Each college has its own expectations of what it takes to succeed there. Check the Web sites of schools that interest you to get an idea of the courses, test scores, grades, or other items they want to see on your application.

While there’s no magic formula, there are a number of things that most schools are looking for:

	More than the minimum. Don’t be surprised if colleges require more or different units than you need to graduate from high school. Many colleges expect a student to have three or four years of key subjects, like English, math, or the same foreign language, before they will consider an application.
	Challenging courses. Build your college-level skills by taking the most rigorous courses you can in high school. Talk to your school counselor about planning a schedule that will best help you meet your goals — including Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses. Check out the dual-credit or summer programs offered by many colleges to get a taste of college work while you’re still in high school.
	Continued good efforts. Some students like to get their high school graduation requirements out of the way in the first few years of high school, then level off with easy electives as they head toward graduation. Bad idea. College admissions officers want to see a steady climb through more and more challenging material.
	Well-rounded resume. Strengthen your skills — and your application — with extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities, or an internship. Colleges like to see applicants who have real-life experience as well as academic skills.

Review the high school courses you’ve taken so far to see how they match up with the requirements of the colleges you’d like to attend. Talk to your school counselor to see how you can fill in any gaps.