How to get better stats for colleges

<p>This is my story. Freshman year I kinda slacked off a lot (regular classes, okay GPA).</p>

<p>Sophomore year was a huge change for me. I had started a business making 10k/month (mixture of online reputation management and selling advertisement space) so I didn't really focus that well on school. I did take one AP though (AP world history, got a 5 with two hours of studying.) GPA was still okay, around 3.6.</p>

<p>And then my counselor hit me with this class I took in middle school (a language, got a C in it) and it counts for my GPA. Brought it down to 3.375. I asked him to take it off, but he said it was too late. I had no idea that stuff counted for my GPA. I also played football sophomore year. </p>

<p>Then I moved all the way to the West Coast and most of my income dried up (business was with local businesses. Once I left, they didn't want to deal with logistics of sending mail across the country). </p>

<p>Now I am in this low-budget county that serves one type of meal the whole year. I was planning on taking 4 APs, but schedule conflicts (low-budget). I am down to 2 AP classes. Here is my schedule for reference:</p>

<p>AP Chemistry
AP English Lang (i suck at essays)
US History
French 1
Speech and Debate 1
Algebra II</p>

<p>No community work (again business), no after school clubs and stuff. Except this one Saturday school where I took a Farsi class (persian language). </p>

<p>Not the best schedule. I plan to get 4.0 this year, so I can boost up my GPA. I am getting 5 on my APs or I'm going to shoot myself. Also, for this PSAT, I am studying my ass off. I am getting a 223 so I can get that merit scholarship and boost my college app. </p>

<p>What EC's should I do? Football is off the table, I wasn't here for off-season. Maybe track in the winter (if they have a track team, this low-budget school is unpredictable). </p>

<p>Where should I do volunteer work? Do I search online or do I go to a hospital and volunteer or something?</p>

<p>Also, my income isn't in any tax records or stuff. My LLC was registered off-shore and all checks went directly to an offshore account. So I can't really tell colleges I have been making money. I could do it, but that means all future income is subject to 15% corporate tax and another 30 or so percent personal income. So paying 50% tax is really a last resort. </p>

<p>Sorry for the long post. </p>

<p>Err, it seems I have posted in the wrong board. I think this is the lounge. Disregard this as I will post in the admissions thread. </p>

<p>@mygello There are lots of threads like this in High School Life…
The business was something, but not really <em>that</em> much (it’s irrelevant since, well, you can’t actually say that you did it… I mean you could still write it, but if the money is off-shore, I wouldn’t mention it).
Focus on improving academically; an upward trend will look good. Other than that, I can’t really offer you the greatest advice. Someone on the threads here might be able to help you more.</p>