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Nowadays, a college education – be it at a two-year or four-year institution – is considered almost as essential as a high school education once was. College is where students expand their horizons and hone their skills. In many cases, it is viewed as the ticket to a good job and a comfortable lifestyle.

• Day-to-day performance – Colleges view the courses students take and the grades they receive throughout high school as a major indication of how well they might do with higher level coursework. The best advice to students is to take the toughest courses they can handle right from the start. Colleges like to see students stretch themselves over the four years of high school. For example, a "B" in an advanced placement course makes a better impression than an "A" in a regular Regents-level course. Three years of Regents math and science are better than two, and four is best of all.

• College board test scores – Eighty-three percent of the colleges surveyed say that SAT /ACT scores can have a big influence on students’ acceptance. For this reason, participation in college board prep courses can be a plus.

• Extracurricular activities – Although colleges, particularly larger ones, seem more interested in grades and less with how students have used their free time, the benefit of extracurriculars is that students are focusing in on what they truly love. They are also learning to juggle, prioritize and manage their time—skills they’ll definitely need in college as in life. Where extracurriculars can play a deciding role is with some of the smaller, private or specialized colleges. However, the emphasis should always be on quality over quantity—in other words, a commitment to one to three activities a student really cares about is better than superficial involvement in seven or eight.

• Community service/volunteerism – Volunteering their time, year-round or during the summer, can help students identify career interests, gain work experience and apply classroom learning to the outside world. It also demonstrates a commitment to others and a sense of caring.

• Outside work experience – This is especially a plus if students show responsibility by contributing a portion of what they’ve earned toward family and/or college expenses instead of spending it all on luxuries. The added bonus of a job means work experience and potential references.

• Creative expression – Many of the smaller or specialized colleges prefer to see how students express themselves creatively. An innovative science fair project, a beautifully conceived mural, or an entrepreneurial venture are all meaningful indicators that round out the picture of the dedication and passion students bring to learning.

• Bone up on basic skills such as note-taking, organization and planning to help stay on top of ever-increasing academic and personal responsibilities.

• Explore careers and majors. The school’s guidance counselors can help students learn how to access personality and career profilers.

• Plan for summer jobs, internships, or volunteer positions that relate to their academic or career interests.

• If students will be expected to contribute financially to their education, now is the time to begin having them set aside their contribution. The College Board offers a college savings calculator at http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/college_savings.jsp that families can use to find out how much money they’ll likely need for college and how to begin saving.

• Talk with guidance staff and search online for colleges that offer a course of study that meshes with students’ academic and personal interests. Research the required courses and tests they must take to get into those colleges. Guidance staff, college fairs and the Internet are great resources as students begin this search.

• Start a calendar with important dates and deadlines for college board exams.

• Begin to narrow down the list of important college characteristics—private or public, two- or four-year, near or far away from home?

• Organize a file of college brochures and information. Talk to guidance staff and search online for scholarships that match students’ skills and interests.

• Make a resume of accomplishments, activities and work experiences.

• Resist senioritis. Students who slack off in their senior year will not be well prepared for the rigors of college. Colleges are less inclined to take a chance on students who have not put their all into the senior year.

• Create a list of possible schools, including one or two "safe" schools, one or two "reach" schools, and two to four "realistic" schools. Request applications, brochures, financial aid information, tour and open house schedules from the admission offices.

• Visit college campuses.

• Keep track of important tests dates as well as application and financial aid deadlines.

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