In terms of your transcript, high school is a four-year package, especially if you’re headed towards a selective college or program. You can’t goof off in your first year because those grades actually count. But you also don’t need to hit the ground running at full speed because eventually, you’ll run out of steam.

A competitive transcript tells an admissions officer or recruiter your academic story: How you started, your progress along the way and where you finished.

You should take the most rigorous course schedule in which you can be successful. Each year you want to level up, increasing the difficulty of your courses and your GPA. If you were off to a rocky start, now is the time to push harder. If you started off strong, you can’t start slacking now. If you got a C in a math class your sophomore year, get an A in your next one. Demonstrate commitment and improvement wherever possible.

Take advanced classes (Honors or AP) and electives that align with your intended field of work or study and work your tail off. Design an independent study or explore student leadership opportunities in senior year to fill any free periods and study halls.

Colleges don’t need you to be perfect from Day 1, but they do expect you to continuously grow and thrive. Tell the story of a student they want to have on their campus.