One way to improve your chances of getting into college is to make big changes. Improve your GPA. Raise your test scores. Become the editor of the paper or the MVP of the swim team or president of the student council. Big changes are fine, but they take time. Little changes are more accessible and less intimidating. And they can be made today. There are approximately 90 school days in a semester and every one of them is an opportunity to make a little change. Here are a few suggestions:
- Focus hard in class as if you were going to be tested on the material at the end of the day.
- Turn off your phone, Facebook and any other distractions while you do your homework and study.
- Do a 30-minute practice section from the SAT or ACT.
- Put your hand up in class to ask a question or contribute to the discussion.
- Meet with your counselor to talk about your college planning. If you’ve never met your counselor, introduce yourself and ask for a meeting.
- Spend time getting even better at something you're already good at (maximizing a strength is a lot more fun and effective than trying to imrpove a weakness)
- Take on a project in your club or organization that nobody else seems willing to do.
- Write a blog post or make a YouTube video that teaches others how to do something you’re good at, like algebra or guitar or traditional Indian dancing.
- Keep a list of things you're excited to learn and experience in college. Then find schools that can give them to you.
- Learn about a college that you haven’t yet heard of.
- Be nice to the kid at school nobody seems to treat well.
Enough little changes made every day eventually add up to big changes.