text: what advice would you have for a 16 year old about college preparation and college in general?   for preparation:  continue to make good grades, and don't get wrapped up in high school drama.  no college wants to admit a delinquent.  play a sport if you can, participate in clubs or other activities.  if nothing else, volunteer.   as for choosing a college, you definitely need to start thinking about this already if you are 16.  you could organize yourself by making a few lists.   first, write down everything that you have to have in a college.  ex:  public or private, small or large, urban or rural, top tier school or don't care, price range, certain programs, your girlfriend goes there, etc.  write down everything that you absolutely do not want. ex: same as above  after this, do some research.  there are websites to help you, or you can go to the library or barnes & noble and look at the 2006 colleges and universities book.    after you pick out schools, make sure you have at least the following:   1 safety school 1 favorite that you'll probably attend 1 favorite that is kind of a stretch 1 bigger stretch  if you're less of a risk-taker or can't afford that many, just have a favorite and a back-up safety school.   know the sat/act range needed for your schools of choice and retake the tests if necessary to hit close to the range.   apply early!  some colleges have "early decision" programs, where if you are accepted the fall of your senior year of hs.  some colleges have rolling admissions, some make all of their decisions at one time.   if you need financial help, apply for government loans and research scholarships that are specific to your school.  most of all, just relax and stay organized.  college is a great time of your life!