One of the most important factors in being admitted to a selective college is, as your parents have probably lectured to you more times than you would like to remember, your grades. To get into the top colleges, you need to have a very competitive grade point average. This does not mean that you need straight "A's"; a few "B's" on a mostly "A" report card are fine.
However, be careful since not all grades are considered equal. Getting a "B" in an honors or Advanced Placement course is much better than getting an "A" in a non-honors course. After all, it's not fair to compare an "A" in home economics to an "A" in AP physics, is it? In fact, colleges often recalculate your GPA based on how many courses are honors or Advanced Placement.
Some students make the mistake of trying to get a 4.0 GPA by taking the easiest classes offered like, "Woodshop: How to Cut Wood." This is a big mistake and often costs them admission into a top school.
College admissions officers want to see that you are motivated and willing to challenge yourself academically. At the earliest time possible you should sign up for honors and Advanced Placement classes. Yes, this will mean that you will be voluntarily asking for more homework, will spend more time studying, and will take more difficult tests, but an acceptance letter to a competitive school will be your reward.
For more information: Learn how to get a head start before your senior year in Chapter 12 of Get Into Any College: Secrets Of Harvard Students @ supercollege.com. If you’re a freshman, sophomore, or junior be sure to read the sections regarding extracurricular activities and teacher recommendations.
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