1. Join Sports

The second you step your foot through the high school doors, you should support the school spirit and join a sport that interests you the most. You will most definitely make new friends and stay active if you stick with that sport. Colleges love students who don’t just challenge themselves academically but participate in outside activities and remain active in their school. Putting sports on your application is one of the best ways to stand out in a college application.

2. Create a Club

Although you should be participating in some of the most active clubs in your school, you should also toy with the idea of initiating your own club. It might seem like a big responsibility that might be a little burdensome, but you can make it fun and interactive. Get a group of friends that share the same interests with you and express your initiative to the appropriate person in your school to bring your idea to reality. You might not even realize it, but you might start a regular school tradition!

3. Internships

If you always seem to have some free time after school or on the weekends, it would be a good idea to look into getting an internship. It might take some time to find an opportunity that would best fit your needs, but starting your search for an internship can’t hurt. Even if you are not able to find anything during the school year, look for something that you can apply to for the following summer.

4. Student Government

One of the best ways to get involved in your school and even make changes to it is by running for the student government. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be popular to win a school election, just make sure that your campaign is strong and you reach out to students before the voting day. If you stay persistent and use your communication skills to convince others of your ability, you should have a good chance of being part of the student government.

5. Volunteering

Your school might require you to complete a certain amount of hours of volunteer work in order to graduate, so volunteering should be one of your priorities throughout your high school career. Admission officers encourage students to get involved in their school community and learn about life outside the school walls. An abundance of volunteer hours would strengthen your college application and ameliorate your chances of getting admitted.

6. Keep up Your GPA

Besides participating in your school and volunteering outside of school, colleges care about your academic achievements. No matter what, colleges will look at your grades, especially the ones from your junior year. So make sure to show improvement and keep up your GPA, and don’t forget to work hard on your SAT!

7. Challenge Yourself

What type of classes you take can tell a lot about you as a person. If you always gravitate toward advanced placement classes and honors courses, colleges will see that you are persistent and love to challenge yourself. However, if you take basic classes, colleges won't be sure if you can handle their courses.

These are just some of the things that you can do during the years leading up to your college application process. How are you planning to stand out to colleges? Share in the comments!