What colleges look for in a high school student.

While mid April brings the anxiety of taxes to adults, many high school students have other things on their minds. April is the month that many colleges send out their letters of acceptance -- and rejection. High school seniors wait impatiently for the mail, then size up the envelopes addressed to them. Are they thin, containing only a polite rejection letter, or thick enough to be full of forms to fill out for the coming year? When the envelope finally is ripped open, the contents can open a coveted door or slam it in a student's face.

A college,s decision to turn down a student can dash the hopes and dreams of a teenager and family. To parents, college acceptance policies may appear to make little sense.,what are they looking for?" is a common cry as families try to sort out the thinking of anonymous admissions officers.

Trying to understand what they are seeking must begin long before the senior year, though. As they make choices for their freshman class, colleges consider how a student has spent his or her last four years -- both in and out of high school.

Early planning by students and parents, working with school officials, can help teenagers make the most of their high school years. Careful thought can lead to appropriate choice of courses and extracurricular activities to help develop skills and talents that make them attractive to colleges that are high on their list.

According to the Independent Educational Consultants Association, Fairfax, Va., the following are the top 10 things colleges look for:

1. A high school curriculum that challenges the student. This should include several honors and advanced placement classes.

2. Grades that represent strong effort and an upward trend. However, slightly lower grades in a rigorous program are preferred to all A's in less challenging course work.

3. Solid scores on standardized tests (SAT, ACT). These should be consistent with high school performance.

4. Passionate involvement in a few activities, demonstrating leadership and initiative. Depth, not...