HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGES
WHO GETS IN?
You are most competitive if you:
Have a HIGH WEIGHTED GRADE POINT AVERAGE 3.8 -4.6
Have HIGH SAT SCORES (700-800 on each test)
Take ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES (English, Calculus, Physics,
US History and others)
Get excellent letter of recommendation from your teachers. You need to
participate in class discussion and show interest in the class.
Students who get into highly selective colleges have a long resume of
interesting activities in and outside school. The tend to have high energy
and accomplish a great deal during high school.
You will have a tremendous advantage if you are a nice kind person and
students and teachers respect you.
IT HELPS IF YOU…
Are an outstanding ATHLETE (NCAA Division I or II level)
Have special TALENT (art, music, etc.)
Have a strong commitment to one or two ACTIVITIES:
Sports, pubic speaking/debate, journalism, clubs & organizations,
leadership, job, youth groups, volunteer service or other creative activities.
Have interesting SUMMER EXPERIENCES:
College classes, foreign exchange program, community service, job,
internship or other activities. Pursue your interests
Have good LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION from two teachers in
academic courses during the last two years of high school
Write an EXCELLENT ESSAY in your own words. Personalize your essay.
Never let others write your essay. You need to keep the 18 year old in the
essay. It is very easy to spot essays that adults have edited.
ALUMNI CONNECTIONS. If your parents or grandparents attended the
college, you do have an advantage. It is not a guarantee.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Read College Profiles. You need to ask for this information. High
schools normally receive the profile with the admitted class information.
Prepare an academic resume with your activities, honors and awards.
Some students will submit several pages. It is more difficult to do on the
Internet.
Read college guides
Attend the college visits at your high school in the fall
Check out college catalogs or the college web site.
Participate in meaningful summer activities. Foreign exchange
programs, community service in another country, create your own
community service project in your community, study on a college campus
in your area of interest, participate in an unpaid internship.
Demonstrate interest in your potential college major.
If you want to be an architect, volunteer at a local architecture firm.
If you wan to be a doctor or nurse, volunteer at a local hospital.
If you want to be an engineer, volunteer at a local engineering firm.
Try to be creative and follow your passion.
Request information from each college
Attend area college visits in your community. If you contact the college
during summer, you will receive an invitation to many night or weekend
programs with admission officers
Listen to the college announcements at your high school
Visit your high school college/career center
Attend College Fairs in your community
Talk to other students who are now attending selective colleges. What
did they do that was unique?
Read the college profile to see if you fit the profile
Ask lots of questions
How To Reduce Stress in the College Process:
During summer between the juniors and senior year, you could do the
following:
Write a personal essay for your college applications. Check the essay
topics on the Common Application at: www.commonapp.org
Apply online during summer if the website application is available. Many
applications are available in June or July.
Select one email address for all your college correspondence. Make
sure the email address is appropriate.
Try a college search program and read some college planning guides to
help you narrow down your choices.
Make a list of your activities,sports, work experience, travel experiences,
awards and honors and out-of-school activities.
Good Books To Read:
The Fiske Guide to Colleges by Edward Fiske
The Best 361 Colleges by Princeton Review
The Insider's Guide to the Colleges by Yale Daily News
The Public Ivies by Howard Greene
EARLY ACTION/EARLY DECISION
Early Action:
Some colleges offer an opportunity to apply early and receive an answer
early
Normally the student applies in November and would receive a response
in December
With an Early Action plan, the student does not need to reply until May 1.
Early Decision:
With an Early Decision plan, the acceptance is binding and the student
must attend if accepted in December and withdraw all other applications
Often the most competitive students apply Early Action or Early Decision
Who should apply Early Decision?
A student who is happy with his test scores from the junior year
A student who has decided on the number one choice
A student who is happy with his grade point average
A student who is not dependent on financial aid
The student should have visited the college and be knowledgeable about
the college
Positive Aspects of Early Decision
It’s over. The student gets accepted and does not need to fill out any
other applications.
The student is obligated to contact the other colleges and withdraw the
application.
The colleges often take a higher percentage of students early
The student’s application may be deferred to the regular pool of
applications later in the year. (often in April)
Negative Aspects of Early Decision
The student could receive a rejection in December. If the student had
waited, he would have an opportunity to submit the seventh semester
(senior year) grades or new information such as awards or honors
received since the application was filed.
The most competitive students often apply early. Do you fit in that
category?
Not every student knows where he wants to attend college early in the fall.
The student must be organized and get all the paperwork in early.
Stanford University Profile 2007-08
Top 10% admit rate: 11% 92% of admitted class
High School GPA: 4.0 and above 78% of admitted class
3.8-3.99 14% of admitted class
SAT Critical Reading 800 19% of admitted class
700-799 46%
SAT Math 800 22%
700-799 47%
SAT Writing 800 13%
700-799 50%
Tips on Getting into a Highly Selective College
