Colleges consider a variety of factors including academic performance, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations when making admissions decisions.
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When it comes to college admissions, there are many factors that colleges consider, including academic performance, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations. However, some factors may be more important than others.
According to a report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the most important factors in college admissions decisions are:
- Grades in college preparatory courses
- Strength of curriculum
- Admission test scores (SAT, ACT)
- Grades in all courses
- Essay or writing sample
- Demonstrated interest
- Class rank
As author Frank Bruni wrote, “The admissions frenzy and its hateful spawn, the anxiety industry, exist not because elite colleges have so little to go on but because they have so much — because they’re trying to pluck the best matches from pools that include thousands of people who are outstanding. That excess of excellence is what drives America’s meritocratic hysteria.” Bruni is highlighting that, despite the many factors considered in college admissions, ultimately, it comes down to finding the best fit for both the college and the student.
It’s also worth noting that colleges may weigh certain factors differently depending on their own institutional priorities and the specific program or major to which a student is applying. For example, a student applying to an engineering program may be more heavily evaluated on their math and science coursework and extracurricular involvement in related fields.
Here is a table summarizing the top factors in college admissions decisions according to the aforementioned report:
| Factor | Importance Rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|
| Grades in college preparatory courses | 4.60 |
| Strength of curriculum | 4.34 |
| Admission test scores (SAT, ACT) | 4.14 |
| Grades in all courses | 3.48 |
| Essay or writing sample | 3.43 |
| Demonstrated interest | 2.17 |
| Class rank | 1.60 |
Overall, it’s important for college applicants to strive for their best performance across all factors of college admissions, knowing that different colleges and programs may emphasize different areas. As former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, “Ultimately, the most important thing is to be true to yourself and to your passions.”
A video response to “What do colleges consider most?”
The video emphasizes that while extracurricular activities are important for college admissions, there is no specific “good” activity and execution is key. Students should focus on creating an impact through their activities and highlighting the lessons learned, regardless of the activity itself. While some activities such as varsity sports and leadership positions are highly valued by admissions officers, there is no specific checklist or blacklist of activities. Ultimately, extracurricular activities are just one aspect of the admissions process, and students should pursue activities they genuinely enjoy rather than focusing solely on impressing college admissions officers.
Other options for answering your question
According to a 2019 report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the top factors for admissions are overall high school GPA, grades in Advanced Placement or other college-prep classes and the difficulty of the student’s curriculum.
Admissions – What Do Colleges Consider? The fact of the matter is, there’s no standard formula that admissions committees use. The primary decision factors are: Difficulty of high school courses Grade-point average Class rank Standardized test scores Application essay
NACAC’s report also highlights other important factors that colleges consider, including “the essay, a student’s demonstrated interest, counselor and teacher recommendations, class rank, and extracurricular activities.”
Most colleges read applications holistically. A holistic review of an application includes consideration of grades, strength of curriculum, test scores, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, essays, the high school’s profile, and financial need.
More intriguing questions on the topic
Considering this, What are the most important factors in college admissions? Response will be: According to a 2019 report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the top factors for admissions are overall high school GPA, grades in Advanced Placement or other college-prep classes and the difficulty of the student’s curriculum.
In this manner, What counts most to colleges?
The answer is: But what counts most to colleges is how long and how deeply you have been committed to one or two of those interests. This could be sports, clubs, music groups, or various other activities. They take into account the leadership roles you have held, what you accomplished, and how much time you committed to the activity.
Also to know is, How important is class rank in college admissions? Class rank can provide additional context for admissions officers in regards to students’ academic performance and accomplishments, but it offers little insight into how students fit it in on a college campus or if they’re ready for a college course load. This admissions factor has declined the most in importance over the last 10-15 years.
Are colleges all things to all people? As a response to this: Yet this is precisely what most colleges have done. In an effort to be all things to all people, most institutions of higher education have created one-size-fits-all offerings that serve few well and incur extraordinary overhead costs to deal with the complexity of serving students with very different motivations for enrolling.
Considering this, What are the most important factors in college admissions? The reply will be: According to a 2019 report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the top factors for admissions are overall high school GPA, grades in Advanced Placement or other college-prep classes and the difficulty of the student’s curriculum.
What grades do colleges look at the most? Unless they have specific guidelines, your core course grades are what schools look at the most. However, grades that colleges look at could include your elective courses: it depends on the school. Should I Focus More on My Grades or My Extracurricular Activities?
What counts most to colleges? As an answer to this: But what counts most to colleges is how long and how deeply you have been committed to one or two of those interests. This could be sports, clubs, music groups, or various other activities. They take into account the leadership roles you have held, what you accomplished, and how much time you committed to the activity.
What do colleges look for in high school students?
Colleges look for students who took the most challenging courses available to them who performed well in each class. Some high schools don’t offer many college prep classes. If that is the case for your high school, admissions officers will take this into account.