Students heading to college after graduation have a few extra things to consider during high school.

1. Maintain a good GPA

Colleges will consider a student’s grade point average when deciding who earns admission to the school. Some colleges set a minimum 3.0 GPA as a requirement to apply.

A notable example in the Salem-Keizer area is Chemeketa Community College. The Chemeketa Scholars Program offers free tuition to any Salem-Keizer student who graduates with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Many scholarship applications also require a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be eligible to apply.

2. Take college entrance tests

The PSAT, SAT and the ACT are tests students commonly take to help gain admission to colleges and to qualify for scholarships.

The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) prepares students to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The PSAT is also a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Most students take the PSAT in the fall of their junior year.

Most students take the SAT twice: once in the spring of their junior year and again in the fall of their senior year.

The ACT is another exam college admissions offices consider when making decisions about admission. The ACT is offered six times during the school year.

For help deciding which tests to take, contact your student’s school counselor. Visit your school’s website to find counselors’ contact information.

3. Other college considerations

Many colleges require students to have studied at least two years of a foreign language and/or passed Algebra II with a C or better to gain admission. Each college will have other unique admission requirements, so be sure to check your student’s preferred college’s requirements as early as possible in his or her high school career.