Okay, first of all, not all colleges care about the same things, and furthermore, not all majors or fields require the same qualities for success. As a high school student, the best thing you can do for yourself is become an informed consumer. Research colleges and programs individually to understand what factors they most desire in their students.
So let’s focus here on the basics. What do colleges want to see - in general - on college applications?
First, colleges want to see good grades in rigorous courses. Consider challenging yourself with honors, AP, or IB courses. Since most high school students apply for college during fall of senior year, junior year grades will be the most recent grades reported on college applications. How many challenging courses you take and in which subjects is completely up to you. Just know that the more selective a college is in their admissions, the more rigor and academic excellence they expect from prospective students.
In addition to reporting your courses and grades, students can also describe their extracurricular activities on their applications. Colleges would like to know what kind of person you are, what you care about, your values, and your strengths. One way they learn this about you is by evaluating how you spend your time outside of classes. Extracurricular activities can include: clubs, sports, jobs, volunteer work, internships, and summer activities. Colleges aren’t typically looking for specific activities; instead they want to see proof that you can follow your passions and be committed to a project or cause for an extended period of time. So when considering how to spend your free time, simply choose activities that mean something to you.
How else do colleges learn about your personality and values? Essays. Not all colleges require one, but many colleges require more than one! Get started early - as in, start at the end of junior year - and don’t leave the essays to the last minute!
Yes, there’s more. A constellation of other factors can be considered by colleges and universities in their admissions decisions. Here’s a few:
Demonstrated interest: have you connected with the school in meaningful ways to indicate your genuine interest in attending? Go to information sessions, seek out their table at college fairs, email the admissions office your questions, and even follow them on social media
Letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors
SAT or ACT test scores: check each school’s policy on test scores! Some schools are test optional, some are test blind like the UCs - they don't accept scores at all.
Class rank: not all high schools report this, so don't worry if yours doesn't.
Interview: take advantage of interview opportunities that come up throughout the application process. There's no better way for a college to get to know you, however, many schools don't offer this as an option.
How do you know what a particular college looks for? This information is reported by every college; you just have to find it online. If you like raw data, try searching online for the college’s Common Data Set reports (search: name of college + common data set). These reports provide a lot of data on admissions, including the relative importance of each factor in their decisions. Or try visiting college search engines like collegedata.com or niche.com and read up on individual colleges there.
Try to be realistic but ambitious. You may not be admitted to extremely selective colleges. But you can focus your efforts on being the best candidate for colleges that are a good fit for you and your unique goals. This journey isn’t just about what colleges are looking for. It’s equally important to acknowledge what you are looking for in a college.
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