Keep up a good level of academic achievement. Balance work, play, and extracurricular activities. Colleges like to see an upward trend in your grade point average. Compare your courses with college admissions requirements and adjust your plan if necessary. Save your writing samples.
Some colleges ask to see all of the drafts as well as the final product.
Develop a list of 10 to 20 colleges. Work up a comparison chart. Available scholarships or tuition-assistance programs. Curriculum and course requirements for specific majors. Academic advising and career-counseling services.