WHAT DO COLLEGES LOOK FOR IN ADMITTING STUDENTS?

Every day people contact us to get a better idea of what it is that we do and the first question most of the time is " What does it take to get into this school or that school?".  There is no ONE answer to this questions, but we can look at what schools will look at to get in.  Every school is different. Some colleges are much more difficult to gain admission to than others.  As a general rule, you will want to be in the top 50% of your class.

What we can spell out for you is what schools look for.  They look for 3 main factors.  These factors are as follows:

1) Academic ( and the rigor of each class)

2) Test Scores

3) Extra-Curricular Involvement

ACADEMICS is the first thing that always stands out. Academics means specifically, what is your G.P.A. ( Grade Point Average).  One of the first things that a college admissions committee will look at is your G.P.A.  Your GPA or Grade Point Average is comprised of all the grades you’ve earned on your high school transcript and averaged together.  Another thing you may here is "class rank", however,  there are other factors that come into play as well.  For example if you are interested in Ivy League  the closer you can get to #1 in your class, the better.  If you are looking at some of the more Elite and Highly Selective Schools, students should strive to be the top 10% of the class.  If you feel that you don't want that type of pressure or you don't fit into these categories, the more traditional state universities may be a good choice as they will accept students ranging from the top 10% to 50%.  Additionally, not all state schools require test scores, such as the Cal State Universities.  However this all said,  this is a general guideline, not an absolute.  There are exceptions to the rule, and this is where a college consultant can be very beneficial. 

It is important to know that when colleges receive a transcript from you for evaluation, chances are they will want to see what courses you chose to take in college.  Did you challenge yourself, or did you take relatively easy courses that you could get an easy A in or did you try to challenge yourself?

A  rigorous case load is important in demonstrating to your prospective college that you are capable of handling college level work.  Those students who earning a high GPA, but didn’t take any challenging courses in high school run the risk of being denied admission based on their weak course selection. 

Next, is test scores. Here, we are talking about the ACT and SAT scores .  If you are an International student,  you will be looking at the TOEFL.  People get very anxious at these tests, and this needs to be put into perspective.  These tests should be taken in their sophomore and junior years.  

Because most schools work on a "sliding scale", the higher your GPA is, the lower the SAT or ACT test score can be to gain admission. On the other side of the coin, the lower the GPA the higher the SAT or ACT test scores must be.   Almost all schools today accept both the SAT or ACT.  

The ACT test is a curriculum based test which means they test you on what you should have learned in the classroom.  The SAT test is based on experiences you should have been introduced to by the time you are 15 or 16.  Most of the Elite and Highly Selective schools will require you submit an SAT score for admission, so if you are looking at the Ivy League plan on taking the SAT test.

 

The next two admission factors are little more involved, but lesser known than the obvious grades and test scores.  First,  when a college admissions committee receives a transcript from you for evaluation, chances are they will want to see what courses you chose to take to get  into college.  The questions they will want to ask are "Did this student challenge themselves?", or "Did this student take the easier road traveled and takecourses that would give them an easy A?

 

The second variable that a college admissions committee look are what student does outside of the classroom.  Some Colleges are moving to a more holistic approach when they are evaluating potential students.   Having strong, passionate, and involvement in extra-curricular activities is a major plus.  These actiyities can be work, classes, community service, etc.  Today, colleges and universities want to see that  the students they welcome are well-rounded and not just top grades and scores.

There are other factors which also going into the process, and discovering what those factors are a soul searching quest.   

College admissions is getting more competitive every year.  When asking the question: What Do Colleges Look For In Students?, know it is not a simple answer.  We are all different. Every incoming freshman class is different, and trying to get any clue as to how you will fair as you try to gain admissions into a college or university is one no one can answer until those acceptance letters are sent out.

If you feel you are having problems in connecting the dots and are looking for a very polished presentation, consider contacting us.  We point students and their families toward college success.