How can I make myself look more competitive for college admissions?

Applying to College
1

I am currently an incoming junior in high school. I ended my first semester in freshman year with a 94 GPA and ranked within the top 22% of my class. Well, I made the mistake of slacking off during the second semester and made three B averages-bringing my grade to a 92.7, bringing me down to the top 26%. I JUST brought it up to a 93.8 this school year and I am going to try my best to bring it up next semester. (It should’ve been a 94.3, but finals really brought me down.)

I’m already doing two AP/Dual classes and will be doing two Pre-AP classes next year and I will be doing a lot of EC’s (Academic Decathlon, Debate, Varsity Choir, NHS). I already have some volunteer work for a crisis hotline and am signed up to be a camp counselor this summer.

My PSAT scores aren’t the best-I got a projected score of 720/800 on reading but a projected score of 420/800 on math.

What are other things I can do to make colleges want me more? Like, what’s the best way to bring up my GPA and study for the SATs to bring up my math score? Thanks so much!

2

Focusing energy on the decimal points of your GPA is probably not the best approach. Of course you want to do your best, but that can come through unleashing your curiosity, and being open to new ideas and interests. Metrics-obsessed students (you may not be that way but your post comes off like it) don’t always get the warmest recs from teachers, and recs can count lots. If you are an interesting and interested kid, colleges will want you.

3

Haha, I actually wasn’t too into the decimal points or anything until I saw how low my class rank had gotten. It really freaked me out when I realized I was out of the top quarter.

I actually have pretty good relationships with most of my teachers, and know two or three who would be happy to give me strong recs. I didn’t really look at my GPA until this semester.

4

I guess that the greater message I intended above is that colleges admit people, not numbers. Good luck!

5

Lol, well thanks for the advice! It is very much appreciated!