There is no secret perfect formula to getting into your dream college. Every college is different and looks for different things in students. Doing your research is important for that reason. However, there are the basic components of a college application that almost all colleges require and examine.
Colleges will ask to see your transcript. What specifically do they care about when looking at students’ transcripts? They want to see the courses you took, the grades you got, and your class ranking. Colleges care about how well you did in high school. Each college has certain standards for their students. It is important to make sure your GPA is in the range they hold to be appropriate. Some schools like their students to have a minimum of a 2.5 while others expect a 3.5. But getting an easy A is not enough. They want to see you take rigorous classes, challenge yourself, and not take the easy way out. Top tier schools believe that by taking regular courses, the study is lazy and not pushing to reach their full potential. They would rather see a B in an AP/IB class than an A in a regular course. Choosing to take challenging courses and electives demonstrates how hard working and dedicated a student is. On top of that, top tier colleges care about your ranking. Most want students that are in the top 10% of their class. If your dream school doesn’t specify class ranking, then it is best to just focus on having a good GPA.
Comparing students during the admissions process for any college can be difficult. Comparing transcripts may not always be ideal because each high school is different. They all offer different courses and teach and grade in different ways. Colleges, instead, look at ACT/SAT scores. The ACT/SAT exams test a student’s readiness for college. It is also a more standardized way of comparing students academically. The exact score you need really depends on what schools a student is applying to. You want to make sure you score within the range the college has previously admitted. It is also important to remember that these tests can be prepped for and retaken if necessary. Some schools super score, meaning they take the highest score in each individual section rather than one exam. Taking the exam both junior and senior year can be beneficial.
Additionally, colleges want to see what you are passionate about outside of school. Extracurriculars have become an important part of a student’s application. This is an opportunity to show colleges what interests you and prove to them that you can be successful after college. This does not mean they want a long list of every club in your school. They want to see deep involvement in a few organizations that you truly care about. It is also important to demonstrate your skills by having leadership roles in these organizations. This gives colleges a look into your potential in a career outside of school.
Although each of these components is important, not having a perfect GPA or the right ACT score does not mean you will be rejected. Like previously mentioned, there is no one way to get into your dream school. Work hard and keep an open mind when applying to colleges.
By Sarahi
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