Applying to college can be stressful. Here are nine tips to help increase your admissions odds and create a standout application.
The college application process is unlike any other. It requires hard work, determination, and often the help of family, school staff, or college advisors. On top of earning good grades and strong SAT or ACT scores, you must write a compelling essay and secure letters of recommendation.
But getting into a good school doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. Below, we introduce our top nine tips to help you increase your chances of getting accepted to your dream college.
- Earn Good Grades in Challenging Courses
A high GPA, combined with challenging courses, is by far one of the most important admission factors for colleges.
According to a 2023 report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), around 3 in 4 colleges considered grades in courses considerably important when making admission decisions.
“A good GPA gets you through the first round,” said Christina Skeldon, college consultant and executive functioning coach at JBG Educational Group. “After that, I like to see something that makes the student stand out. What did they do outside the classroom? Who are they other than a student?”
Additionally, approximately 86% of schools considered the strength of curriculum “moderately” or “considerably” important. Advanced Placement (AP), honors, and IB courses are all considered rigorous courses for high school students and reflect positively on college applications.
“[Colleges] like to see that students challenged themselves and took higher-level courses in areas that they are strong in,” explained Skeldon.
- Get a High SAT/ACT Score
While many institutions adopted test-optional policies in the past couple of years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing number of schools have…….
https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/tips-to-increase-college-admission-chances/