What Do Colleges Look for When Admitting the Students?
Every college looks for some of the best applicants in the form of their students who will succeed in college and beyond. The reputation and success of any educational institution are measured by the quality of students. Since the reputation completely lies in the hands of students colleges have certain criteria to select the students they want to admit. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has given a few criteria which the colleges consider important factors before giving admission to colleges. Some of the students find it difficult to understand these criteria so; here is a quick list of admission criteria designed by colleges.
SAT/ ACT scores– The SAT or ACT score is the primary criterion for admission as it simplifies the process. There are a large number of applicants with varied backgrounds: attended a different school and took different classes. Therefore the SAT/ACT score is used by the college as the basis as well as the standard parameter of the judgment of students. When aiming for a college it is advisable to find out the SAT or ACT score range of your target school in their admissions profile.
- GPA or Transcript- GPA stands for Grade Point Average. A college uses GPA or Transcript as criteria of admission majorly for two reasons:
- To analyze what classes the applicant aims to take
- To analyze the performance of the applicant in his or her school
These points are analyzed in order to check that the applicant is ready to handle a college course load from their dream school. The students aiming for top-tier colleges check the applicant’s transcript/GPA, in order to see which most difficult classes one has opted for in high school and how well they performed in those subjects. The best way to make the transcript/GPA strong is to take the hardest classes offered at the high school and perform well on them.
Interests – The interest of the applicant is of primary importance as this will act as a great support at the time of the interview with admission officers. An enthusiastic interview has immense power to grab the right kind of attention and also decide upon the dedication and craving of the applicant to get into that college. In order to create a good and better impression, it is advisable to opt for an early decision
Class Ranking – Class ranking is still considered to be an important criterion; the top-tier colleges only admit students who have got the rank in the top 10% of their high school class. The students aiming to top college rank matters, so it is recommended to take the hardest classes possible and score as much as to stay among the top 10 students.
Extracurricular – The expertise of a student other than in academics is an important point of consideration. The choice of expertise is definitely on the applicant, colleges pay equal weightage to every talent as they believe no talent is less. What actually important is how long and how dedicated you are in terms of one or two interests, how much time you have put in and what are leadership goals you have undertaken, and what have you accomplished. All you need is to follow your passion and perform well in the competition associated with your extracurricular activities. By showing the right level of passion and leadership, colleges will definitely see your potential for greatness after college.
Letters of Recommendation & Personal Essays – The purpose of letters of recommendation & personal essays are used to help the target college to see your in-depth potential to succeed after college. There are colleges that demand letters of recommendation from your teachers, high school counselor, and even you’re your school’s principal. This letter is demanded in order to gather an honest professional opinion of the applicant’s abilities and personality. Some colleges demand personal essays in order to reveal the true personality of the applicant as well as their innate passion. A well-written essay can definitely incite the reader to admit you whereas a poorly written essay can toss the decision completely against you. So it is advisable to be careful while writing an essay.
Scores from Other Tests – The scores obtained on other forms of tests are also important when considering admission into colleges. The scores on tests like AP/IB exam scores, SAT IIs, and any other non-SAT/ACT exams are taken into consideration as they help in evaluating the applicant’s readiness for their college. The scores on other tests are used as a medium to double-check and ensure that the applicant is the right choice or not. It is advisable to get the highest scores on the AP and IB exams and SAT IIs in order to create a reason for the colleges to readily accept you.
SAT Preparation Resources:
What's Next?
- How to Prepare for SAT 2018-19?
- How to Improve SAT Score?
- How to get a Perfect 2400 SAT Score?
- What’s the Right Time to Start Preparing for SAT?
- How to Hire the Best SAT Tutor for You?
- How to Take SAT Practice Tests and How Often?
- Best Graphing Calculators for SAT 2018
- How to Change SAT Test Type & SAT Subject Tests?
- How to Deal with SAT Score Errors?
- How to Cancel the SAT Scores?
- SAT Express Result – Rush Reporting
- What Do Colleges Look for When Admitting Students
Leave a Reply