Admission Criteria

What are colleges looking for?

This is not an easy question to answer for a variety of reasons. A combination of factors – both quantitative and subjective – come into play and while you can control some of these factors, others you cannot. All colleges have their own institutional goals they need to meet and many times as an applicant you won’t have a clear idea of how they need to shape their class from year to year. Some colleges will emphasize a gender balance, while others may be looking to diversify their campus or grow certain programs. While these factors are beyond your control, there are several factors you can control.

Academic Record: Student Performance and Potential

The number one thing that admissions officers look at is a student’s academic performance and potential. When a college reviews your candidacy, your academic achievement in high school will be the most significant consideration. Colleges will evaluate you on your strength of curriculum – the courses you have taken and the grades you have earned based on what is available at your high school. The more competitive the college, the more important it will be that you have chosen to take the most rigorous classes that are appropriate for you. In general, colleges would rather see a B in an AP class than an A in a regular course. However, that being said, nothing is gained from taking AP classes and failing or barely passing. Accept your limitations, as well as your strengths and speak with your Guidance Counselor to determine what curriculum is best for you.

The Importance of Standardized Testing

Most competitive colleges still require that you submit SAT &/or ACT scores for admission purposes. Standardized test scores are usually secondary in importance to the transcript. What you do on a daily basis over a four year period is more important than your performance on one 4-hour test. Thus many colleges have moved to test optional admissions. As a rule, the more selective the college, the more important the test scores.

Subjective Factors – Personality and Character

The factors mentioned thus far can be described as objective – course program, grades, test scores and context. But colleges are admitting people, not just students. Therefore, the second question that admission committees are interested in is, “What can this student contribute to campus?” Colleges can assess this part of your candidacy by reviewing your involvement in extracurricular activities, so that they can understand how you spend your time outside the classroom. Admissions counselors would rather see a student who has been committed to one or two activities over a length of period rather than a student who has been minimally involved in a multitude of activities. Depth is preferred over breadth. In general, the more selective the college, the more these subjective factors play in the process. Most students applying already have strong academics and test scores so they need to shape their class based on student’s talents, abilities and accomplishments.

Final Thoughts

The good news is, there are lots of choices for post-secondary education in the US. You can choose an art school, a business school, an engineering school, a music conservatory, a liberal arts school or a trade school. And within these choices, there are a multitude of variations on the kid of education you can receive.

There is a college out there for everyone. And while it is important to understand the criteria you are being evaluated on, it is equally important to understand that admission is not a prize to be won, rather a match to be made. You want to match that external review process with the internal one inside yourself. What major do you want to pursue in college? What type of college environment would you thrive in? Do you want to go to a big school or small school? We encourage you to make thoughtful and appropriate selections that best fit your particular abilities, interests and talents.