<p>Not sure if it is too late, but if you are aiming ‘high’ (and be careful of this as I agree with those who said you want a school that fits, first and foremost) one thing you should be doing this summer, if possible, is going to some competitive summer programs for high performing students.
Howard University has some strong accounting based and science based programs
Notre Dame has a fully paid for fly in program for top students (current juniors)
USC(Carolina, not Cali) has a paid for business program in their very strong business school, Graduate program
Carolina invited minorities in the top 10% of their classes with strong standardized test scores to their campus last summer, after the sophomore year, and again this year for those finishing junior year.
All of the service academies have programs this summer for current juniors that are very affordable.
Economics for Leaders is another affordable one (usually) offered at many colleges in the Us.
In your state of NC, Summer Ventures is a TOP choice for top students…fully funded and takes place at one of the state schools.
Then, there are the BIG ones like Clarke Scholars and Telluride.
Many kids who will be competing for merit money are plugging through these programs this summer to get a feel for various college campus setting and to strengthen their student resume for merit consideration.
These are not at all mandatory, but can help. If your counselor or others have not directed you to summer options, you might want to speak with them immediately. If you go to Summer Programs here on this site, you will see how much time and effort students are putting to get into these, especially the low and no cost very competitie ones.
Hope this helps. We’ve had good advice on this end and I feel a responsibility to share!
The above things don’t at all guarentee merit money or better college admissions results. But you will get TO schools and around many kids who are also motivated. That counts for a lot.
T</p>