STRONG ACADEMICS

Grades and strength in curriculum carry the most weight in admission to highly selective schools. Excelling in core academic areas (English, Math, Foreign Language, Science, History) will typically qualify an application for a second read (i.e., a more in-depth examination by a full-time admissions reader rather than a temporary, seasonal reader hired by colleges to manage the number of applications). For more on how colleges interpret a student’s transcript, check out our blog post.

TEST SCORES

Despite the rise of test-optional admissions, test scores do remain a factor in college admissions at most highly selective universities. However, as colleges continue moving toward test-optional admissions, we have seen a decrease in the importance of test scores overall. We expect this trend to continue, though an excellent test score never goes out of style.

Keep in mind, without standardized test scores as a metric for evaluation, highly selective colleges learn more heavily on an applicant’s academic accomplishment, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to social good.

DEPTH OF RESUME

Once your student has met the high academic threshold, maintaining a depth of involvement in activities is the next critical step. This is an incredible opportunity for your student to stand out from the pack. For the purposes of highly selective admissions, students should be most concerned with initiative and impact–these two areas tend to set students apart in the application process.

While interest and involvement are necessary first steps to extracurricular engagement, in order for your student to be considered at highly selective colleges, they’ll need to take initiative and demonstrate impact. Of course, often, an activity’s most significant impact is the one it has on the student themselves–never discount this personal impact, especially because it often makes for a stand-out essay topic.

A COHESIVE AND THOUGHTFUL APPLICATION

A great college application highlights a student’s interests and achievements as a cohesive and narrative arc. It should tell a story of who the student is and what they value. The activity and awards section should be complemented by the essays so an admissions reader comes away feeling like they understand the “why” behind a student’s involvement. Great essays, in which a student provides authentic reflection rather than a summary of their resume, are vital.