Thinking Ahead: What Are Colleges Looking for?
It may seem that college is a long time away, and what you are doing in high school now won’t count. This is not true at all. Everything that you do, and don’t do, now will play a part in the decisions that colleges and universities use to select you. Here are some basic things to keep in mind when making your daily decisions in high school:
Extracurricular Activities: Make sure to put in the extra effort to join clubs, sports, organizations or other activities outside the classroom.
Letter of Recommendation: Most four-year colleges require a least one recommendation written by a teacher or adult who knows you well, so make sure to be respectful and represent yourself well. These letters include academic performance, maturity, leadership skills or other qualities besides our grades and test scores.
Standardized Tests: Tests such as the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP are very important. Visit sites like FACTS.org, so that you can stay aware of practice books and sessions that can prepare you for these tests. College and universities have started setting minimum test requirements. Millions of students take these same tests each year, so “standardized” means that it gives colleges a standard way to evaluate applicants.
Evaluate some of these things:
Academic record
How high is your GPA?
How does your GPA rank among your classmates?
How successful were you on standardized tests?
Difficulty of coursework
Have you taken as many Honors, Advanced Placement, or International? HAve you taken Baccalaureate courses as you could successfully handle?
Have you taken four years of English, Science, Math, and other core classes, or have you only taken the minimum requirements for college?
How does your high school’s academic reputation compare with those of other applicants?
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