What Colleges Want

When colleges look at your application, they are looking for signs that you'll be a great addition to the campus community: someone who will succeed academically, get involved, and make it a good experience for the community as a whole.

There's no one "right way" to do it: Whether you're a focused academic, a star athlete, a talented artist, an involved activist, a disadvantaged high-achiever, or something else entirely, you can find a way to shine.

What Colleges Consider

Roughly speaking, you can group colleges' criteria into three main categories:

• Standardized test results (SAT Test, SAT Subject Tests, and other tests)
• Academic performance
• Personal qualities and extracurriculars

So what do colleges look at when evaluating you in these three categories?

• Standardized tests (SAT Test, SAT Subject Tests, and other tests)
• Transcript
• Extracurricular record
• Essay
• Interview
• Recommendations
• Resume
• Demonstrated interest

Recommended Reading

A Is for Admission: The Insider's Guide to Getting into the Ivy League and Other Top Colleges

Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting into College

The College Hook: Packaging Yourself to Win the College Admissions Game

What You Don't Know Can Keep You Out of College

Winning the College Admission Game: Strategies for Parents & Students