by Brianna Suslovic
MyLife 24-7 Ambassador

As a freshman in high school, I often hear that I shouldn’t be worrying about college yet. But I’m the type of person who loves to get ahead and have a plan for things. I wanted to learn about the college admissions process, even though I still have three years of high school left. To find out the answers to some of my questions, I sought out my school’s counselors.

Are colleges really looking for the well-rounded student? Is it better to do everything, or to focus on a passion of yours?

Apparently, it varies from school to school. Some colleges are more interested in grades and standardized test scores, while others tend to focus on extracurricular activities and non-academic experiences. In general, the best advice seemed to be that you should never do something just to put it on your resume. Do activities because you enjoy doing them!

What about taking all advanced classes and keeping a perfect GPA?

As long as it’s clear that you’re challenging yourself academically, you don’t have to take every Honors/AB/IB course that comes your way.  Take the classes that challenge you, not the hardest ones out there. This also applies to clubs and extracurricular activities. Don’t push it.

In the end, the important thing to remember is that challenging yourself should always lead to success, not failure. Teenagers like us should be focused on enjoying high school and doing activities that are fun and meaningful. The college search isn’t really about impressing admissions officers. It’s about showing others and yourself that you’re the best person you can be.