My Potential Plus

Make the Most of High School

• Realize colleges will probably want you to achieve beyond minimum graduation requirements. Usually, that includes an extra year of advanced math, another year of science, and a minimum of two years of the same foreign language.
• Guard your GPA! A good transcript can help you get into college and pay less for it in the form of scholarships. An average that falls below 2.75 can seriously jeopardize your chances of getting into any four-year university. And many colleges, including those in the Oregon University System, consider grades below a C- to be failing, and will not count them toward admissions requirements. Sometimes admissions officers will make exceptions, but do your best to be on top of grades.
• Take some challenging courses! Admissions officers and scholarship donors will look at rigor (the difficulty level of your classes) as much as your grades. That doesn’t mean you must take all Advanced Placement or IB classes to get in to the college of your choice, but consider stretching yourself at least in academic areas in which you feel confident.
• Go more in-depth as an upper-classman. For example, if you enjoyed basic computer applications as a freshman, take a CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) class as a junior. Or if you like belonging to Future Business Leaders of America, run for an office as a senior. Leadership roles show your commitment, organizational ability, and deepening understanding.
• Build relationships with teachers, administrators, counselors and coaches. They have connections and can help with college and scholarship applications.
• Use summers wisely. Attend a summer theater, art, or athletics camp. Volunteer at a youth center or homeless shelter. Get a job and save for tuition. Visit prospective college campuses. Or at least read interesting books (it may help in college admissions interviews).
• Until you’re admitted to the college of your choice, seniors, take a full schedule (no half-days or off-campus periods). Anything else makes you look lazy. That doesn’t mean that taking a study hall is a bad idea, especially if you’re taking lots of hard courses. Or, if you’ve got an internship, a half-day for a work-experience course might look good to a college admissions representative. Otherwise, take a good balance of academic and elective courses all four years. It shows you can balance your schedule, a skill essential to success as a college freshman.