Colleges are going to be looking at you as a whole and will take several factors into consideration when evaluating your application and determining your acceptance into their institution.

Factors include:

High School Performance

• Are you participating in a four year college prep curriculum?
• How are you performing in your courses? ( GPA/class rank)
• What trend can they see in your grades? (For example, Strength in a single content or can they see an improvement from freshman to senior year)
• What is the rigor of your curriculum?
• Competitiveness of high school

College Entrance Exams (ACT and SAT)

• Help to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses
• May be used for placement
• May be used for scholarship amounts awarded
• May not be weighed as heavily if high school record is strong

Co-curricular activities

• Demonstrates commitment to school and contribution to school community
• Never replaces academic preparation and performance
• Consistent involvement and leadership important

Service

• Consistent involvement
• Demonstrates contribution to community
• Impact on student and/or community
• May lead to special scholarships

Other factors

• Legacy—Did you have family attend institution
• Diversity
• Religious affiliation
• Special talents
• Interviews
• Institution will be asking how you fit their program? Their community?
• Will be asking how can this student contribute to our college/university?

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