Understand Yourself - The most important thing you can do in the college application process is figure out what you want.
Study Hard - The best thing you can do for your college application is to work hard in school. That means you need to get good grades in high school.
Make a Reasonable List of Colleges - It’s important that you create a balanced college list. It’s most important to have a range of selectivity in your list.
Prepare for the SAT or ACT - Whether you take the SAT or ACT, it’s important that you get a good score that you can submit along with the rest of your college application.
Get Involved in Community Service - Selective colleges use prospective students’ involvement in their communities, particularly with people different than them, to evaluate their maturity and empathy.
Utilize Your Summer - From taking classes for college credit to expanding your service work to participating in a research internship, summer can be the ideal time to boost your profile.
Get Strong Letters of Recommendation - In addition to your application essays, colleges lean heavily on your letters of recommendation to learn what kind of student and person you are.
Consider All Your Options - Once all your admissions decisions are in, take a moment to consider your acceptances.