Grades are the single most important factor of an application. Showing consistent grades with a challenging course load is the key to a great transcript. By taking advanced classes or AP classes, you are showing colleges that you are ready for college-level work. Even if you fall short of gaining college credit on the exam, you’ve enhanced your transcript by tackling the course in the first place.

Do not take a course pass/fail if your school provides the option. To colleges, a P might as well be a D. Colleges expect your grades to be consistent or improve. If you were a straight-A student freshman year but wound up getting Cs by your senior year, they will assume that you were a capable student who became lazy.

SAT questions are divided into three levels of difficulty: easy, medium, and hard. Sections begin with the easiest questions first, the medium questions second and the hardest questions third. The Reading Comprehension section is the exception because it doesn’t follow this order.

Every question on the SAT is worth an equal amount, so spend your time ensuring you get the easy and medium questions correct and use what remaining time you have to tackle the hard questions. Rushing through the test to make sure you answer every question only drags your score down. If you are working on an easy question, the answer that seems right probably is. If you are working on a hard question, the answer that seems right is always wrong. Use this strategy to help you eliminate choices for difficult questions.

For the ACT, the cardinal rule is to answer everything. Why? You gain points for every correct answer and you don’t lose points for incorrect answers. A guess that is wrong is better than no guess at all. Like with the SAT, skip the difficult questions first. There is no point in wasting time on a question that you may end up guessing at anyway. 

While admissions committees put the most weight on your high school grades and test scores, your essay can set you apart from other talented candidates. At selective schools that receive applications from many worthy students with similar scores and grades, a strong personal essay can set you apart. 

The most important thing is to write about something that’s important to you. It could be an experience, a person, a book – anything that has had an impact on your life. Your ability to write a vivid essay with conviction is essential.  Make sure to not just recount your thoughts, but also to reflect. Anyone can write about the time they spent in Paris or how they won the big game. Give more than the play-by-play or itinerary and describe what you learned from the experience and how it changed you. 

Write multiple drafts. Put yourself in the shoes of an admissions officer and ask yourself: Is this essay interesting? Do the ideas flow logically? Does it reveal anything about the applicant?  What you write in your application essay or personal statement shouldn’t contradict any other part of your application – nor should it repeat it. Don’t use it as an opportunity to list your awards or discuss your test scores. Answer the question being asked. Don’t reuse an answer to a similar question from another application.

Have a few people edit your essay and, before you send it off, check it multiple times to make sure it is free from spelling or grammar mistakes.

Controlling your online reputation is now an essential part to having a better chance at getting into the college of your dreams. Posting inappropriate photos, articles or tweets on social media sites can only lower your chance of getting accepted. These posts can alter in a negative way how a college admissions counselor sees you as a potential student. 

Instead, you should be using your online presence to boost the strength of your application. Sharing content that emphasizes your interests on social media can show colleges consistency with your application. You can post relevant and appropriate articles, upload your personal artwork, and share photos or videos from past performances or sporting events. When filtering your social media profiles, make sure you do not have any posts, comments, tweets, etc. that reflect poorly on your attitudes toward work or school in general. If you wouldn’t want your mom or grandmother to see it, take it down.

What you choose to pursue outside of the classroom is important. Admissions officers are looking to create a class made up of students with diverse interests and backgrounds. They will look closely at your extracurricular activities to get a sense of your passions. Seize the opportunity to be the president of a club, captain of a sports team, or editor of the school newspaper. Showing that you can lead and have the respect of your peers looks great in the eyes of the college admissions officer.

If the need for an after-school job prevents you from participating in extracurricular activities, don’t be discouraged. Helping to support a family is a serious responsibility that demonstrates character and the colleges you apply to understand that.  Volunteering is a great way to pursue an interest outside of the classroom. Are you interested in becoming a writer? Join your school’s newspaper or pursue an internship at a local paper. Interested in medicine? Volunteer at a local hospital.

Colleges are increasingly emphasizing the type of extracurricular activities an applicant engages in and how it relates to their passions, rather than the number of activities, so make sure to choose opportunities that make sense for your interests and goals. A strong commitment to even just a few activities shows that you have a genuine appreciation for what you spend your time doing. 

Colleges usually require two or three letters of recommendation from high school teachers or guidance counselors. When requesting a letter of recommendation, choose someone that knows you well, teaches a subject enjoy, and can speak to your strengths. Approach the letter writer about two months in advance of the due date. Other students are likely beating down their door for letters, so give teachers ample time to fulfill your request.

Don’t feel compelled to get a letter of recommendation from a teacher because you excelled in their class. You’re looking for a well-written, compelling letter from a faculty member who knows you well or teaches a subject you’ve shown interest in. Sometimes, the best recommendations come from a teacher who has seen you struggle and overcome difficulties.