that many students have not been exposed to in school," said Jacqueline Grazette, independent college counselor. "Tutors help address these issues, if contacted early enough in the process."