What Do Colleges Look for? 9 Ways to Stand Out to Admissions Committees (2023)

FAQs

What Do Colleges Look for? 9 Ways to Stand Out to Admissions Committees? ›

Basically, there are six main factors that college admissions officers consider: AP classes and challenging course loads, high school GPAs, SAT and ACT scores (unless they are test-optional), meaningful extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and your personal statement.

Basically, there are six main factors that college admissions officers consider: AP classes and challenging course loads, high school GPAs, SAT and ACT scores (unless they are test-optional), meaningful extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and your personal statement.

Stand-out applications showcase achievement, merit, and previous academic success. Taking honors classes or AP courses can give you a significant advantage. Most colleges generally prefer applicants with a B in an honors program over those with an A in standard courses because it shows initiative.

In the US admissions process, colleges and universities take many factors into consideration. Admissions officers look at “hard factors” (GPA, grades, and test scores) and “soft factors” (essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and demonstrated interest) to gain a full picture of applicants.

Academics: Your Course Load and Grades

Academics are the most important factor for college admissions. It is also the one most parents are unaware of in the early years of a student's high school education. For admissions officials, the question is: Did you take challenging courses in high school and get good grades?

What is the single most important fact for the admission team to know about you? ›

Academic Achievement

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's important for college-bound students to understand that grades are the most important factor that colleges will consider when evaluating applications.

They want to send acceptances to truly interested prospective students to protect their yield rate. A yield rate is the number of acceptances sent out compared to the number that actually enrolls — the closer those two numbers are, the more desirable the school. This is where demonstrated interest comes into play.

Good grades, a challenging high school curriculum, standardized test scores, extracurriculars, and a strong essay are a few key factors admissions officers assess.

Courses and Grades

Highly selective colleges look for students who: Complete core academic requirements. Take more challenging classes, even though they may have slightly lower grades than they'd achieve in lower-level courses. Enroll in several college-prep or college-level courses (such as AP) and perform well.

These can be professional skills, areas of expertise, personal qualities, or any relevant experience. Also, consider any impressive accomplishments from your past or career goals that speak to your commitment to the field. Think of ways to out-do the other candidates.

Besides grades, colleges look at SAT® and/or ACT® scores, leadership experience, course load difficulty, letters of recommendation, application essays, and more. So, it's important for students to realize that good grades require time and dedication, but so do many other important factors.

In short, admissions counselors are looking for students who can think for themselves. They want to see that you are open to new ideas and can support your opinions with thoughtful explanations.

They take into account more than your GPA and test scores. Your character and the personal qualities you can bring to a college are important, too. That's why you need to think about your goals, accomplishments, and personal values. Then, you can figure out how you can best express those in your applications.

What do you say to an admissions director? ›

A simple formal email starts with “Dear First Name,” often followed by a greeting such as “I hope you're well.” You should get to your point pretty quickly, explaining why you're emailing and how they might know you. (For example, saying something like “It was nice to meet you at the Regional College Fair last week.”)

Say hello, tell them your name, and thank them for being there. College admissions officers are people, too, and they're always thrilled to connect with kind and friendly students!

These admissions committee members look over your application for basic qualifications like grades, test scores, and extracurriculars to make sure you match up to the standards of the typical matriculating student.

In general, what are admissions committees looking for: 1) how well you present your experiences and goals; 2) how well your accomplishments support your long-term goals; and 3) how your rationale for pursuing this program and degree fits into your career plan. Test yourself to determine you are on the right track.

What is an application red flag? Simply put, it's something on a college application that can make an admissions officer second guess how qualified an applicant is or if they're a good-fit for the school. A red flag can be as serious as a disciplinary infraction, or as simple as not following application directions.

Admissions officers consider various factors like your academic performance, extracurricular involvement, leadership skills, and personal qualities. They may also consider factors like diversity, geographic location, and special talents to create a well-rounded class.

But all the same, it's not a good idea to ask about the school's party culture or anything related to drugs and alcohol. Questions that make you seem uninterested. Don't ask admissions officers questions that compare them to other schools.

You may qualify if you meet the requirements by graduating in the Top 10% of your class at a recognized public or private high school in Texas or a high school operated by the U.S. Department of Defense, and be a Texas resident or eligible to pay resident tuition.

What are the 3 big factors that will get a college to really look at you during the application process? ›

A high GPA (relative to what admitted students have) and a rigorous curriculum. Strong test scores (relative to what admitted students have) A specific, honest, and well-written personal statement and/or essays.

Admissions officers look for students whose essays reveal their character and perspective through their real experiences, not contrived situations. Admissions officers say most essays they read are safe, generic and do nothing to make them remember or want to advocate for the students who wrote them.

College authorities want to know more about your academic interests and commitments. Talk about the specific educational, research, and other academic opportunities offered by the college that appeal to you. Expand on this idea by talking about how these opportunities help support your future goals.

Some schools use demonstrated interest as a factor when making admissions decisions. With so many applicants worldwide, it is important to show schools that you know about them and you are serious about your intentions to attend. All schools offer highly effective virtual ways to connect.

Passion projects work because they show academic rigor and demonstrate the 5 traits colleges look for in applicants. As college essay coaches, we know that college admissions teams are looking for something highly specific when they read through your essays.

Colleges notice if and how your grades improved (or didn't) over time. If your grades were lower at the beginning of high school and then improved, the upward trend may count in your favor. But if you experienced a dip in grades your junior year, colleges will notice that too.

What kind of students does Harvard look for? ›

In our admissions process, we give careful, individual attention to each applicant. We seek to identify students who will be the best educators of one another and their professors—individuals who will inspire those around them during their College years and beyond.

Which two questions are colleges trying to answer by looking at your transcript? Did you take challenging courses? Were you involved in clubs and/or sports?

Admissions officers look at “hard factors” (GPA, grades, and test scores) and “soft factors” (essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and demonstrated interest) to gain a full picture of applicants.

Offers of admission are based on each school's enrollment objectives. Making admissions decisions is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Large state schools may use a test score and GPA formula. Highly selective schools may have multiple reviewers with many voices weighing in on a decision.

College admissions officers will look at disciplinary records IF a high school provides them. Most college applications, including the Common App, inquire about disciplinary information.

Academics: Your Course Load and Grades

Academics are the most important factor for college admissions. It is also the one most parents are unaware of in the early years of a student's high school education. For admissions officials, the question is: Did you take challenging courses in high school and get good grades?

Avoid generic phrases like "I'm a hard worker". Make your answer compelling. Include key personality traits that will allow you to deliver similar results in the future. Tell the interviewer how your unique skills will help the company succeed.

Yes, colleges can look at the public version of your social media accounts, but they don't have some sort of secret, government-like power to access your private information. It's much more likely that your social media behavior would only be brought to their attention if it causes a stir.

What are the early signs that you have been accepted into a university? ›

The early 'sign' would be a letter to you that you have been accepted, or wait-listed or rejected. In some rare cases, you may get a phone call from the college, because of a mishap with their computer or some process that will delay an announcement.

Most colleges consider grades and class rigor top factors in the admissions process. High SAT/ACT scores can impress admissions committees, even at test-optional schools. Students can demonstrate interest by applying early decision and visiting the campus.

A short answer response should follow this basic structure: a topic sentence that answers the question, evidence to support your answer, and a sentence or two of introspection.

Here are some potential topics: Write about an important activity you recently started. If the application does not have a “why X school section”, write why you want to attend the school. If you had a difficult life circumstance that impacted your grades, you can describe it here.

While most schools place a fair amount of emphasis on grades and SAT scores, many are looking for a well-rounded student with potential. In addition to looking for maturity, commitment, and intellectual potential, admissions officers are also interested in what the school will gain from an applicant.

They'll want to know what exactly it is about their school that makes transferring a good decision for you. What did you learn about yourself and what you want from your college education while at your current school?

It should include any relevant projects or work you've done. Experiences that relate to your character and academic potential are helpful, too. The teacher should include specific details about their experiences with you. Letters of recommendations can be brief and bullet points are fine!

Colleges look for three things in your admission essay: a unique perspective, strong writing, and an authentic voice. People in admissions often say that a great essay is one where it feels like the student is right there in the room, talking authentically to the admissions committee!

What is the most important factor in college admissions? ›

Colleges are looking for leaders who are compassionate and caring about others. They want innovators who are passionate about their pursuits and willing to take risks. So, what do admissions officers look for? They want students who have clear goals and can demonstrate that they can achieve them.

Excellent active listening, verbal and written communication, and interpersonal skills. Strong planning and people reading skills. Ability to multitask and stay organized. Willingness to guide others and provide ongoing support as they make important decisions.

A great letter of recommendation includes specific examples and anecdotes that demonstrate the applicant's skills and qualifications. It backs up descriptions of your qualifications with examples. You want your letters of recommendation to demonstrate that you not only possess good qualities but also apply them.

Teachers who know you outside of the classroom are a good choice. Consider a teacher who led a club you were in. If requested by the college, you can also think about other adults who know you well. A coach, employer, or club adviser can say a lot about your skills and character.

Yes, every college essay is read if the college has asked for it (and often even if they did not ask for it). The number of readers depends on the college's review process. It will be anywhere from one reader to four readers.