GROWTH IN GPA

Yes, your GPA is essential to your college admission officers, but your growth is too. It is crucial for you to maintain or grow throughout your four years of high school. Colleges want to see an upward trend, not a 4.0 in your freshman year and a 3.5 in the rest of the years. Maintain your grades, and don’t be demotivated if you don’t have the best start. You still have time.

BE AN ADVENTURER

Don’t limit your extracurriculars within your school. You want to stand out to the admission officers by showing them that you’re constantly looking for new opportunities, be it a club outside of school or an internship. Colleges don’t want someone who stays in one place, fixated on the opportunities they have in front of them. They want someone who seeks out opportunities outside of their comfort zone and environment.

RELATIONSHIP WITH MENTORS

Get to know your teachers and counselors well since they will be writing recommendation letters for you. Grades are not all there is to your college applications. Make sure you stand out to your counselors and teachers by regularly participating in class and meeting with counselors. Be polite, be professional, and be present so that they can write recommendation letters as people who have witnessed your growth instead of an overly generalized one that anyone can write.