How to Get Into College: 9 Admissions Tips | BestColleges (2024)

The college application process is unlike any other. It requires hard work, determination, and often the help of family, school staff, or college advisors. On top of earning good grades and strong SAT or ACT scores, you must write a compelling essay and secure letters of recommendation.

But getting into a good school doesn't have to be an uphill battle. Below, we introduce our top nine tips to help you increase your chances of getting accepted to your dream college.

1. Earn Good Grades in Challenging Courses

A high GPA, combined with challenging courses, is by far one of the most important admission factors for colleges.

According to a 2023 report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), around 3 in 4 colleges considered grades in courses considerably important when making admission decisions.

"A good GPA gets you through the first round," said Christina Skeldon, college consultant and executive functioning coach at JBG Educational Group. "After that, I like to see something that makes the student stand out. What did they do outside the classroom? Who are they other than a student?"

Additionally, approximately 86% of schools considered the strength of curriculum “moderately” or “considerably” important. Advanced Placement (AP), honors, and IB courses are all considered rigorous courses for high school students and reflect positively on college applications.

"[Colleges] like to see that students challenged themselves and took higher-level courses in areas that they are strong in," explained Skeldon.

2. Get a High SAT/ACT Score

While many institutions adopted test-optional policies in the past couple of years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing number of schools have reinstated their testing requirements, including Harvard, Stanford, and Brown University.

Even if a college you're applying to doesn't require SAT/ACT scores, it's usually best to submit them. A Dartmouth University study found that test scores helped to identify "high-achieving less-advantaged applicants." Without scores, admissions officers relied more on factors that favor higher-income students, such as guidance counselor recommendations and nonacademic ratings by admissions officers.

The best way to prepare for either exam is to use official practice questions and tests, many of which are free. You can also buy an SAT or ACT prep book, enroll in SAT or ACT prep classes, and/or hire a tutor.

Although test scores are a helpful part of a college application, colleges in the NACAC report didn't weigh them as heavily as factors like grades and course rigor. Approximately 70% of colleges consider standardized test scores of either “limited” or “no” importance.

3. Write a Compelling Personal Statement

The personal statement plays a critical role in college admissions, even as standardized test requirements are being reinstated. Over half of the colleges surveyed by NACAC considered the essay or writing sample at least moderately important.

The essay provides one of the best opportunities to sell yourself. According to Skeldon, "A stand-out essay shows the admissions team who the student is outside a GPA or test score."

Be sure to spend time developing a unique perspective and choosing the right prompt for you. Your goal should be to tell an intimate, engaging story.

4. Demonstrate Interest

The 2023 NACAC study found that just over 40% of colleges considered students' demonstrated interest in attending as at least moderate importance in the admissions process.

If you genuinely want to attend a specific university and want to demonstrate that on your application, consider visiting the campus, going on a campus tour, participating in optional interviews, and directly contacting admissions representatives.

"An official tour is so important," said Skeldon. "Some schools are still doing interviews, and I think it looks great for a student to reach out to the admissions office to ask for one."

Other ways to demonstrate interest include getting in touch with professors in your prospective major, applying early decision (if available), following the school's social media channels, and participating in the school's online seminars for prospective students.

5. Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are important as they can reveal aspects of your character that your grades and test scores can't. You should aim to ask people who can describe your skills, accomplishments, and attitude with positivity and enthusiasm.

Most colleges require 1-3 recommendation letters, typically from teachers and a high school guidance counselor. About half the colleges in the NACAC study consider teacher and counselor recommendations of at least moderate importance in admissions.

Be polite when making the request. In addition, be sure to ask at least a month before your college application deadlines. You want your recommender to have ample time to compose a strong letter on your behalf.

6. Apply to a Diverse Selection of Colleges

Students should apply to a variety of schools, including safety, match, and reach schools. Your high school guidance counselor can help you put together a list of potential schools for which you meet or exceed all necessary criteria for admission. These will be your matches and safety schools, meaning you have a solid chance of acceptance.

Once you've done that, you can start thinking about reach schools, or institutions you're less likely to get into. Note that some colleges are reach schools for all students, including the Ivy League and selective schools such as Stanford University and the California Institute of Technology.

While applying to a variety of colleges increases your chances of getting into at least one college, even if you get rejected from your dream school, the application fees can add up fast.

“Part of the preparation also includes having a variety of schools on your application list that will maximize your admissions and financial aid offers,” said high school and college planning counselor Norma Feriz-Gordon.

You can get need-based application fee waivers, especially if you qualify for SAT/ACT fee waivers. The Common App, a platform which allows you to apply to multiple schools at once, provides fee waivers if you meet the same criteria to receive an SAT waiver. Additionally, some colleges and universities will offer fee waivers if you contact their admissions department.

7. Opt for an Early Admission Plan

If you're committed to attending a specific college, research shows that applying early can raise your admission chances. That's because colleges generally admit a higher percentage of students during their early decision and early action rounds.

"Early action is beneficial for so many reasons, and I always push my students to apply this way if the school offers it," said Skeldon.

Both early decision and early action plans require you to apply early, usually sometime in November. You can expect to receive an admission decision earlier as well, typically in December. While early decision is a binding commitment to attend that institution should you get admitted, early action allows for more flexibility and does not bind you to a single school.

According to Feriz-Gordon, one thing students often fail to do when thinking about how to get into college is starting the application process.

“Start your application process well in advance,” Feriz-Gordon said. “This includes gathering necessary documents, drafting personal statements, and preparing for interviews or tests. An early start allows you to review and refine your application, ensuring it’s as strong as possible.”

8. Manage Your Online Reputation

Admissions officers are increasingly checking applicants' social media accounts to learn more about them and identify potential concerns that might deter them from extending an acceptance. Make sure your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn accounts are free of content you wouldn't want colleges to see while you're applying.

"It is important to have an appropriate email address, and social media accounts should be [set to] private," advised Skeldon. You should also search your name on Google to ensure there's nothing floating around online that could reflect negatively on you.

Feriz-Gordon said that not every college admissions officer is going to check your socials, but they might still learn about unfavorable social media posts, and even posts on others' accounts.“That could lead not only to a red flag but one of more institutions revoking their acceptance or not offering a seat in the first place,” Feriz-Gordon said. “It is important to not only manage your online presence but your in-person presence too!”

9. Get Help When You Need It

The college application process can be confusing and isn't something to take on alone. As you prepare to submit your application, make sure to consult people familiar with the admissions process, such as your guidance counselor and teachers, on how to get into college.

You can also seek guidance from parents, friends, older siblings, and relatives when going through the admissions process. Their insights, especially if they have applied recently or are alumni of the institution you are interested in, can be extremely beneficial.

Finally, don't forget to have someone look over and proofread your entire application. "Always, always, always have someone else look through it," stressed Skeldon. "Grammar, spelling, punctuation — all of these little things go a long way."

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