College Help?

I'm only going to be a Freshman year, but I'm already thinking of college. You might say it's too early to start thinking about that, but I want to make sure that everything I do in high school is perfect so that my college choices are broad. I just needed some tips on how to stay on track with academics yet still maintain a social life. What type of clubs to join. How to handle homework. I have top classes, so there'll be a lot of work. How to stop procrastinating. My ideal college would have to be one with a large Asian population, in California, in a nice, safe, clean city, but, Central and Southern California only. Right now, I'm into video production, and I plan on taking the electives for VP after I'm finished with Spanish 5-6 this year. So my college should have that too. Please be detailed. I appreciate you for taking your time to help me and help me to be successful.

College Help?
Alex, I have to admire that you've already got your eyes on the prize.





Take as many AP classes as your counselor thinks you can handle. Compartmentalize your life, giving X number of hours to school work, Y to extracurricular activities, and Z to social stuff. Often the students who don't do as well as they might have are the ones who let something social or extracurricular use some of their X time that was supposed to be about academic achievement. That time is sacred, and if you don't have assignments enough to fill it, you review.





Read, for your education and for pleasure, and watch as little TV as possible. (There aren't that many shows that are really worth the time, you know?) Write, both fiction and nonfiction, because your college application essay matters a lot, and if it's well written, you're ahead. Practice improves writing.





Your college applications will look especially good if you appear well-rounded, with many areas of interest and achievement. Doing any kind of volunteer work looks great. Winning any award does, too.





Best of luck!
Reply:It is never too early to think about college but you should not let that become an obsession.





Very few things if any, in this world are perfect so are setting yourself at some time in the future for disappointment. Instead strive to do the best that you can do but realize that everything that you do will not be perfect.





That said, I am glad that you recognize that having a social life is important.





As far as doing well in academics you should consider the following.





1. Take difficult, Advanced Placement, and honors classes if you can. Not only will you learn more but colleges like to see that on your transcript.





2. Come to school every day and be on time.





3. Do not come late or cut classes.





4. Conscientiously do your homework.





5. Participate in class.





6. Ask questions when you do not understand something.





7. Go over errors that you made on tests.





8. Study in a quiet well lit place with all of your materials on hand. Give your full attention to your homework. No music or anything else that may be distracting.





9. Do extra work in class.





10. There are sites on the internet and other ways that you can learn proper study habits and test taking skills. Post another question if you need help with these.





11. Go to extra help classes at your school, local community centers, and churches. You can also go on line to www.pathwelp. and www,jishka. com to obtain free online help by teachers. Both of these sites are excellent.





12. Participate in extracurricular and outside of school activities Try to vary the type of activities and to obtain leadership positions in some of them.





Do not be so narrow in your choices. When you apply to college you should apply to schools that you call ideal as well as others, Some of them should be safe schools for you where you and the college advisor in school know that you will be admitted.





Good luck on you high school career and afterwards.