Achieve the best grades you're capable of in high school. Aim to get into the highest percentile in your class by committing to your studies and planning well in advance for scheduled tests and examinations.
Participate in extracurricular activities, such as local volunteering, charity work and interest-specific or college-level classes. This shows you are a well-rounded and self-starting character.
Enter competitions and get involved in academic special projects. Various awards and achievements also help your college application stand out.
Write a personal essay that shows you're a balanced student with a broad range of interests and skills as well as your academic credits. Find the appropriate tone between overly formal and conversational to display both respect and humility. Have a few trusted acquaintances critique your essay and look for areas of improvement.
Ask influential and challenging teachers for recommendation letters. Teachers to whom you have proved yourself as a model student will have more to say about you.