When you鈥檙e sending out your college applications, there鈥檚 something you should keep in mind: while they鈥檙e definitely looking for candidates who will do well in their classes, they鈥檙e also looking beyond graduation, when they get to add you to their list of alumni. So, when it comes to , grades and test scores are important, but do they tell admissions officers everything? And do they really indicate anything? The short answer is . . . yes, but not on their own. While a 2.5 GPA likely won鈥檛 get you into a T-10 regardless of the accomplishments you may have up your sleeve, a 3.5 (having done extraordinarily well in other areas) just might.
If you鈥檙e pretty high up on the GPA and test score scale, then your supplements and resume just might lead to you gaining acceptance over students with similar metrics. This is where your , community service projects, awards, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation come into play.
How important are SAT/ACT scores for college admission?
Because each high school has different expectations and grading techniques, it鈥檚 safe to assume that the most important part of your application is ultimately the SAT/ACT score. This is a metric by which all students are measured equally. Your score should fall in the score range that the university has posted for admitted students.
Academic Performance [GPA + Class Selection]
Schools are looking to know whether you challenged yourself in high school鈥攁nd if you did well in rigorous courses. If you couldn鈥檛 handle rigorous courses at your school, will you be able to handle these courses at theirs? That鈥檚 the question on institutions鈥� minds as they balance priorities. This means that you should certainly be taking AP and IB courses (granted that your school offers them), and if your workload is evidently on the heavier side, admissions officers will understand if you earned occasional B grades. A competitive edge is useful as well鈥攚hich would essentially indicate that you鈥檙e top of your class. After all, the Ivies and other top universities truly look for students who rank in the top 10% of their class. There鈥檚 plenty of anecdotal evidence that proves this, and the few who do get in otherwise, have shown exemplary talent elsewhere.
Leadership and Interests
It鈥檚 one thing to be involved in a thousand things and another to have impressive involvement in one or two things. Specialization and focus are important qualities when it comes to getting into college. However, you should have a combination of volunteer work, that you treated like hobbies, and activities that you went the extra mile for. You should have a leadership role in at least one of your extracurricular activities. Maybe get something published if you hope to go into an academic field. At the end of the day, while you want the admissions officers to view a well-rounded profile filled with your accomplishments, there should be an area of focus. For example, maybe all of your internships were different in terms of responsibilities, but they were all for non-profits that focus on kids. Or you might have an affinity for numbers . . . a passion for the written word (in which case, you should write short stories or screenplays, publish papers, etc.) . . . a charisma that makes you love theater . . . an endless curiosity for science and technology. Passion is important to universities, and whatever yours is, roll with the punches. Make it count. Soak up as much knowledge and experience as you can, so that it鈥檚 clear to them (and to you) that you鈥檇 be comfortable pursuing it at their institutions鈥攐r, at the very least, will continue to pursue hobbies relentlessly.
Personal Essay and Supplements
Needless to say, this is a chance for you to show them who you are. Who are you, numbers, and metrics aside? Delve deep into parts of yourself that you feel define you and have shaped you into the person you are. As clich茅 as this sounds, it鈥檚 important that you really show them the side of you that makes you awesome. You want to tell them your story. Use each supplement as an opportunity to connect what you鈥檝e done to what you hope to do at the school. Take each chance to talk about parts of yourself that they might not necessarily see in the rest of the application. Tell anecdotes and truly paint a picture that they鈥檙e going to spend time analyzing.
Letters of Recommendation
This is the way that you put the rest of your application in 鈥榯est mode鈥�, if you will. This is the big-picture view, one that will set the admissions committee at ease鈥攕imply because it reaffirms your academic capabilities鈥攁nd your potential to become a notable alum. Letters of recommendation should be requested strategically, and it should enhance your application. They should come from relevant individuals鈥攊.e., professors, employers, former internship supervisors鈥攚ho can attest to your ability to succeed.
Bottom Line. Ultimately, college admissions have many factors that come into play. However, the key point to keep in mind, is that you should enjoy your time in high school while making productivity a regular part of your routine. Be well-rounded, but don鈥檛 do it just for the resume鈥攎ake sure you enjoy what you鈥檙e doing and focus in on an area you鈥檙e passionate about, because you鈥檒l perform much better.
