"The Experience"



Choosing Your College: Getting In

Author: petersons, Category: College Search

Want to know a secret? Rankings aren’t what college is really about. Just because a school is ranked first doesn’t mean it’s the best — and it definitely doesn’t mean it’s the best for you.

So how do you find your match? Making sure you’re aligned with prospective schools’ academics is a good place to start. This includes things like entrance criteria, SAT/ACT scores, and the high school GPA of admitted students. While stats like these are just guidelines, thinking about them helps ensure that you’ll end up in a challenging and rewarding academic environment.

Remember, you’re choosing your college as much as your college is choosing you. As long as you seek schools that suit you, there’s no need to stress.

Selectivity
Selectivity reflects the percentage of students who are accepted out of all who apply. Being selective doesn’t necessarily make a school better, but it does mean it’s harder to get in. Colleges don’t have room for everyone. The most difficult schools to get into will likely have students who were able to meet stringent admission criteria. Are you competitive enough to go up against other top students to get into a more prestigious school? It’s good to think about these things, as there’s a fee attached to every application you send in. If you’re starting early, it can give you a sense of what you can do to bolster your application.

SAT or ACT scores
Obviously, your test scores play a big part in your school selection. While SAT and ACT scores are not the sole criteria used by universities to determine acceptance, they are weighted heavily by more than 60 percent of the schools which require them. If your scores aren’t where they need to be, consider re-taking the necessary tests. You could improve your score.

Most schools report on the average scores of entering freshman. Use this as a guideline, but not as an absolute since these are averages, not the highest or lowest scores. Some schools are less particular and evaluate scores in conjunction with other elements of your application.

GPA
Just like with test scores, colleges usually report the average high school GPA of entering freshman. That doesn’t necessarily mean that a less-than-stellar GPA will cost you a spot, especially if your application demonstrates your strengths in other ways. In general, if your test scores and your grades are both solid, it’s a good indicator to colleges about your overall ability to achieve. If you have obvious inconsistencies between the two, the admission committee may peruse your scholastic history more closely to determine your potential. If they perceive that you caved into “senior slump” or had inconsistent grades, they may conclude that you studied for your SAT but didn’t work hard over the long haul.

Essay
In the hectic office of a college admission officer, hundreds of applications may blur together over time. How do they decide between applications when they all start to look the same? Much of the time, it’s your essay that will set you apart from the pack. Show your mastery of the English language, but don’t forget to let your stellar personality and strength of character shine through. After all, this is your opportunity to market yourself. Put time and effort (and proofreading) into it — it may clinch the college acceptance you’re seeking.

Extracurricular activities
Aside from your essay, the other things that will set you apart will be your participation in athletics and activities outside of the classroom. Colleges may be on the lookout for students who demonstrate leadership potential and excellence. Many schools seek a diverse student population, so your grand prize for underwater basket-weaving may be just what they need to balance the team captains, the Goths, and the musicians. Seriously, though, participation in extracurricular activities demonstrates to the admission committees your interests and strengths and helps them to get a better sense of who you are and what attributes you may add to campus.

In general, it makes sense that you stand the best chance of getting in by working hard throughout high school and taking part in activities that you enjoy. However, even top students may be rejected due to limited space, not deficits in their qualifications. Making a determined effort is your best guarantee for success, and if it still doesn’t work in the long run, you won’t be able to say that you didn’t give it the “old college try!” Besides, there’s definitely more than one good college match for every student.

Last 5 posts in College Search




Leave a reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.