least important things to look for in a college

The personal statement is an important part of your college application as it's one of the only areas where you can really showcase your personality. This allows colleges to get a clearer feel for who you are, what you're interested in, and what your goals are. Qualities of a strong Most colleges require at least one letter of recommendation from either your high school counselor or a high school teacher (or both). And then theres the happy medium some structure to help you find your way, but enough leeway when it comes to requirements that you dont feel restricted. Try to eat in the dining hall when you visit campus and/or look up reviews for the schools food only. Academic Priorities: How have you done your best learning? hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, 'c8b8e502-c285-4182-9589-5f8ae230e78a', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. I used to stress about it too, until I realized top choice might not be the cheapest but its not the most expensive college out there, plus I really want to go there. The College Funding Coach is here to help. Internships and research experience are important whether you're a mechanical engineer or an English major, so be sure to ask the admissions officers at your desired school about experiential learning opportunities. Often, youll want to go straight to the source and read over the colleges official website (see the University of Washington for example). Almost every college will want to know what This page will show you what the school's average GPA is, in addition to other admission requirements. Pick a location that suits you. 4. What campus activities are most important to me for my school to have? To learn about the reported crime statistics for a specific campus, visit The Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool created by the U.S. Department of Education. First things first: the word research in this context isnt an elaborate process that requires special tools or skills. by Emily Barylske CollegeXpress Student Writer. Dining halls should offer healthy meal options daily. Understand the basic principles of time management and planning. Choosing which college to attend can be a tricky thing. region: "na1", (You may even be required to get a meal plan.) You don't need to be the next Marie Curie or Stephen Hawking, but you should be open to new opportunities and willing to challenge yourself. The trick here is to provide not a list of all the random activities you've done but rather a detailed overview of one to two of your most passionate interests and any big achievements you've made in them. Here's a list of factors that may influence your decision of what college to attend: 1. What is the procedure for starting new clubs or activities on campus. Do I feel like I can succeed at this school? All of this being said, try to avoid getting very low grades in any classes you take (regular or honors/AP). Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Of course, that is what they are supposed to do, so I made sure I watched their body language and spoke with other students we met on campus, and it all aligned: this is a good place. But while some colleges don't require personal essays, most colleges do require at least one or two essaysand will place a decent amount of emphasis on it, especially if it is being used as a deciding factor between two otherwise equally qualified applicants. A word to the wise: keep your eyes open for what colleges want. I plan to study Conservation Biology and work protecting species/ecosystems. Related: What Do You Want and Need in a College? Once you've done this process a few times, give your essay to someone to read. Colleges are responsible for making these opportunities available to you. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Before choosing a school, make sure they have your extracurricular interests covered. You should be able to choose from short-term, semester-long, or year-long study abroad experiences. I think everyone likes them now, mostly because there is something for everyone to be a part of. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/choosing-the-perfect-college-786979. CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit. For instance, say you volunteered at a local library. The Hidden Cost of Transferring to a Different College, 9 Tips for Making the Most of a College Visit, Conversation Topics for College Office Hours, 20 Great Colleges for Students With Low SAT Scores, How to Email Professors at Prospective Grad Schools, Reasons You're Required to Live on Campus Your First Year of College, How to Answer "What Can I Tell You About Our College? College Info. If you attend a school with 10 to 20 students per faculty member, youre likely to get a lot of individual attention from the faculty. Learn to use strategies for staying focused and motivated. The 2019 NACAC survey indicates that 54% of colleges consider teacher recommendations at least moderately important, while a higher 55% consider counselor recommendations the same. Ask about financial aid and scholarship To find the middle 50% (that is, the 25th and 75th percentile SAT/ACT scores) for a school, search on Google for "[School Name] PrepScholar admission requirements." If you get a B in a tough AP class, for example, this will emphasize to the admissions committee that you are willing to take on new challenges and test your limits, traits that are necessary for succeeding in and after college. But I also have this strange fear that if I end up in huge classes and dont know my professors, I might not hold myself accountable or not put my all into my college work. Or, do you want the independence and creativity to take what you want right off the bat? CollegeXpress also gives out their own scholarships, so you have even more of a chance at gaining multiple scholarships. Does the college have a leadership certificate program or leadership track? You should also correct any obvious typos or errors, such as mistakes in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. On that same note, it's OK to get creative here. This scholarship is vital to helping me achieve and fulfill my dreams, and gives me confidence and motivation as I begin my college career. Don't forget that the essay is a way for the admissions committee to learn more about you, so don't shy away from your true self! At least a day before your interview, ensure you have a clean set of clothes. What are the four most important things you are looking for in a college (in order of importance)? ThoughtCo, Apr. Is there only a college cafeteria or are there cafs and other restaurants too? This is a good idea in general. Disregard college classifications when they only serve to make your choice too difficult, and consider instead what is important to you and what school can best meet your needs both academically and personally. On the flip side, if you have a great application but a badly written essay, that essay alone could get you rejected! For instance, the most selective colleges only enroll students who are already prepared to succeed and likely to graduate. $2,000 Community Service Scholarship Winner, 2014. The 7 Things That Really Look Good on a College Application, Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, 2019 report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), his expert guide on how to get into the Ivy League, any materials or information they might need to help them craft a compelling letter, highly selective colleges and universities, how to figure out what to go to college for, why college application essays don't actually matter all that much, some colleges don't require personal essays, particularly selective colleges, such as the Ivy League, Our guide teaches you how to narrow down your college choices, A high GPA (relative to what admitted students have) and a rigorous curriculum, Strong test scores (relative to what admitted students have), A specific, honest, and well-written personal statement and/or essays, A unique extracurricular interest or passion (a "spike," as we like to call it), Volunteering experience with measurable impact, Compelling letters of recommendation written on your behalf, Work experience, particularly jobs related to your academic or professional interests, Good grades and a challenging course load, A spike in your extracurricular activities, Volunteer experience with clear impact on the groups or places you've helped, Any relevant or impactful work experience, It's better to have a spike than to be well rounded, A B in a hard course is more impressive than an A in an easy course, You can still get into your dream school even if your application isn't perfect. Retention rate: This tracks the number of first-time, first-year students who STAY for a second year. How accessible do I want my professors to be? This is an incredibly underrated factor when it comes to the college search. Do you see that in the colleges you are looking at? Free money is calling you!). This is because they are including instructors and graduate students, not just professors. Once you have a rough draft of your college essay, it's time to polish it up for submission. What percentage of graduates are employed prior to graduation? Rumors of the famed freshman 15 are often true. Add to that fees, textbooks, accommodation, food, and other school supplies, and the total can be dizzying. (Follow the steps above for NYU to learn how to do this.). What forms are used by the college to determine financial aid eligibility? 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Faculty size does not tend to grow commensurately with increased student enrollment. Talk with everyone you know about scholarships, because you never know what you will find. Edit your essay as needed in accordance with the comments you get. Do you want your professors to know me? This fact is especially important in light of how many first-year applications colleges receive each year. Does the college have its own police or security force? Everyone is going to struggle at times with class material which is why looking into each college's academic support services is a good idea. Very few students even think to ask about the career placement department, but this should be a key item on your checklist assuming that your child would like to graduate with a job, and a decent one at that. Refrain from assuming that its only when applying to online colleges that you should check for accreditation. Once you've got these scores, write them in your chart as so: Now, look at all the 75th percentile scores in your chart. Note: Many schools claim to have a very low student-faculty ratio. Im looking forward to getting field experience and seeing firsthand the problems research is solving. Even if you started high school with lower grades, an upward grade trend is a great point to emphasize on your application. ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? Non-athletes should have access to good exercise facilities. This may be the least exciting thing to think about when This liberal arts approach is crucial to a wholesome college experience, because the world doesnt revolve around the skills learned in a single major. It doesn't matter how great a college is if you can't pay for it. Read on to learn what colleges look for in applicants, what looks really good on a college application, and what kinds of myths there are about good things to put on a college application. There are also colleges that have voluntary core programs (Boston University and UT Austin, for example). Ask yourself: what are your interests outside of school and how do you engage in them? Because when it comes down to it what you want is the most important factor of them all. Do you find other students interested in similar things as you? I first discovered CollegeXpress during my sophomore year of high school while researching colleges that interested me. Now then, let's take a look at each of these qualities in more detail. Share: It may seem top secret, but colleges are perfectly willing to reveal their most important admission factors. A startlingly low graduation rate is never a good sign. 2. How do you find out how effective their career placement is? When looking at a college, its always wise to see what their average student looks like, and college websites and pamphlets will contain this kind of information. Once the number of students per faculty member goes above 20, you may not get much handholding from a professor. Do you want to spend half of your experience in massive lectures with no real accountability or mentorship from your professors? When speaking with a college admission counselor, you can find out what the extracurricular scene is like on campus. }); Meet with one of our College Funding Coaches. But looking at tuition might not be the best way to gauge how much youll actually spend. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. Our guide teaches you how to narrow down your college choices so that you're applying to the best schools for you. You wouldn't be applying to a college unless you had a reason to want to go there, right? You can also ask if your bathroom preferences can change your housing options. ), they will often have less teaching experience and are crazy busy with their work (even busier than professors). What type of curriculum would work best for you/your student? Is this college the right size for what I want in a school community? In the end, you are the only one who can really decide what college is best for you. It was originally published on June 1, 2016. I am very honored to be this years recipient of the Multicultural Student Community Service Scholarship! C and D grades obviously won't look great to an admissions committee, even if you got these grades while challenging yourself in AP classes. Academics are the most important feature of your college career, but you also want to ensure that your life will be stimulating and fulfilling outside of class as well. Well, as a freshman you will likely be placed in the dorms, and there is nothing wrong with that. Ask below and we'll reply! I first discovered CollegeXpress during my sophomore year of high school while researching colleges that interested me. The first thing they tell you is to avoid parties on campus (which is fine advice if you dont want to go to parties, but that may not be right for you either). For example, they may place more emphasis on anything from performing arts to Greek life. If you think you know what you want to study, look at the requirements of your major at each college. We can help. Be sure to check the availability of your desired courses before sending in your acceptance letter to the college. Course requirements tie in directly with what type of curriculum you are really looking for in the first place. In general, a great application will have most or all of the following elements: It's OK if you don't have every single quality listed above, but if you do, your chances of getting accepted to the college of your dreams will go way up! Think about it: though a perfect 4.0 might look great at an initial glance, if you got this high GPA by only taking the easiest classes available and didn't challenge yourself with higher-level coursework, your transcripts aren't likely to impress college admissions officers that much. For example, say you're planning to apply to NYU. You'll want to be able to demonstrate strong leadership skills when applying for jobs and/or graduate school. It looks like these classes are here to stay, at least for the time being. If you're asking for a letter from a teacher, make sure to choose someone whose class you got a high grade in (ideally an A) and who is familiar with your abilities, ambitions, and interests. When it is all said and done, what you want in a college matters. Use our college acceptance calculator to get an estimated percentage of your chance of getting into your dream school, based on your SAT or ACT score and GPA. What non-need or merit grants and scholarships are available from the college? (See? Web1. Boulder, CO, $1,500 Annual Catholic College Scholarship Drawing, CollegeXpress Scholarship for Students of Color, Four-Year Colleges and Universities in Utah, Colleges with Excellent Programs in E-Business, Colleges that Have Pass/Fail in the First Year, Over 30 July Scholarship Opportunities to Apply For. Maybe the library was struggling to get funds to continue operating, and you came up with the idea to hold a 24-hour reading marathon in order to raise money. Does the campus offer resources for student safety and wellbeing? Make sure to keep communication lines open with the financial aid offices at prospective colleges; things change and they may be able to throw more money your way! Do I want a large faulty or a small but focused one? Dorms are small, just FYI. Many students feel overwhelmed by the options when trying to decide where to spend the next four (or more) years of their lives. This gives me more room to truly explore and benefit from all aspects of higher education. There are many colleges out there; your student may find a much better fit at a small private school or state school where they can thrive while receiving generous need-based and/or merit-based aid. To really stand out as an applicant, though, you'll want to aim for at least the 75th percentile. Most people believe a high GPA (the definition of which can vary at different colleges) will make an application stronger. Having a spike lets you stand out in a truly meaningful way, whereas being well rounded will make you forgettable and seem too similar to other applicants. You'll stand out as an applicant if you have tons of biology- or science-related experiences under your belt. If you aim for well rounded, you'll start to look like everyone else. Furthermore, take advantage of the massive online shift. I like feeling at home at college, but I also felt safe and secure. In fact, at particularly selective colleges, such as the Ivy League, you'll often hear of cases in which ostensibly "perfect" applicants got rejected. Some like urban areas, and some prefer rural. Spikes are especially important at highly selective colleges and universities, such as Harvard, Yale, and other Ivy League-level schools. The first important part of the college application is the transcript, which consists of your GPA and the names and types of classes you've taken in high school. According to NACAC, 75% of colleges ranked grades in high school classes considerably important. Up next, we look at the specific qualities you should strive to include on your application so you can raise your chances of getting accepted. Have the person you choose offer clear feedback on your essay and check that you've met all requirements. As a result, there may be very long waitlists for some classes and shortages in first-year classes for students who did not register on the first possible date. Network with other students to help ensure academic success. A school's alumni network can be a powerful tool for providing mentoring, professional guidance, and employment opportunities to its students even before they graduate. Talk to your academic advisor, career counselor, or a representative from the academic department to understand how a major connects to your strengths and goals. Here's what the SAT scores section on NYU's PrepScholar admission reqs page looks like: Here, we can see the average SAT score for NYU is 1440that's pretty high, in the 95th percentile nationally!

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