Turn curiosity into useful choices.

Start to consider which colleges you may want to apply to in the future. Consider factors, including your potential future career and the academic opportunities related to your possible major. Don't focus on this step too much, just enough to get a rough idea of the academic preparation and activities that interest you.

Consider programs, location, campus life and affordability rather than relying on rankings. Historical GPA and test-score averages are not admission requirements or guarantees.

Building a spike, or extracurricular theme, can be a meaningful part of the college application process. Unlike essays and standardized test scores, preparing for and creating a spike requires potentially years of consistent growth in an area that you are truly passionate about. Pursue activities that are meaningful to you.

There is no required extracurricular formula or guaranteed admissions advantage, and family responsibilities, work and a range of interests can be important too.

At the start of high school, it is vital to get the best grades you can. Work as hard as you can and as hard as you need to in order to build a strong academic foundation for the colleges you might apply to. This will take hard work and determination, but you can do it.

Get good grades early in high school as trying to raise a lower GPA later in junior and senior year is very difficult. Use reported college GPA averages cautiously: high schools use different scales and weighting systems, and an average is not an admissions cutoff. Choose challenging courses you can manage and ask for help when you need it.

Sophomores should begin to research and understand standardized tests, specifically the SAT and ACT. The role of these tests depends on each college’s current policy for your applicant group and entry year; they are not everything. These tests should be taken seriously, but should not cause unhealthy amounts of anxiety and stress.

A study plan and practice can help you prepare, but no score guarantees admission. Sophomore year is the time to create this plan and begin studying. Get acquainted with the tests, create a study timeline, and begin really studying during the summer before junior year.

If testing is relevant to your plans, choose a first test date when you are prepared, leaving time for a possible retake and the college’s accepted-score deadlines.