Continue taking challenging courses. An "B" in AP Gov't is more impressive than an "A" in Team Sports. Your success in challenging academic courses provides college admissions reps with the best evidence of your ability to succeed in college. Plus, AP and IB courses can increase your GPA.
Continue to keep your grades up. Grades, grades, grades. Consider your grades as your salary in a job. Your job is to go to school and your salary is your grades. The higher your grades, the higher the reward. An occasional "C" is okay, but you want to aim for something higher. If you're doing the best you can and you receive a "C", then that's okay. Students with an occasional "C" still have plenty of options. Work on self-discipline and time management.
Put effort into extracurricular activities. By the time you apply to college, you should be able to demonstrate depth and leadership in an extracurricular area. Think about what you can bring, not only to a college community, but what you can bring to Parkdale. How can you make things better?
Take the PSAT in October. The consequences of doing poorly are zero. You get to see how you would score on the real SAT. Use your results to practice for the PSAT in junior year. Be sure to sign up for the Student Search Service to receive information from colleges that may be interested in you.
Begin learning about the college admissions process. Go on a college tour to experience life on a college campus. Speak with your counselor to make sure you're on track for graduation and to select the right courses for the college you're interested in. Get familiar with the general college entrance requirements.
Continue studying a foreign language. Colleges will be more impressed with a student who can read and write in a foreign language than one who can only say "hola" or "bonjour." Depth in a single language is better than an introductory class to two or three languages.
Get your hands on some cash...for college. Research funding for college, including scholarships, grants, loans, etc.
