7 ESSENTIAL FACTORS of the College Admissions Process

It’s that time of year--fall semester. For many families with high school students, the season brings with it a great deal of pressure and angst as the thought of applying for college begins to draw near.  For many, it can be an overwhelming experience because the admission process is perceived as complex, vague and elusive.  Quite frankly it can be downright scary trying to navigate the process without knowing exactly what college admissions officers are really looking for.

Preparing to apply for college with these 7 essential factors in mind, can help demystify the entire process and give your student a greater chance to succeed in receiving acceptance into the school of their choice.

1. GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)

Grade Point Average (GPA) is one of the top factors considered in the college admissions process. There are two grading systems a school may consider: Unweighted and Weighted.

Unweighted GPA is the most common way that academic performance is measured and is gauged on a scale of 0 - 4.0.  Under an unweighted GPA system, the difficulty of your student’s courses are not considered--all classes are considered equal.  An A in an honors class and an A in a lower-level class will both equal a 4.0 under an unweighted scale. So a student taking all honors classes who earns mostly As and some  Bs, will still have a lower unweighted GPA than a student taking all lower-level classes who earns all As.

Under a weighted GPA system, the difficulty of a student’s courses are considered along with the grades achieved. A weighted GPA is measured on a 0 - 5.0 scale and recognizes grades in AP, IB or honors classes.  This system makes a distinction between higher and lower-level courses.

Knowing whether the school(s) your student applies to evaluates under an unweighted or weighted GPA system can make a big difference in how you prepare them for the application process.

1. SAT/ACT SCORES

SAT and ACT are objective college entrance exams and assess overall academic fitness for college.  Colleges award acceptance and merit-based scholarships based on these scores. 

The SAT and ACT may seem similar, but in fact they are assessing academic fitness in two different ways.

The ACT exam presents material students should have mastered during high school.  It is an assessment of what the student should already know, while the SAT predicts what the student is capable of learning in college. It presents material the student may not have learned in high school.  Hence the reason some students tend to do better on one test than the other. 

Most colleges will accept either score, leading many students to believe they should take both exams, hoping to improve their chances of admission. This is not necessarily the case.

Making sure that your student takes the test that best supports their individual learning style is the best approach. I highly recommend that students prepare for the SAT/ACT exam at least 6 to 8 months prior to testing with 1-on-1 guidance. 1-on-1 test preparation gives the student the attention needed to discover their strengths and weaknesses. Whereas group test prep, takes a cookie cutter approach that is unlikely to highlight where the student needs the most help.

Next, have your student take practice tests for both exams.  The practice test your student scores best on is the exam they should take and submit scores for.

Understanding Test-Optional

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven more schools to offer a test-optional alternative, which means the student can choose whether to submit SAT/ACT scores with their application or not. 

Though most test-optional schools still consider SAT/ACT scores if submitted, they tend to concentrate on other areas that they feel may be stronger detecting factors of a student’s academic fitness. These schools are likely to zero in on the student’s grades, essay, coursework, recommendations and/or other areas, more closely than test scores.? 

You should also be aware that test-optional policies and qualifications vary with each college. In fact, some test-optional schools still require that students submit their scores when pursuing certain majors. Some schools may even determine your test-optional eligibility by measures calculated from your GPA, class rank and test scores.? Many test-optional colleges also award merit scholarships based on test scores, so choosing to submit your student’s scores can still give them an added advantage for college acceptance and scholarship support.

Be careful not to confuse test-optional with test-blind.  Although neither system requires test scores to be submitted, the standards for consideration are very different. Here’s the difference:

A test-optional school will factor in your student’s test scores if they are submitted, giving them a better chance of acceptance and merit scholarship with stronger scores.  Whereas, test-blind colleges do not consider SAT/ACT scores at all, but will likely require your student to take some type of college-administered assessment to determine college readiness and course level placement.

1. COURSES TAKEN

Another key factor considered in college admissions is course load. College admissions officials are really evaluating whether your student has taken challenging courses in high school and excelled. Many schools want to know if the student is willing to assert  themselves in taking on a strong curriculum and want to see how well they perform in doing so.

I advise that you have your student take challenging courses over time.  You don’t want to cram too many difficult courses into their freshman and sophomore years.  9th grade is a transitional year, so be sure to incorporate balance into your student’s course selections. Make sure your student has a few challenging courses and some classes that are less demanding in their course mix. 

This approach allows the student to show a positive course trend over time.  You’ll also want to consider whether the courses your student takes are transferable to the schools your student  intends to apply to.

1. EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES/COMMUNITY SERVICE

Extra-curricular activities are an important qualifier in the admissions process. Most colleges are looking for students that demonstrate involvement in activities that relate to the student’s stated goals and interests. This is an area where quality wins over quantity. Admissions officers are evaluating how long and how deeply involved the student has been committed to their interests.

Encourage your student to seek out leadership roles as well. Their leadership, accomplishments, commitment and community involvement are all major areas of consideration.  

1. ESSAY/PERSONAL STATEMENT

Your student’s essay and personal statement can be a major determining factor in their acceptance into college.  This area of the application gives the student a voice in the process and should receive careful attention. The essay portion of the application presents an exclusive opportunity to showcase the student’s personality and assure admissions of why they are the perfect candidate for their school.

I advise that your student consider what additional information they want to share about themselves that can’t be seen through the other portions of the application. This is not a last-minute assignment. Help your student by encouraging them to start early and be sure to allow for plenty of time for revisions and editing.

1. RECOMMENDATION

Many colleges require recommendation letters from teachers, counselors and/or those who can attest to your student’s academic competency and character. I suggest that you start considering potential recommendations during your student’s freshman year. 

Recommendations should be sought from staff members who know your student well and support their academic goals and achievements.  I suggest you select teachers and advisors that have witnessed your student’s academic growth and can attest to their willingness to succeed.

1. INTERVIEW

Some schools require an interview as part of the admissions process. Giving an enthusiastic interview can make a great impression and shows admissions officers that your student genuinely wants to attend their school. 

You should impress upon your student just how important the interview process is so that he or she takes it seriously. Be sure they receive the coaching needed beforehand.  They should be prepared for questions that the admissions officer may ask and they should also bring their own questions.  Most importantly, your student should remember to be the best version of themselves.

You should also be sure to check the school’s admissions interview schedule and book your student’s interview as early as possible.

With the right guidance and preparation, you and your student can conquer your fears and bypass the apprehension and confusion associated with applying for college.  You can conquer the admissions process! If you understand what admissions officers are evaluating when considering each student’s application, you can better position your student for college acceptance.