When applying to college, each college has different requirements when sending in applications. Some ask you for an essay with a set amount of words while others just want a high school transcript. Either way, there are certain things colleges look closely at on your applications that show you’re not just another number.
“The process took a long time and it was very stressful but it’s definitely worth it in the end. It’s crazy to think my future is coming so quickly,” said senior Brennan Haggerty about applying to college.
Your transcript is a record of each of the classes you’ve taken since freshman year and the grades you’ve received in these classes. The colleges only make decisions based on your freshman, sophomore, and junior year. They do not evaluate your senior year until you send your final transcript to the college you are planning to attend. Even if you have been accepted, if your final transcript shows that you have been doing worse in the classes you were once excelling in, the college can revoke your acceptance.
The first part of the transcript most colleges look at is your GPA. At JHS, we have a weighted average for our GPAs which means advanced placement classes are allowed an extra weight. This also means that it is possible for students to attain over a 4.0 GPA. Since schools across the country are so different in this aspect, colleges sometimes choose to calculate your unweighted GPA and use that to compare with other applicants.
Another portion which is important to colleges is your class rank. The school takes everyone in your class and puts them in order based on GPAs. This shows how well you’ve worked in comparison to others in your class. In some schools, this can hurt students. Larger schools may have a class of over 500 and someone who ranks 200 could still be an A student.
Challenging courses can be very helpful on a transcript. It shows colleges you are being challenged, so admissions may be more lenient in their expectations for grades when they see these classes.
The ACT is very important as well. Some colleges provide academic scholarships in which you will automatically receive money if you have a certain test score and GPA. If you didn’t do very well the first time you took the test, retake it! You always keep your highest score so you have nothing to lose.
Multiple extracurricular activities and some community service hours can definitely make you stand out to a college. Try joining a club here at school, but make sure it’s something you’re interested in. You don’t want to just be joining it to put on your college application. Do something you’re interested in and would most likely want to be a part of in college as well. Getting involved in the community is also something that you can do to better yourself as a person as well as the community. This will show that you are a well-rounded person.
Showing the college who you are and how you will add to their campus is probably one of the most important details that colleges look at. They want to know what makes you unique and how you will stand out from the thousands of applicants applying to their college.