What Should Your Student Focus On?

1. Balancing College List-Insurance Against Application Surges

With rising application volume, schools once considered safety options are now as competitive as possible choices. This shift makes a balanced college list more important than ever. A well-rounded list should include a mix of reach, possible, and match schools aligned with your student’s strengths and interests. This approach insulates against application inflation, reduces stress, and ensures students focus on schools where they can thrive academically and personally.

Expanding beyond local schools is also key. Colleges farther from home often provide excellent opportunities for admission and financial aid as they manage capacity challenges. Start by identifying at least two "match" schools where your student’s academic profile exceeds the median GPA and test scores. These schools should offer strong admission odds and align with your family’s financial plan through merit-based scholarships, in-state tuition, or other aid. A solid foundation of match schools ensures realistic options that fit your student’s goals.

2. Showcasing Rigor in Class Choices

In today’s admissions landscape, academic rigor is a key factor in evaluating college readiness. Admissions committees closely examine performance in challenging courses like AP, IB, and Honors classes. Strong grades in these courses demonstrate readiness for demanding material and can help compensate for missing or lower test scores. Highlight your academic rigor throughout your application by showcasing advanced coursework and successes in your activities list, essays, or additional information section.

For students with limited access to advanced coursework, it’s crucial to show how you’ve maximized available opportunities, such as excelling in dual-enrollment classes, independent study, or major projects. Admissions officers value evidence of academic growth and accomplishments like AP exam scores or significant achievements in rigorous courses. Demonstrating your ability to thrive in challenging environments signals readiness for college-level work, making academic rigor essential to a competitive application.

3. Extracurriculars: The Key to Standing Out in Selective Admissions

While test scores and transcripts provide baseline academic metrics, sustained extracurricular involvement can truly set an applicant apart, especially for competitive majors and highly selective schools. Admissions committees value initiative and impact demonstrated through meaningful, multi-year commitments. Whether through school organizations, community engagement, or independent projects, these activities showcase what excites you and how you’ve made a difference. Colleges prioritize quality over quantity, so focus on leadership, growth, and depth of exploration rather than compiling a long list of surface-level activities.

For students targeting selective majors like Engineering, Business, or Pre-Med, extracurriculars are even more critical in demonstrating "fit to major." Activities aligned with your intended field—such as leading a robotics team, launching a nonprofit, or interning in a medical setting—show preparation and dedication to the demands of the program. Use supplemental essays to highlight these long-term commitments and how they’ve shaped your goals. By emphasizing focus, growth, and impact, you signal to admissions officers that you’re passionate and ready to excel in your chosen major.

4. Test-Optional ≠ Test-Ignorant: How to Approach Standardized Testing in College Admissions

With 80% of colleges now test-optional, families might assume SAT and ACT scores no longer matter. However, test-optional doesn’t mean test-irrelevant. Many selective colleges still value strong scores as a measure of academic readiness, and data shows submitting them can boost admissions chances. For example, Boston College admitted 29% of applicants with scores compared to 11% without, and at the University of Virginia, the admit rate was 26% with scores versus 14% without. For students targeting competitive programs or majors, test scores remain a powerful tool for standing out.

Strategic submission is key to maximizing the impact of test scores. Strong scores above a college’s median can validate academic ability, especially for students from schools with less rigorous curriculums. For selective majors like Engineering, Business, or Pre-Med, scores can highlight preparedness and "fit to major." Beyond admissions, many colleges use test scores to award merit scholarships, making a top school more affordable. In today’s competitive and cost-conscious landscape, families should carefully evaluate testing strategies to ensure scores enhance both admission and scholarship opportunities.