Today, more kids than ever are applying to college, which means that kids will get turned down. The question is, what are colleges looking for in a High School student. They are looking for a couple of things. First of all, they are looking for smarts; which can't be underestimated because your SATs are important, your class rank is important, and the essay you write is important. Depending on the college, some are weighted more heavily than others. The thing about class ranking is that colleges are not stupid. They know that some high schools are easier than others. Finishing number eight in one High School is akin to finishing fifty in another school. They take that into consideration. They are looking for smarts. They are looking for kids who did not blow off their Senior year by taking college level courses. What is so important about college level courses is that you can make a B is equivalent to an A in a regular level course. You are showing the college, "I can do college level work." That has a huge impact on colleges. They are looking for kids who took upper level placement courses. They are looking for kids who have not taken the Senior year off. They are looking for kids who have been active in their community. They are looking for well-rounded students. They are looking for students who are smart, work hard, took college level courses, demonstrated the ability to do college-level work. If a college accepts you, they believe you can graduate from their school.