What do they really look for in college applications?
Our guidance counselor went over this with us today, so here goes: It breaks down to five categories or so: your transcript, your GPA, your SAT's, your clubs and activties and your college essay. First of all, they look at the classes you take: Do you slack the moment you step into senior year? 10th to 11th grade are important (I consider Junior year the most critical, because you have to deal with SAT's, PSAT's, SAT II's, etc.), but you must maintain good grades throughout all four years of your HS years. Shoot for the honors and APs that you can get, don't be hesitant because people say "it's too hard" -- YOU judge what's too much and too little for you. If you think you can do it, DO IT. It will make your transcript look strong. Also, look up what your colleges want -- 4 years of history? Or 4 of language? Keep those in mind. Two, your GPA. Maintaining your grades is very very important, it's one of the two biggest things they look at. It goes with the transcript thing, sort of. Be good at what you take! The average GPA for the top universities right now are around 3.8 unweighted, but mid to high 3's are not uncommon, if your other components are good Three, test scores -- third biggest component. Make sure you do as well as you can on SAT's, even though standardized tests aren't really the best measurement of your abilities, it's what they use. Take two or three SAT II's as well, because you will need those for many colleges (again, you can look it up in collegeboard for your choice of colleges). Fourth and fifth, your college essay and extra curricular activities. These are the TIE BREAKERS. If you measured against another student evenly in grades and test scores, they will look at these to judge which one to choose. They want to see leadership in clubs (editor in chief, president, etc.), but being an active participant is also very good. If you take multiple languages, do some sort of art and music, sports, whatever diversity YOU bring to the college is favorable for you! As for your college essay, if well written, it can be convincing for the school -- our counselor gave many examples of how students who wrote good essays that pleased the colleges had more of an edge to their application than those with the same grade. Sorry it's a bit long, but I wanted to cover all the stuff that was advised for us. XD Good luck and good job on thinking for the future!
Does DECA look good on college applications?
Maybe. It would depend on where you apply. Obviously, if you’re applying at an Ivy League university, all of the applicants are going to have graduated at or near the top of their class, have stellar GPAs, scored in the 95%+ percentile in standardized tests, etc. In cases like that, extracurriculars and volunteer activity may be given more weighting out of necessity to thin the herd. If you’re applying to your state university you may include if you want, but if you meet the basic admissions requirement, you’re in, if you don’t, you won’t.
Does giving blood at school matter to colleges? Does it look good?
The above two posters have it....giving blood in itself is not an extracurricular....and I say this as an admissions interviewer for a top university.. It's a great thing to do, but it's not an extracurricular for a college application (and, in fact, would look ridiculous and actually draw notice to your lack of legit activities). I mean, giving blood to get into college is some sort of blood prostitution. Running a drive, or volunteering regularly for the Red Cross or a blood banking organization WOULD count. In terms of college, an extracurricular is only "valuable" if it takes time, effort, and dedication. In an ideal world, it's something you want to do and are interested in naturally....with the fact that it will go on your application being of secondary, lesser importance.
Does being a TA in high school look good or bad on college apps?
It is time to register for classes for my senior year of high school. I can't decide between being a TA for my AP Biology teacher or taking another class like Computer Support. From what I have heard, the Computer Support class is too easy and effortless but looks decent on college apps. Would being a TA look good or bad on college apps? *I live in CA and plan on applying to most of the UCs.
I got a detention, can colleges see that?
First off, I would like to say that a detention is not a big deal. Yes, it can be annoying and even humiliating, and can result in your piers/teachers getting angry at you, but everybody gets in trouble in some time of their life. People make mistakes, and that is what makes us human. Maybe drawing on a desk is a serious offense of plagiarism, and was stupid, but that's the past-so don't worry about it.Everybody makes mistakes- just try to learn from them. Secondly, I am almost positive that a detention will not show up on an application, but a suspension will. There will be a question on a College Application stating if you have ever been suspended or kicked out of school, but a minor detention will most likely not show up. However, during a college interview or questioner, there may be a question like "Have you ever been in trouble in school?" but just answer honestly. Most college application officers will appreciate your honesty, and probably not question you further. It may or may not have a negative affect on your chances, but usually it will not. However, this is a good topic to look over with your college counselor and your parents. Thirdly, A detention in High School will have no huge impact on your future life/ career-and most likely, no one will ever know about it. A silly detention will not affect your job chances, or relationships with other people, it's just a detention. You can get over it and get on with your life. Good Luck (:
How many AP classes should I take to help get into a top 20 college?
Top 20? As many as possible, because strength of curriculum is up there in importance. It sounds like you’re a junior and I don’t see how you can take eight or nine more. That would be pretty insane to have 11 or 12 APs, although the one friend I personally know that got into Stanford got a 5.0 senior year with 5 APs. At our school, you can’t take more than 5 AP courses at a time (PE or sport, she was also captain of basketball and volleyball, and a model, and ASB). That’s pretty much what it takes to get into a top 20 school.The thing that distinguishes you from a top 20 and everything else isn’t in one specific thing, such as AP. You gotta be all that and then some. And even then, it’s still a lottery. If you are top 20 material, you will have the drive to discover what the rest of the components for a top 20 student is like. I haven’t finished it yet, but I’m almost done writing and compiling a book on college admissions. You can check it out in one of my answer questions recently. Trying not to be self-promoting (it’s free man, come on), but it’s alright I’d say. Took like years to learn that stuff…but if you really care about something, it’s much easier, whether classes or AP.
Do colleges want to see you take AP classes not related to your interests/major?
Yes, absolutely, colleges want to see you taking the highest-level classes available at your school. US History and Eng. Language/Literature are mandatory courses in most schools anyway, and if your school offers them in AP, I guarantee that they are much more popular compared to AP Physics. Do you want a decent weighted GPA or not? I’m surprised to even see such a question. It’s like - “I’m a comp sci person, do I need history and literature?” :) Yes, you do! And don’t forget about foreign language too (maybe not AP, but selective colleges want to see 3 years minimum).
Does taking certain AP classes online look worse to colleges than taking others, such as taking AP world history online versus AP physics?
I don’t think colleges will look down if you take AP classes online.They remain AP level, and taking the course online shows your determination to challenge yourself.My only advice would be to make sure you find a course that is College Board accredited and has plenty of reviews.