The transcript has always been one of the most important parts of a student’s application and the main focus of college admissions officers. The first four items that college admissions officers look at when a student applies to a school are academic, according to a survey by the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

They are:

• Grades in college prep courses
• Grades in all courses
• Strength of curriculum
• Admission test scores

In light of COVID 19, many colleges and universities are electing to be test-optional, so that more emphasis will be placed on course rigor, grades and high school curriculum. Stephanie Klein Wassink, former admissions officer and long-time college consultant, offers these tips to juniors to keep them on track with the college application process.

1. Evaluate Your Transcript

Look at the grades on your transcript and compare them with your High School Profile. The high school profile shows a high school GPA bell curve. It also shows graduation requirements.

Comparing your transcript to your high school’s profile gives you a sense of where you stand relative to other students in your school. Looking at the courses your school offers, are you pushing yourself to take AP and Honors courses, or are you consistently taking a lower-level course of study?

The school profile shows that all letter grades (for example all ‘A,’s) are not equal. An ‘A ‘ in an AP course of study may equal 5 points, an ‘A’ in an Honors course could 4.67 points, while an ‘A’ in an A level course of study is worth 4.33 points.

• What is your GPA?
• How does your GPA compare with other students?
• What are the trends in your transcript by year?

You can see the trends in your transcript by looking at your grades in English in 9^th, 10^th and 11^th grade. Also do this for other core subjects. What were your strongest subjects?

In the college application review process, admissions officers look for trends. For example, if you decide to major in engineering, an admissions officer will look for a high-grade trend in math and science. Knowing your own trends informs your choice as you apply to schools.

GPA is Important to Colleges

Colleges have budgets and priorities beyond the college application process. They want to know that admitted students can do the work required, and graduate in 4 to 6 years. A student who leaves the college in their sophomore year hurts the college financially and affects the college’s rankings.

The College Admissions Officer’s Job

Because colleges and universities have priorities (10-year plans, endowment plans, growth, stronger math department, etc.) the admission officers must keep the priorities in mind as they consider prospective student’s applications. Their job is to interpret the picture that a student creates and determine if the student fits the college.

The Student’s Job

In the college application process, the student can help by forming the clearest possible picture of who they are. College admissions consultants can assist in this process.

2. Start the Common Application

Common Application Activities are Very Important

Activities show the student’s uniqueness and personality.  Activities shine a light on where the student, if admitted, is likely to be found on campus. Seventy percent of college learning occurs outside of the classroom. If a student has stellar grades but few activities, he or she may be mainly in the library – not interacting with others. Will that student be willing to teach and learn from fellow students?

College admission officers want interesting students who work well with others—to create a vibrant, intellectual, learning community on campus. Your Common Application tells that story.

3. Draft a Resume.

Your resume highlights your experiences over time and fills in your picture. Include information starting with the summer before your freshman year. Ask family members to help you remember past activities and experiences.

Give your resume to your Guidance Counselor and recommenders. In the future, you can use this resume to apply for internships and summer jobs.

4. Create a School List.

Consider:

What you like and dislike about your high school

• Size – Was it too large, too small, just right?
• Teacher availability – Did you get to know your teachers?

What region of the country works for you? For your parents?

• Do you want to fly to college?
• Do you prefer warm or cold weather?
• Do you prefer an urban, suburban, rural setting
• Is a culturally diverse campus important to you?

Get to know the colleges.

• Take (virtual) tours of campuses
• Attend (virtual) information sessions
• Interview college students about their schools. Older friends of your siblings or recent graduates of your high school can tell you about dorms, cafeteria food, professors, social life, etc.
• Follow colleges on social media
• Plan future visits
• Track helpful web sites such as Youtube, Studentreviews.com, Admissions.Checkup.com, Winning Applications.com

Keep an organized list so you can add the schools you like and remove the ones you don’t.

5. Brainstorm/ Write Essays

Admissions officers see your essays as an introduction to who you are and what you will bring to the campus. Keep in mind, they read hundreds of essays written by 18-year-olds. They quickly pick up the writing of a parent. Because the essay is a litmus test of the student’s authenticity, it is important that the student write his/her own essay. Admission officers want to see an essay that fits the student and is consistent with the rest of the application.

Apply Early! Applying early improves your chances of getting into the school of your choice. (Noted in The Early Admission Game.)

Get Help! Winning Applications is ready, willing and able to help students apply early to schools of their choice! We have worked successfully with hundreds of students on everything from the school list and the Common Application to the essays and interview preparation! We’d love to talk with you.

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