| Colleges look at many different factors
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| | look. Remember that colleges are not
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| in deciding which students to admit. To
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| | looking for the well-rounded student;
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| complicate matters further, these
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| | they are looking for a well-rounded first
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| factors, and the weight given to each,
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| | year class.
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| differs from school to school. However,
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| | Character traits
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| in general terms, colleges are looking
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| | What traits do you possess that reflects
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| for students who have the academic
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| | on your leadership, fellowship,
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| ability to succeed at their school. They
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| | inspiration, discipline or determination?
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| begin that process by looking at the
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| | Interview
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| courses taken in high school, the grades
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| | The interview can give put a face to your
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| received, the student's standing relative
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| | application and might highlight a special
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| to their classmates, and their test
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| | talent or problem in your record.
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| scores. Once they have determined that a
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| | Recommendations
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| particular student could succeed
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| | What sort of person and student do your
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| academically, many schools will look at a
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| | teachers and counselor think you are?
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| variety of other factors. Some of the
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| | Summer experiences
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| other factors are discussed below.
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| | What have you done in the summer and how
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| In general terms, larger state schools
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| | has that influenced your life
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| tend to rely more on grades and test
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| | perspective? Don’t worry if you
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| scores. The smaller the school and the
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| | haven’t had any great experience
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| more selective the school, the more
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| | during the summer. Most schools are
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| factors are generally considered in
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| | impressed by someone working during the
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| deciding whether to admit a particular
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| | summer to save money for school. It
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| student. To determine what factors for
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| | reflects a certain level of maturity to
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| admission are looked at by any particular
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| | be able to hold a job.
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| school you should ask an admission
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| | Other Considerations
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| counselor from that school.
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| | The list of factors a particular college
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| Academic Achievement Reviewed
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| | is looking for in a student in a
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| Your transcript
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| | particular year varies widely. Listed
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| The colleges will look at the level of
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| | below are some other factors that may be
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| difficulty of the courses you took and
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| | considered:
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| the grades received in those courses.
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| | Gender
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| They will also be looking to see if you
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| | Many schools try to achieve as close to a
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| challenged yourself by taking advantage
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| | 50-50 balance between men and women as
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| of the AP and accelerated courses that
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| | possible. Depending on the school, this
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| are available.
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| | may give one sex or the other an
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| Class rank
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| | advantage if the school needs more men or
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| The colleges will review your GPA and
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| | more women.
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| where you rank in your class
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| | Family background, race or ethnicity
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| Standardized Test Scores
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| | Students who are the first in their
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| SAT I, SAT II and ACT. How well did you
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| | family to go to college are often given
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| do on the standardized tests compared to
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| | additional consideration. This is also
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| the average candidate to that school.
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| | true if you are of an ethnic background
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| Teacher and counselor recommendations
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| | that school seeks for diversity.
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| Most schools have forms that they ask
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| | Residence Schools are often looking
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| your teachers and counselor to complete.
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| | for geographical diversity in their
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| These forms provide specific information
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| | students.
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| about strengths, accomplishments, areas
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| | Special talents
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| of improvement and recommendations
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| | If you are particularly talented in some
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| Achievements/Awards/Scholarships
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| | area (art, music, writing, athletics,
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| What academic awards have you received.
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| | etc.) you may be given more
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| Academic interest (major)
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| | consideration.
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| Some schools have a reputation in a
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| | Area of interest
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| particular area of study. At such
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| | If you have a particular interest that is
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| schools, it may be easier to gain
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| | very unusual and to which you have
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| admission if you are planning on studying
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| | devoted a great deal of time, you may get
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| a major for which they are not known.
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| | additional consideration.
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| Personal Achievement Reviewed
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| | Legacy status
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| The list of factors a particular college
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| | Many schools give preference if one of
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| is looking for in a student in a
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| | your parents or siblings has previously
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| particular year varies widely. Listed
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| | attended the college to which you are
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| below are some other factors that may be
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| | applying.
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| considered:
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| | Financial need
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| Extracurricular activities
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| | Some schools make admission decisions
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| The college will be looking at the amount
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| | based on whether you are seeking
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| of time you spent in your activities and
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| | financial aid or not.
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| whether you held a leadership role. The
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| | Disciplinary issues
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| more time involved and the greater the
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| | If you have been disciplined by your
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| involvement (i.e. captain of a team), the
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| | school, the colleges will look closely at
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| more impressive your activities will
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| | what occurred.
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