the prompt and think of a creative response, then have a parent or teacher read what you've written. An essay pockmarked with spelling errors and grammatical mistakes will only reflect badly on you!

7.Interview: If it's not too late and you haven't done so already, schedule an official interview with the college. Failing to do so may make an admissions officer doubt your

Are you worried that your college application may not get the attention it deserves? With all the hundreds, or even thousands, of students applying to the same school as you are, how can you make yourself memorable? Here are some tips for standing out in all the right ways:

1.Take AP/IB exams: Don't just take the classes, take the tests. Even if your scores aren't especially high, admissions officers will admire your initiative.

2.Learn Chinese or Arabic: If your school offers either one of these languages, see if you can take one all four years of high school. Admissions officers will appreciate that you've taken a language that's not only rare for high school students to study, but also challenging to learn.

3.Take dual-enrollment courses: Check with your counselor to see if you can take classes at the local community college for high school and college credit either during the school day, after school, or over the summer. No admissions officer will be able to ignore the effort you've made.

4.Join National Honors Society: If your school has a chapter and you meet the GPA requirements, join! Colleges love to see your involvement in a renowned academic club.

5.Sign up for Calculus: Even if you hate math, but you've done well in previous math courses, consider taking Calculus because it proves to colleges that you are willing to challenge yourself.

6.Write a thoughtful essay: Don't wait until the night before the deadline to write your essay. Mull over the prompt and think of a creative response, then have a parent or teacher read what you've written. An essay pockmarked with spelling errors and grammatical mistakes will only reflect badly on you!

7.Interview: If it's not too late and you haven't done so already, schedule an official interview with the college. Failing to do so may make an admissions officer doubt your i

ly high, admissions officers will admire your initiative.

2.Learn Chinese or Arabic: If your school offers either one of these languages, see if you can take one all four years of high school. Admissions officers will appreciate that you've taken a language that's not only rare for high school students to study, but also challenging to learn.

3.Take dual-enrollment courses: Check with your counselor to see if you can take classes at the local community college for high school and college credit either during the school day, after school, or over the summer. No admissions officer will be able to ignore the effort you've made.

4.Join National Honors Society: If your school has a chapter and you meet the GPA requirements, join! Colleges love to see your involvement in a renowned academic club.

5.Sign up for Calculus: Even if you hate math, but you've done well in previous math courses, consider taking Calculus because it proves to colleges that you are willing to challenge yourself.

6.Write a thoughtful essay: Don't wait until the night before the deadline to write your essay. Mull over the prompt and think of a creative response, then have a parent or teacher read what you've written. An essay pockmarked with spelling errors and grammatical mistakes will only reflect badly on you!

7.Interview: If it's not too late and you haven't done so already, schedule an official interview with the college. Failing to do so may make an admissions officer doubt your

t courses: Check with your counselor to see if you can take classes at the local community college for high school and college credit either during the school day, after school, or over the summer. No admissions officer will be able to ignore the effort you've made.

4.Join National Honors Society: If your school has a chapter and you meet the GPA requirements, join! Colleges love to see your involvement in a renowned academic club.

5.Sign up for Calculus: Even if you hate math, but you've done well in previous math courses, consider taking Calculus because it proves to colleges that you are willing to challenge yourself.

6.Write a thoughtful essay: Don't wait until the night before the deadline to write your essay. Mull over the prompt and think of a creative response, then have a parent or teacher read what you've written. An essay pockmarked with spelling errors and grammatical mistakes will only reflect badly on you!

7.Interview: If it's not too late and you haven't done so already, schedule an official interview with the college. Failing to do so may make an admissions officer doubt your

leges love to see your involvement in a renowned academic club.

5.Sign up for Calculus: Even if you hate math, but you've done well in previous math courses, consider taking Calculus because it proves to colleges that you are willing to challenge yourself.

6.Write a thoughtful essay: Don't wait until the night before the deadline to write your essay. Mull over the prompt and think of a creative response, then have a parent or teacher read what you've written. An essay pockmarked with spelling errors and grammatical mistakes will only reflect badly on you!

7.Interview: If it's not too late and you haven't done so already, schedule an official interview with the college. Failing to do so may make an admissions officer doubt your

the prompt and think of a creative response, then have a parent or teacher read what you've written. An essay pockmarked with spelling errors and grammatical mistakes will only reflect badly on you!

7.Interview: If it's not too late and you haven't done so already, schedule an official interview with the college. Failing to do so may make an admissions officer doubt your interest in the school.

8.Let your talent shine: If you have a special talent, be sure to let admissions officers know! Artists and writers should submit a portfolio of their work; actors should submit a VHS or DVD of one of their performances; and musicians should submit a CD or cassette with 1-3 songs.

9.Take at least one SAT II: Even if the school doesn't require any SAT IIs for admission, take at least one in a subject with which you are comfortable and send your score to the college.

10.Do something worthwhile with your summers: Get a job, an internship, study abroad, do volunteer work, mentor a younger student, take a class---do something to convince colleges that you're doing more than lounging around when school lets out, and then mention it somewhere on your application.

11.Take a leadership position: Run for school president, science club treasure, found your own organization---show colleges that you're meant for leading, not following.

12.Choose a concentration: Don't be all over the place with your activities. If possible, try to make your job, volunteer work, and school clubs related to each other. For instance, a college would rather see someone who volunteers at the library, interns for a non-profit literacy group, and is the president of the school English Honors Society than someone who is president of the history club, works at a bakery, and volunteers at the hospital.

Work hard and make the extra effort to stand out during the admissions pr