What Colleges Want

The No. 1 Thing College Admissions Reps Seek

By Andrew Potter, M.A.; M.A. (NEJS)

If you’re like most high school students, you’re probably already thinking about colleges and applications. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could get inside the minds of the college and university admissions representatives? What do you need to do now in order to get into the college of your choice?

Here’s some important insight: GPA in college prep courses and curriculum strength carry the most weight, according to a 2011 State of College Admission report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

Most Important Factors Affecting Admissions Decisions

(Percent of postsecondary institutions attributing “considerable importance” of the identified factor to the Admissions Decision)

Source: 2011 State of College Admission report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)

About 83 percent of institutions consider the GPA earned in college prep courses as the most important factor affecting admissions decisions, according to the NACAC report, which identifies important trends impacting a student’s transition from high school to college.

Start now to fill your schedule with Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Dual Enrollment and other advanced level courses – all meet NACAC’s definition of college prep. 

It’s clear that high school students who select the most challenging courses have an important advantage when applying to college.