Most high school students start their college admissions process too late – they focus on boosting their grades in their junior or senior year. Getting admitted to college requires a bit of planning and forethought; at the very least, getting admitted to the college of your choice does.
First, work on your grades. Your grade point average doesn’t tell colleges that you’re smart. They tell colleges that you’re willing to work hard for a long term, abstract goal. Only 40% of college entrants graduate, and the biggest differentiator isn’t intelligence, it’s the willingness to put your nose to the grindstone and work hard at it. That’s what a decent GPA shows.