Getting ready to attend college involves great amounts of planning and concentration to small details. Before students can get prepare to move to their new dormitory room and begin their college life, they must fill out their college application. Whether or not their school of choice welcomes them depends on the information they provide on this application. Most college applications ask for preliminary information, such as where the student lives, what his or her parents' names are, and where that student attended high school. However, beyond this basic information, the school seeks to find out more about the student and his or her skills that will make him or her a good candidate for admission. Indeed, people who demonstrate excellent academic qualities often attract a college's attention. Students who successfully complete challenging high school courses, such as Biology, chemistry, physics, and Shakespearean drama, prove that they have the determination to learn new topics and apply them to their everyday lives. They also demonstrate that they have built a solid educational foundation on which they can add when they attend college. In addition to their academic successes, the college is often interested in knowing about their volunteer experiences and extracurricular activities. Students can detail this information on their application by naming businesses and organizations with whom they have volunteered. They can also list clubs, activities, and honors they have participated in and have received during their high school years. If they are applying to a religious college, they may also list information about their church-oriented honors and activities. With most applications, students must include copies of their high school transcripts. These documents must be notarized and sent directly from the high school's office. If the student has been home schooled, his or her parents must include copies of that student's successful passing of the state's curriculum requirements for home school high school students. Without this documentation, candidates cannot be considered and will not be admitted to the college. Few college applications require that students have letters of recommendation. For those that do, people may ask clergy, teachers, and sponsors to write these letters that highlight the students' work ethic and qualifications.