What Colleges Look For
Most people will tell you that colleges look for one or two things when it comes to admission to their school. But, there are actually a lot of different things you should be aware of - both as a parent of a child just starting school, as well as a high school student that wants to go to college. If you want a little cheat sheet on what colleges really look for, make sure you continue to read this article to find out all the nitty gritty details. Also, it should be mentioned that colleges tend to look at activities for a reason to see if you are a good fit or not.
High School grades
This is obviously a no brainer. The better your scores and GPA is in high school the better chance you will have of going to the college you really want to go to. Sadly, kids that are younger don’t realize this until it’s just too late and then when they realize it, they wish they could go back and change certain things like doing homework, studying for tests and staying awake in History. Just because you don’t do a 4.0 GPA in high school doesn’t automatically mean you won’t get into the school you want, but getting good grades and a good GPA sure does help!
SAT and ACT Scores
Over 2 million people take the SAT or ACT exams each and every year and for good reason; the score you earn can definitely help you get into the school you want to. Chances are if the school sees the results you got on your ACT or SAT exams, it will make a tremendous difference when it comes to the application. On the other end of the spectrum, bad scores will look badly. Obviously this can be remedied by doing well on your SAT and ACT exams by getting a tutor in New York or even looking into a course or tutor for college test prep in NYC. Prepare yourself, do what you need to do and get the scores you want.
Advance Placement Tests - AP's
Yes, there are tests you can take in high school right now as coursework. These courses cover material that will be taught in college. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door and show them how much you really have advanced not only individually but against your other classmates as well. In some cases if you do really well on your Advance Placement Tests, some colleges will let you earn credit while still in high school. Obviously this is a few and far between situation, but it does indeed happen. Take the test. See how your placement rates.
Extracurricular Activities
This is an obvious one you have probably heard about and yes, it’s true, Extracurricular Activities DO matter! Think about joining summer camps, clubs, specialized programs and courses that you can join in on while still in high school. These "Extra” curricular Activities are done beyond just school activities, that’s why they are called extra! Consider participating or starting a charity event or organization, think about helping other people, even students in your own school. Think about how you can show your good will towards others and ultimately show that you are a good human that is willing to help others. Not only that, but these activities also show off your leadership skills, creativity, ability to think on your feet, etc. By the way, summer jobs can also be considered Extracurricular Activities!
Recommendations
Just like with a business, a recommendation that is positive, is always a good thing! Consider getting a principal, counselor, teacher or someone else that is higher up on the food chain to write you a recommendation. A good recommendation can really make your application for college look and sound amazing. Make sure you choose someone who really knows you, knows how hard you work, and respects you as an individual and a person and someone who is familiar with your loves, skills, passions, etc. It’s also a good idea to look for a few recommendations from different people that are from different academic backgrounds, especially if you want to get into a college for those specific academics. For example, if you want to go to college to be a fashion designer, getting a recommendation from your science teacher might not be really relevant. Instead try your art class, math class or even your boss from that summer you worked at Lord and Taylor. Just make sure it’s as relevant as you can get.
High School grades
This is obviously a no brainer. The better your scores and GPA is in high school the better chance you will have of going to the college you really want to go to. Sadly, kids that are younger don’t realize this until it’s just too late and then when they realize it, they wish they could go back and change certain things like doing homework, studying for tests and staying awake in History. Just because you don’t do a 4.0 GPA in high school doesn’t automatically mean you won’t get into the school you want, but getting good grades and a good GPA sure does help!
SAT and ACT Scores
Over 2 million people take the SAT or ACT exams each and every year and for good reason; the score you earn can definitely help you get into the school you want to. Chances are if the school sees the results you got on your ACT or SAT exams, it will make a tremendous difference when it comes to the application. On the other end of the spectrum, bad scores will look badly. Obviously this can be remedied by doing well on your SAT and ACT exams by getting a tutor in New York or even looking into a course or tutor for college test prep in NYC. Prepare yourself, do what you need to do and get the scores you want.
Advance Placement Tests - AP's
Yes, there are tests you can take in high school right now as coursework. These courses cover material that will be taught in college. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door and show them how much you really have advanced not only individually but against your other classmates as well. In some cases if you do really well on your Advance Placement Tests, some colleges will let you earn credit while still in high school. Obviously this is a few and far between situation, but it does indeed happen. Take the test. See how your placement rates.
Extracurricular Activities
This is an obvious one you have probably heard about and yes, it’s true, Extracurricular Activities DO matter! Think about joining summer camps, clubs, specialized programs and courses that you can join in on while still in high school. These "Extra” curricular Activities are done beyond just school activities, that’s why they are called extra! Consider participating or starting a charity event or organization, think about helping other people, even students in your own school. Think about how you can show your good will towards others and ultimately show that you are a good human that is willing to help others. Not only that, but these activities also show off your leadership skills, creativity, ability to think on your feet, etc. By the way, summer jobs can also be considered Extracurricular Activities!
Recommendations
Just like with a business, a recommendation that is positive, is always a good thing! Consider getting a principal, counselor, teacher or someone else that is higher up on the food chain to write you a recommendation. A good recommendation can really make your application for college look and sound amazing. Make sure you choose someone who really knows you, knows how hard you work, and respects you as an individual and a person and someone who is familiar with your loves, skills, passions, etc. It’s also a good idea to look for a few recommendations from different people that are from different academic backgrounds, especially if you want to get into a college for those specific academics. For example, if you want to go to college to be a fashion designer, getting a recommendation from your science teacher might not be really relevant. Instead try your art class, math class or even your boss from that summer you worked at Lord and Taylor. Just make sure it’s as relevant as you can get.