College Criteria

What Are Colleges Looking For In A Student? A. Academic Record and Type of Academic Program: Admission officers will look at both the courses taken and the grades received when considering an applicant. Since college applications are generally completed in the fall of the senior year, the cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the end of the junior year is very important. Many colleges will calculate the student's GPA based only on core courses such as English, history, foreign language, math, science, and computers. Because of this, it is very important students do well in the main subject areas. Admission officers will also examine the strength of the courses a student has taken. Students should demonstrate that they are able to handle academic challenges. B. Standardized Test Scores: Not all colleges view test scores as the SAT I, SAT II, and the ACT in the same way. Test scores are important but usually not the most critical factor in determining admission. C. Class Rank: Class rank is a way to determine where a student stands academically compared to students in his/her class. Rank can be important when applying for scholarships as well. Many scholarships are awarded to students ranked in the top 5%, 10%, 20%, etc. of their class. D. Extracurricular Activities: In considering an applicant's extracurricular activities, the quality of the involvement is more important than the number of activities. Activities listed on applications should include part-time jobs, hobbies, religious activities, community service, and/or school related activites. E. Essay: The essay is typically the most time consuming part of the college application and it deserves a lot of attention. It should be meaningful and well-written. The essay should communicate on paper what your child would like a group of strangers to know about him/her. F. Interview: Not all colleges require an interview. However, it is important that the students make themselves known to the admission staff. If an interview is not required, the student should request one when visiting the campus. This allows the student to personalize his/her application.