What are colleges impressed by?

While all colleges are different, of course, with some valuing certain qualities or skills more or less than other schools, all colleges generally look for smart, studious, ambitious, and passionate students. Therefore, your college application should emphasize your best, most impressive qualities.
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What are things that impress colleges?

Here are nine summer activities to impress colleges that you could easily take up this summer.
  • Taking College Classes. ...
  • Completing Classes Online. ...
  • Getting a Summer Job. ...
  • Volunteering in Your Community. ...
  • Completing an Internship. ...
  • Starting Your Own Business. ...
  • Starting Your SAT or ACT Prep. ...
  • Spending a Summer Abroad.
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What do colleges look at the most?

What Colleges Are Looking For in a Successful Applicant
  • High School GPA and Class Rank. ...
  • AP and Honors Classes. ...
  • Challenging Extracurricular Activities. ...
  • Volunteer and Work Experience. ...
  • Test Scores. ...
  • Quality Recommendation Letters. ...
  • A Well-Written Essay. ...
  • Talents and Passions.
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What are the main things that colleges look for?

What are the Most Important Factors in College Admissions?
  • Grades in college prep courses. ...
  • Strength of curriculum. ...
  • Admission test scores. ...
  • Grades in all courses. ...
  • Extracurricular commitment. ...
  • Letters of recommendation. ...
  • Essay or writing sample. ...
  • Demonstrated interest.
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What extra things look good on college applications?

Any or all of the following are among the best extracurricular activities for college applications.
  • Leadership Activities. ...
  • Internships. ...
  • Athletic Participation. ...
  • Work Experience. ...
  • Academic Teams and Clubs. ...
  • Creative Pursuits. ...
  • Technological Skills. ...
  • Political Activism.
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Activities That DO Impress Colleges!!! OWN the College Admissions Process



What to do to stand out to colleges?

Take the following steps to ensure that you stand out on college applications.
  1. Get to know your guidance counselor.
  2. Stay academically competitive.
  3. Take more than the state minimums for required high school courses.
  4. Take standardized tests.
  5. Ask for letters of recommendation.
  6. Submit stellar essays.
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How can I increase my chances of getting into college?

Below, we introduce our top nine tips to help you increase your chances of getting accepted to your dream college.
  1. Earn Good Grades in Challenging Courses. ...
  2. Get a High SAT/ACT Score. ...
  3. Write a Compelling Personal Statement. ...
  4. Demonstrate Interest. ...
  5. Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation. ...
  6. Apply to a Diverse Selection of Colleges.
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Do colleges look at 10th grade?

Colleges like to see one of two things from your academic career: either a strong performance that is maintained throughout, or an upward trend of doing better and better each year. If you got really good grades in 9th and 10th grade, then nice job!
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Do colleges look at your social media?

College Admissions Decisions and Social Media

Before you apply to college is the time to think about what your online presence tells viewers about you. Some colleges have confirmed they do take your social media presence into consideration during the college application process.
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How do colleges pick students?

In the US admissions process, colleges and universities take many factors into consideration. Admissions officers look at “hard factors” (GPA, grades, and test scores) and “soft factors” (essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and demonstrated interest) to gain a full picture of applicants.
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What type of students do colleges want?

Overall, college admissions typically value students with a difficult course load and grades that represent strong efforts and upward trending scores. But in addition to curriculum and grades, colleges also look at students' scores on the SAT or ACT.
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What makes me a strong candidate for college?

A high GPA (relative to what admitted students have) and a rigorous curriculum. Strong test scores (relative to what admitted students have) A specific, honest, and well-written personal statement. A unique extracurricular interest or passion (a "spike," as we like to call it)
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Do colleges look at 8th grade grades?

No, colleges will not look at your grades from middle school. Colleges focus on your grades from high school, which will be shown on your high school transcript. I hope this answers your question! Your counselors probably know more, but generally middle school grades don't impact your college application.
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Do extracurriculars matter for college?

Colleges appreciate applicants with meaningful extracurricular achievements, not just club memberships. May 2, 2022, at 5:33 p.m. As every college applicant knows, admissions offices look at extracurricular activities as one of the many factors that go into admissions decisions.
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Can I get into college without extracurriculars?

It's possible to get into college without extracurriculars, especially when applying to non-selective schools with an open admissions policy where the only requirement is a high school diploma or an equivalent. Some high school students think that they have no extracurriculars when they really have.
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Can colleges see your Tiktoks?

Colleges can see posts on social media, such as Snapchat, Instagram, or TikTok, if the accounts are not set to private. Up to 25% of college admissions officers check out applicants' social media presence.
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Can colleges see your Snapchat messages?

It's your Instagram – and your Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and any other social media feeds that colleges can see. And yes, they're looking. Get answers to the most important questions about what colleges want to see.
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Can colleges see your search history?

Search history isn't a factor when you for admissions

But they won't access your search history. Instead, colleges will search for what they have access to, your Social Media.
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Is a GPA of 5.0 good?

At most high schools, this means that the highest GPA you can get is a 5.0. A 4.5 GPA indicates that you're in very good shape for college. You're most likely in high level classes earning As and high Bs. 99.74% of schools have an average GPA below a 4.5.
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What year in high school is the hardest?

While junior year is often the hardest year of high school, the transition from middle school to 9th grade can also be tough. To make it easier, don't feel afraid to reach out to your teachers and counselors, and take advantage of the support resources that are available.
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Do colleges care about 9th grade?

Pretty much every college will see your teen's grades from the first year of high school as part of their transcript review. Even universities that emphasizes tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade grades when they evaluate applicants for admission will still see ninth grade marks on transcripts.
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What do elite colleges look for?

Elite schools in the U.S. are looking for more than academically enthusiastic students: they're looking for students who can show true initiative and committed, focused interests beyond the classroom.
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What is the highest GPA?

The unweighted GPA scale is the most commonly used GPA scale. It's found in high schools and colleges alike and is very straightforward. Essentially, the highest GPA you can earn is a 4.0, which indicates an A average in all of your classes.
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How do you top in college?

Success in college relies on you preparing outside of class, so spend time reviewing your notes and reading the textbook for each session. When you study, find a quiet space and cut off outside distractions. A good rule of thumb is to spend two hours studying for each hour you spend in class.
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Is a 4.0 GPA good in middle school?

Is a 4.0 GPA good? A 4.0 GPA is generally considered the gold standard for GPA. If your school uses unweighted GPAs, a 4.0 does mean that you have all As - in other words, perfect grades!
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