What Do College Admission Officers Look For?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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officers look at

“hard factors”

(GPA, grades, and test scores) and “soft factors” (essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and demonstrated interest) to gain a full picture of applicants.

What are the top 3 things that you want a college admissions officer to know about you?

  • Choose the right high school classes. …
  • Get to know the college counselor. …
  • Keep your grades up. …
  • Take standardized tests early. …
  • Do your homework and try hard. …
  • Engage in the right mix of extracurricular activities. …
  • Take the college application process seriously.

What do college admissions officers look for in an applicant?

Admissions officers look for students

who are engaged, curious, honest, eager to learn and willing to contribute to the vibrancy of the campus

. Most colleges hope to attract a diverse pool of students whose unique and individual perspectives and experiences will enhance learning opportunities for all.

How can a college admissions officer stand out?

  1. Challenge Yourself Academically. The college admissions process evaluates applicants' readiness for study and potential for academic excellence. …
  2. Choose the Right Standardized Test. …
  3. Go the Extra Mile. …
  4. Check Your Social Media. …
  5. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread. …
  6. Apply Early. …
  7. Reach Out.

What do admission officers read first?

Admissions officers from the initial reading process use their

“pink sheet” (application summary form)

and read off key details from the application (grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, essay comments, recommendation letter summaries, family information, initial recommendations for Admit/Defer/Wait List/ …

What do Harvard admissions officers look for?

Closely associated with your GPA and another major attribute Harvard University expects to see from top applicants is excellent standardized test scores. More specifically, admissions officers want to see you

crush the SAT and ACT

– you know, the two tests you've heard enough times to commit them to long-term memory.

Do they actually read college essays?

Yes,

every college essay is read if the college has asked for it

(and often even if they did not ask for it). The number of readers depends on the college's review process. It will be anywhere from one reader to four readers.

What are colleges looking for in a student?

High School Curriculum & Performance

Overall, college admissions typically value students with a difficult course load and grades that represent strong efforts and upward trending scores. But in addition to curriculum and grades, colleges also look at

students' scores on the SAT or ACT

.

What traits do colleges want to see?

  • Leadership.
  • A willingness to take risks.
  • Initiative.
  • A sense of social responsibility.
  • A commitment to service.
  • Special talents or abilities.

What is a good question to ask a college admission officer?

  • How does your college help students secure employment?
  • What percentage of students obtain internships? …
  • Could you talk about the advantages associated with being part of the college's alumni network?
  • Where do graduates continue their education?

What are good topics for college essays?

  • Prompt #1: Share your story.
  • Prompt #2: Learning from obstacles.
  • Prompt #3: Challenging a belief.
  • Prompt #4: Solving a problem.
  • Prompt #5: Personal growth.
  • Prompt #6: What captivates you?
  • Prompt #7: Topic of your choice.
  • Describe a person you admire.

What language looks best on college application?

  • English. English is considered the most widely spoken language in the world and is the most commonly spoken language in the United States. …
  • Chinese. …
  • Spanish. …
  • Arabic. …
  • German. …
  • Portuguese.

How can college admissions be improved?

  1. 1) Harnessing Student Motivation. …
  2. 2) Storytelling As A Tool. …
  3. 4) Reducing Response Time Through Automation. …
  4. 5) Dynamic Engagement Strategies. …
  5. 6) Leverage Technology. …
  6. 7) Mobile Application Process. …
  7. 8) Do More With Enrollment Analytics. …
  8. 9) Improve Your Visibility With SEO.

Do colleges reject overqualified students?

Colleges that are traditional safeties for students who are really hoping to get into more competitive top-tier schools

sometimes reject or waitlist candidates

that they believe are not serious about attending.

Who decides if you get accepted into college?

Standards are usually based on test scores, GPA, enrollment quotas, and other predetermined criteria. Student applications that move forward then go to committee, where

college admissions counselors

read applications and determine who gets accepted or rejected.

How do colleges decide who gets scholarships?

The combination of an admitted student's

GPA

and test scores are put into a formula that breaks students who meet scholarship levels down into five different scholarship levels: increments of $12,000, $15,000, $18,000, $21,000, and $24,000. … He shared the logic that goes behind making scholarship decisions for colleges.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.