A great way to improve your college application is to take classes at a local community college while you are still in high school. This shows admissions teams that you can handle real college level work.
When an admissions officer sees that you earned an A in a real college class, it proves a lot. It shows you were able to learn from a college professor, keep up with a college syllabus, and earn a real grade. Many admissions teams view this just as highly as taking advanced placement classes.
A lot of states offer programs that make these classes completely free for high school students. You are earning college credits before you even graduate, which means you might be able to graduate from college early and save thousands of dollars.
Talk to your high school counselor. They can tell you if your school partners with a local community college. You usually need to have good grades and take a basic placement test to get started. Focus on core subjects like English, math, or history, because those credits are the most likely to transfer to your future university.
Action step: Ask your counselor if your high school has a program that lets you take community college classes. Find out if it is free in your state.