What Colleges Look For

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• What Colleges Look For
• (and Scholarship Committees)

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1. Academics (G.P.A. and Class Rank)
Academics, specifically a students GPA, is one
of the first things any college representative is
going to look at when they receive the
application and transcript. Your GPA or Grade
Point Average is comprised of all the grades
youve earned on your high school transcript and
averaged together. If youre high school is on a
4 point system, then a 4.0 would signify that
youve earned all As in your respective
courses. Along with your GPA goes your Class
Rank. Class Rank is loosely described as where
you fit in when compared to other students in
your graduating class using your GPA. For
instance, if you have an overall GPA of 3.75/4.0
and your Class Rank is 50 out of 400 students,
that means there are 49 other kids in your
graduating class that have a better Grade Point
Average than you do. So the higher the GPA you
earn, the higher your Class Rank will be.
(highest being 1 in your class). Source
http//collegeprepu.com/
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2. Test Scores (ACT/SAT)
Taken during your junior year, the ACT is
probably the most important test for college
entrance. Most schools work on what is called a
sliding scale for admission. This basically
means that the higher GPA/Class Rank you have,
the lower the ACT Composite score you will need
to gain admission. And, it works the other way
also. The higher the ACT Composite score you
earn, the lower the GPA/Class Rank you will be
able to get away with and still get admitted.
Keep in mind that all colleges differ with regard
to how low of a GPA or ACT score you can get and
still get accepted. The average ACT composite
score in California is 22 out of 36 The average
SAT score is 1500 out of 2400
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UC Application Data
Campus Fall 2012 Admit Rate Average G.P.A. Fall 2012 Average ACT Score Average SAT Score
Berkely 23 4.20 29.4 2035
Davis 45 4.06 27.6 1893
Irvine 38 4.07 26.3 1831
Los Angeles 19 4.20 28.9 2008
Merced 78 3.56 22.1 1586
Riverside 62 3.71 24.1 1701
San Diego 32 4.15 29.0 1988
Santa Barbara 42 4.00 27.6 1892
Santa Cruz 62 3.79 24.9 1734
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3. Course Rigor
When colleges receive a transcript from you for
evaluation, chances are they will want to see
what courses you chose to take in college. Did
you challenge yourself, or did you take
relatively easy courses that you could get an
easy A in? Colleges are looking for the students
that challenged themselves in high school by
taking Honors and/or Advanced Placement courses
as opposed to lower level classes. Course rigor
is important in demonstrating to your prospective
college that you are capable of handling college
level work. Those students who earning a high
GPA, but didnt take any challenging courses in
high school run the risk of being denied
admission based on their weak course selection.
It does happen, so take the highest level courses
in each subject area that you will get a B or
better in. If you cannot earn at least a B, do
not take the higher level course.
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4. Letters of Recommendation
Admissions officers rely on letters of
recommendation to let them know how others view
you. Be sure to pick your recommenders wisely. If
your recommender doesn't know you that well, it
will show through his letter.
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5. Personal Statement (College Admissions Essay)
The college admissions essay allows you to show
your uniqueness to admissions officers.
Counselors look for application essays that are
honest and provide supplemental information. Do
not restate the information found on your
transcript and application. Instead, write about
your desires, your goals, special events in your
life, etc.
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5. Personal Statement (College Admissions Essay)

• Read and follow directions carefully.
• Answer all parts of the writing prompt.
• Adhere to word count limits.
• UC system 1,000 words for 2 essays
• Approximately 750 words for one essay
• About 2 typed pages (1 inch margins,
  double-spaced)
• Approximately 250 words for the other essay
• About ¾ typed page (1 inch margins,
  double-spaced)

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5. Personal Statement (UC Writing Prompts)
Prompt 1 Describe the world you come from
for example, your family, community or school
and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams
and aspirations. Prompt 2 Tell us about a
personal quality, talent, accomplishment,
contribution or experience that is important to
you. What about this quality or accomplishment
makes you proud and how does it relate to the
person you are?
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6. Extra Curricular Involvement/Community Service
Being involved outside of the classroom shows
good initiative and time management skills.
Colleges want to see that well-rounded student,
not just top grades and scores. Being a member
of a club or sports team is a great choice. But
do your best to take it a step further. For
instance, if you are a member of Student Council,
consider running for an office such as Treasurer,
Vice President or even President! The top
colleges are looking for leaders, and what better
way to show them that you are a leader than by
holding office or running a club or activity. If
sports is more your thing, strive to be named a
team captain. This displays outstanding
leadership and colleges love that when its
combined with a solid academic background. The
UC system is looking for 200 hours of community
service!
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7. Work and Entrepreneurial Experiences
Part-time work experience, an internship or
summer job, even starting your own business can
provide excellent essay material to showcase your
maturity, initiative, work ethic as well as
interpersonal and time-management skills
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8. Other Factors

• There are numerous other factors that can play a
  role in the admissions decision including
• geographical diversity (students from places
  other than the communities surrounding the
  college)
• legacy (your grandparents or parents attended
  the same university)
• ethnic heritage
• socio- economic background (colleges typically
  give more financial aid to less fortunate
  students)
• first in family to go to college
• ability to overcome adversity (death, single
  parent home, etc.)

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Get IGETC
IGETC stands for Intersegmental General Education
Transfer Curriculum. It is a general education
pattern which community college transfer students
can use to fulfill lower-division general
education requirements in either the CSU or UC
system without the need, after transfer, to take
additional lower-division general education
requirements.
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UCs Comprehensive Review
Although UC schools dont technically use this
calculation anymore, each campus receives more
than 10,000 applications and must use something
similar in the holistic review process.
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A-G Requirements
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Colleges are Looking for the Total Package
5. Personal Statement (College Admissions Essay)
1. Academics
2. Test Scores

• Extra Curricular
• Involvement

3. Course Rigor

• Work and Entrepreneurial
• Experiences

• Letters of
• Recommendation

8. Other Factors
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College Admissions Game
4.0
2.9
3.7
3.1
4.1
2.8
3.3
3.5
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Video Clips
Part 1 http//www.youtube.com/watch?vEeuQuK1Vvn
Y (Running Time 243) Part 2 http//www.youtube.
com/watch?vPlImsxPz5Lw (Running Time 415) Part
3 http//www.youtube.com/watch?vD3OdPMhVGt8
(Running Time 315)