In some ways, college visits are like elaborate scavenger hunts, where first, students search the campuses for qualities or amenities that appeal to them – in the dorms, in the dining halls, in the field houses and labs, etc. Then, they try to unlock the mystery of what criteria the colleges and universities are looking for in a student – and whether they have a chance of being accepted.
In answer to the latter, grade point average, class rank, SAT or ACT score, school activities, application essay and parents’ alumni status are all among the student items that weigh most heavily in the admissions process.
But what matters most?
How high does a SAT or ACT score need to be? What are the behind-the-scenes factors that colleges and universities take into account? These are all questions for which we try to help students find answers during their college tours and meetings with admissions officers.
It’s important to remember that college admission is as much art as it is science. Most schools do have minimums for test scores and GPAs, but those are not the only criteria for judging the worthiness of an applicant. They are looking for tangible evidence of intangible qualities, something that may not be that helpful or reassuring to students, but which nevertheless is part of the reality check that they ought to hear.
GPA in the toughest possible courses, class rank and SAT or ACT scores are the three most important items when it comes to an application making the cut.
But what then are some of those intangibles that can put an application over the top?
One is a leadership role in a school, work or community activity, combined with the ability to describe that role in an application essay and, even better, corroborated by a 3rd party, such as a teacher, coach or supervisor.
Ray Brown, director of admissions at TCU, once said: “Believe me, admissions officers like to say yes a lot more than we like to say no. In every application, we are looking for a reason to say yes. I am a director of admission, not a director of rejection.”
At Explore Colleges, we are looking to help students give colleges a lot of valid reasons to say “yes” to their applications. We enjoy working with students and counselors, and love to hear success stories of acceptances won, financial aid packages negotiated and degrees attained!
Kathie Boozer is the founder and president of Explore Colleges, a premier college group tour operator. Explore Colleges’ customized tours help students experience the unique cultures, environments, and opportunities on each campus and inspire them to follow their dreams. Contact Kathie at kboozer@explorecolleges.org
