Nov. 18, 2025
By Isa Estrella
Staff Writer
This piece is part of a four-part in-depth reporting project about college.
It is never too early to start thinking about college. For underclassmen, taking small steps now, such as joining clubs, researching schools and maintaining good grades, can make the college process smoother and set them up for success long before senior year.
Sophomore Michael Quintero said this school year, he is taking six honors classes and one Advanced Placement course. He is also a three-sport athlete and a member of seven clubs.
“I don’t want to just join a club, I want people to remember me and see the difference I make.”
“I’m hoping that colleges will look at all these classes and be like, ‘Wow, this kid is good,’” Quintero said. “I [want] my classes and clubs [to] show colleges that I’m dedicated and willing to challenge myself.”
Quintero said students should take advantage of LHS’ extracurricular offerings.
“If you are still a young student, like a freshman, I say just really explore all the clubs, all the opportunities we have in high school… and overall just discover yourself first, and hopefully you’ll know what you want to do in life,” Quintero said.
Freshman Angelina Megally said she hopes starting college preparations early will ensure her success at the next level of her education.
“If I begin now, I could build the path I need to build,” Megally said. “I won’t wait until my classmates begin, because then there’ll be competition. Starting early sets me up to be prepared and confident.”
She said taking challenging classes, like the five honors courses she is enrolled in this year, and immersing herself in LHS’ clubs will help her stand out amongst her classmates.
“Future Business Leaders of America, Student Government Association, honors classes and AP classes will help the most,” Megally said. “I don’t want to just join a club, I want people to remember me and see the difference I make.”
History teacher Ms. Schiraldi said extracurricular activities play a key role in shaping students’ college applications.
“Colleges look for how well-rounded you are. What kind of activities have you been in? Academics are first, but not foremost,” Schiraldi said.
She said students’ college preparation should begin when they enter high school.
“You need to start as a freshman with owning it, with learning [and] advocating [for] yourself,” Schiraldi said.
School counselor Ms. Leidemer said underclassmen should prioritize their schoolwork.
“One of the things that colleges really look for is GPA. Obviously, the higher, the better. You don’t have to take all honors or AP classes, but you should do really well in the courses you choose,” Leidemer said.
Beyond academics, she encourages students to use resources provided on the Counseling Information Google Classroom and the online platform Naviance to explore career paths, research prospective colleges and set realistic goals.
“Even if you don’t know exactly what you want to study, college isn’t going anywhere. You can explore your interests and find the right path,” said Leidemer.
