b'9BE A SUCCESSFUl STUDENT Minimum Academic RequirementsColleges want successful, involved students whoWhile academic requirements vary among colleges,care about school and their community. Becoming a most four-year colleges require applicants to have: well-rounded student shows your ability to balance4 years of English, PreParIngFOrCOLLegeacademics with out-of-school activities.3 years of math,Challenge yourself Academically3 years of social studies,2-3 years of (lab) science, andColleges expect to see that students are willing and2-3 years of a foreign language.able to challenge themselves academically. To show Be Proactive about Academic Dicultiesyour readiness for college-level work, choose the most demanding classes your high school oers and seekColleges do not seek perfection. They look for out enrichment programs:improvement throughout high school, especiallyAdvanced Placement (AP) Courses are college-level during your junior and senior years. If you are havingclasses oered in high school. An AP exam is oered diculty in a class, act quickly:at the end of each AP course. A high score on thisAsk teachers about improving your grades. exam can qualify you for cost-saving college credits.Find out about tutoring options.Be sure to lean into your strengths when choosingConsider attending summer school if needed.AP classes; it is better to take one AP class in aGet Involved and Show leadershipsubject you excel in, and pass the exam, than to takethree AP classes you do not pass. Volunteering, working, or participating in extracurric- International Baccalaureate (IB) is a rigorousular activitieswhile earning good grades program designed to prepare students for a college demonstrates your work ethic and commitment to theeducation; the IB Diploma Programme requires community. Long-term participation in sports, clubs,passing three High Level IB classes as part of a volunteerism, and part-time jobs showcases your complete curriculum. responsibilities, interests, and talents. Also consider Honors classes oered by your high schoolthe value of your contributions at home: caring forindicate an increased proficiency compared toyounger siblings and ailing adult family members,non-honors classes. household management, working to supplement Dual Enrollment Programs allow high schoolhousehold income, and translating for non-Englishstudents to take classes at local colleges to earnspeaking family members. high school and college credits. Ask your schoolVolunteerism indicates you care about your counselor whether your school oers these programs. community and others. Pre-College Summer Enrichment Programs arePart-time jobs and internships showcase youroered on college campuses to help high schoolresponsibility and introduce you to career optionsstudents learn more about subjects that interest that fit your interests and talents.them while getting a taste of college life. Many Caring for family while also completing classworkprograms oer financial assistance. demonstrates an ability to manage your time.FUTURE Virtual Extracurricular Activities: The COVID-19 pandemic has put many traditional extracurricular activities on hold; here are some virtual options:yourTake a free online college course from classcentral.com (such as: Virology 1: How Viruses to Work, from Columbia University, or The Science of Well-Being, from Yale) Create a podcast series Volunteer virtually or online for a political campaign Participate in a porch pick up food drive and deliver to a local food pantry Join an online book club Study a new language with the HelloTalk appFind more suggestions at https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3298693/LoveintimeofCorona.pdf'