Prepare well for and achieve high scores on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT. Contact your counselor about prep courses for both of these exams. Your PSAT scores from your sophomore or junior year will help you assess where you are and what you need to study further before taking the SAT.
Maintain a high grade point average during high school, preferably 3.0 or higher. Having good grades shows that you have a willingness to learn and study hard and that you are dedicated to your education. Seek help from a tutor if you are having difficulty with any of your classes.
Contact your high school counselor and take as many advanced classes as you can. These may include pre-college courses or higher-level math or science classes, such as calculus or physics.
Participate in several different extra-curricular activities both at your high school and in your community. Extra-curricular activities may be in sports, the arts or volunteer work. College admission boards value leadership roles, such as school government, church leadership roles or community project coordination.
Seek help from your high school counselor or a college adviser on how to properly fill out your college application for optimum results. The application is the first thing colleges and universities will see when they decide whether or not to accept you. You may need one or two letters of recommendation from a teacher or other adult who knows you well.
Take your time when choosing a thesis for your college admissions essay and when writing the essay itself. The essay is not a resume but rather a piece of writing that depicts the type of person you are in an interesting and compelling manner.