6 answers
JJ
Student
Dixonville, PA
2
Questions
Asked
629 views
how do I get into a college?
I want to know how to get into a good college. I want to learn how to apply for a good school and have a better chance of getting in.
Login to comment
6 answers
Jerel L.
Management Consultant
86
Answers
Columbia, South Carolina
Updated
Jerel’s Answer
Hi JJ and thank you for your question.
The process of applying to college typically involves the following steps:
Research colleges and universities: Start by making a list of schools that interest you and that fit your academic and personal needs. Research each school's academic programs, campus culture, location, and cost to determine which ones are the best fit.
Check the admission requirements: Before you apply, make sure you understand the admission requirements for each school on your list. This may include test scores, grades, essays, recommendations, and other materials.
Take standardized tests: Many colleges require the SAT or ACT, so plan on taking one or both of these exams. Check with each school on your list to see which tests are required and when you need to take them.
Gather materials: This may include transcripts, test scores, essays, recommendations, and any other required materials. Be sure to check each school's deadline for submitting these materials.
Complete and submit the application: This can usually be done online. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully and submit all required materials by the deadline.
Wait for a decision: Once you have submitted your application, you will need to wait for a decision. Some schools notify applicants within a few weeks, while others take several months.
Accept an offer: If you are admitted to a school, you will typically receive an offer of admission and instructions on how to enroll. You will then need to decide whether to accept the offer and enroll in the school.
Remember, the application process can vary from school to school, so be sure to check each school's requirements and deadlines to ensure a smooth and successful application process. I hope this helps.
The process of applying to college typically involves the following steps:
Research colleges and universities: Start by making a list of schools that interest you and that fit your academic and personal needs. Research each school's academic programs, campus culture, location, and cost to determine which ones are the best fit.
Check the admission requirements: Before you apply, make sure you understand the admission requirements for each school on your list. This may include test scores, grades, essays, recommendations, and other materials.
Take standardized tests: Many colleges require the SAT or ACT, so plan on taking one or both of these exams. Check with each school on your list to see which tests are required and when you need to take them.
Gather materials: This may include transcripts, test scores, essays, recommendations, and any other required materials. Be sure to check each school's deadline for submitting these materials.
Complete and submit the application: This can usually be done online. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully and submit all required materials by the deadline.
Wait for a decision: Once you have submitted your application, you will need to wait for a decision. Some schools notify applicants within a few weeks, while others take several months.
Accept an offer: If you are admitted to a school, you will typically receive an offer of admission and instructions on how to enroll. You will then need to decide whether to accept the offer and enroll in the school.
Remember, the application process can vary from school to school, so be sure to check each school's requirements and deadlines to ensure a smooth and successful application process. I hope this helps.
Thank you so much for the advice.
JJ
Sheila Jordan
Lead Network Proj/Prog Manager
716
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Sheila’s Answer
Hi JJ:
The first step is to make an appointment with your school Counselor. They are very resourceful and could help you navigate through the process. Some immediate steps you could take are listed below.
• Take challenging classes while in high school
• Build your essay writing skills
• Build leadership qualities
• Start the application process early
• Get involved with groups, clubs, extracurricular activities
I hope this was helpful. Best of luck to you!
How to Get Into College • https://careerkarma.com/blog/how-to-get-into-a-good-college/#:~:text=Top%20Tips%20for%20Getting%20Into%20a%20Good%20College,with%20groups%20and%20clubs%20in%20high%20school.%20
The first step is to make an appointment with your school Counselor. They are very resourceful and could help you navigate through the process. Some immediate steps you could take are listed below.
• Take challenging classes while in high school
• Build your essay writing skills
• Build leadership qualities
• Start the application process early
• Get involved with groups, clubs, extracurricular activities
I hope this was helpful. Best of luck to you!
Sheila recommends the following next steps:
Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action!
JJ
Vamshee Gunturu
Principal Engineer
187
Answers
Chandler, Arizona
Updated
Vamshee’s Answer
You can make an appointment with your school counselors, they are very helpful and guide you in this process.
In the mean time , you can read the following to get an idea.
What do colleges look for?
Admissions officers review many factors in a student’s application, but in general, they are looking to see that you have made the most out of your entire high school education.
Plan out what classes and extracurriculars you’d like to take as early as possible to have a reliable trajectory to follow throughout your high school career. Not only will this allow you to utilize your four years in high school intelligently, but this will also mitigate the chances of unpreparedness and procrastination when it's actually time for college applications. There is nothing more stressful than realizing you have multiple unfulfilled requirements during your junior year of high school.
As you are selecting your high school classes, keep in mind that admissions officers like to see that you’ve challenged yourself. That means taking honors or college prep classes, like Advanced Placement (AP.) Again, colleges favor students who have pushed themselves out of their comfort zone, so you can demonstrate that by taking higher-level courses in subjects that you excel in.
What GPA do I need to get into college?
Grades play a significant role in the college admissions process. With that being said, there is no black-or-white answer when it comes to your GPA and college applications.
There is no specific GPA you need to get into college, and what GPA you need to stand out in the application process will vary from college to college. In general, to get into any four-year college, you should at least have a 2.0 GPA or higher. If you’re aiming to get into a more selective college (less than a 60% acceptance rate), then you should be aiming for at least a 3.5 GPA.
However, the aforementioned GPAs are just estimates, and it will not apply to every student or every college. Admissions officers often will not just look at the number, but they will consider other contextual factors.
For example, the way GPA is calculated varies from high school to high school, which means that a 4.0 at your high school may be viewed differently from a 4.0 at another high school. Moreover, the difficulty of your high school courses will impact the way an admissions officer views your GPA. If your GPA is lower than another student’s because you took more AP classes, then that will play a huge factor in how a college will regard your GPA.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your GPA is not the only factor colleges look at. While it is a significant factor, admissions offices will also weigh your application essays, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation.
How can I increase my chances of getting into college?
GPA aside, there are many ways to beef up your college application in order to make an impact on an admissions officer.
Score high on the ACT/SAT
Write compelling essays and a personal statement
Demonstrate genuine interest in the college you are applying to
Secure strong letters of recommendation
Apply to multiple colleges
Utilize early admissions/early action to your top college
Manage your social media responsibly
Ask for help!
Should I consider tutoring to help me get into college?
Yes! Tutoring is an excellent way to support your college application process. If you are struggling in a class or your standardized testing, tutoring is a great way to level up your skills and gain confidence in any subject.
Some schools offers Peer tutoring/Afterschool tutoring with teachers which can be utilized.
Khan academy offers free courses and online videos for all grades, one can benefit from using this ...as long as one has good internet connection you can do it from your home or anywhere.
https://www.khanacademy.org/
In the mean time , you can read the following to get an idea.
What do colleges look for?
Admissions officers review many factors in a student’s application, but in general, they are looking to see that you have made the most out of your entire high school education.
Plan out what classes and extracurriculars you’d like to take as early as possible to have a reliable trajectory to follow throughout your high school career. Not only will this allow you to utilize your four years in high school intelligently, but this will also mitigate the chances of unpreparedness and procrastination when it's actually time for college applications. There is nothing more stressful than realizing you have multiple unfulfilled requirements during your junior year of high school.
As you are selecting your high school classes, keep in mind that admissions officers like to see that you’ve challenged yourself. That means taking honors or college prep classes, like Advanced Placement (AP.) Again, colleges favor students who have pushed themselves out of their comfort zone, so you can demonstrate that by taking higher-level courses in subjects that you excel in.
What GPA do I need to get into college?
Grades play a significant role in the college admissions process. With that being said, there is no black-or-white answer when it comes to your GPA and college applications.
There is no specific GPA you need to get into college, and what GPA you need to stand out in the application process will vary from college to college. In general, to get into any four-year college, you should at least have a 2.0 GPA or higher. If you’re aiming to get into a more selective college (less than a 60% acceptance rate), then you should be aiming for at least a 3.5 GPA.
However, the aforementioned GPAs are just estimates, and it will not apply to every student or every college. Admissions officers often will not just look at the number, but they will consider other contextual factors.
For example, the way GPA is calculated varies from high school to high school, which means that a 4.0 at your high school may be viewed differently from a 4.0 at another high school. Moreover, the difficulty of your high school courses will impact the way an admissions officer views your GPA. If your GPA is lower than another student’s because you took more AP classes, then that will play a huge factor in how a college will regard your GPA.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your GPA is not the only factor colleges look at. While it is a significant factor, admissions offices will also weigh your application essays, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation.
How can I increase my chances of getting into college?
GPA aside, there are many ways to beef up your college application in order to make an impact on an admissions officer.
Score high on the ACT/SAT
Write compelling essays and a personal statement
Demonstrate genuine interest in the college you are applying to
Secure strong letters of recommendation
Apply to multiple colleges
Utilize early admissions/early action to your top college
Manage your social media responsibly
Ask for help!
Should I consider tutoring to help me get into college?
Yes! Tutoring is an excellent way to support your college application process. If you are struggling in a class or your standardized testing, tutoring is a great way to level up your skills and gain confidence in any subject.
Some schools offers Peer tutoring/Afterschool tutoring with teachers which can be utilized.
Khan academy offers free courses and online videos for all grades, one can benefit from using this ...as long as one has good internet connection you can do it from your home or anywhere.
https://www.khanacademy.org/
Rocio Llanos-Foots
Customer Experience Manager
9
Answers
Bridgewater, New Jersey
Updated
Rocio’s Answer
Hi JJ. My first piece of advice would be to work with your guidance counselor, they're a great resource! You should also focus on ensuring that your GPA is up to par to college acceptance criteria, taking standardized tests needed to be accepted into college, start researching colleges and their admission process, and start your application process early. Also, look for scholarships that may be available whether public or private. Best of luck!
John Dahlberg
Work Force Solutions
1
Answer
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
John’s Answer
Hi JJ,
I agree with the advise form others here, and would add a bit more.
I'd advise taking classes of great interest in anticipation of growing and learning in college. Advance-placement classes are helpful. Yes, as noted above, GPA is critical - work as hard as you can to have that number as high as you can. Activities such as volunteering, ideally in your field of interest, any volunteering is beneficial. Join clubs and organizations in your field and attend conferences and presentation, if possible. Get to know professionals in your field and talk to them about guidance they may provide (they have followed your same path!). Writing is critical, you'll have to write essays and self-profile, and it must be concise and compelling, in an engaging narrative and not a static list of things about you. Write about your passion, how it came to be, and even the value you'd bring during college and beyond, personal and professional experiences that make you unique and an ideal candidate for the college. Anything you can do to engage with your field and demonstrate your passion and determination. Thousands of students will be applying, and the admissions board will be reading all these application. Cut your own path to stand above the masses.
I agree with the advise form others here, and would add a bit more.
I'd advise taking classes of great interest in anticipation of growing and learning in college. Advance-placement classes are helpful. Yes, as noted above, GPA is critical - work as hard as you can to have that number as high as you can. Activities such as volunteering, ideally in your field of interest, any volunteering is beneficial. Join clubs and organizations in your field and attend conferences and presentation, if possible. Get to know professionals in your field and talk to them about guidance they may provide (they have followed your same path!). Writing is critical, you'll have to write essays and self-profile, and it must be concise and compelling, in an engaging narrative and not a static list of things about you. Write about your passion, how it came to be, and even the value you'd bring during college and beyond, personal and professional experiences that make you unique and an ideal candidate for the college. Anything you can do to engage with your field and demonstrate your passion and determination. Thousands of students will be applying, and the admissions board will be reading all these application. Cut your own path to stand above the masses.
Thank you so much, John!
JJ
david kirk
Retired Computing Manager
474
Answers
Syracuse, New York
Updated
david’s Answer
JJ,
This is an excellent question, but of a general nature. This forum works best for you when your questions focus on specific career areas. For your question, I encourage using your favorite search engine, such as Google or Bing. Just type in 'how to get into college' and many websites will appear with in-depth information that far exceeds whatever those here can tell you. Here are two examples:
https://www.quadeducationgroup.com/blog/how-to-get-into-college
and this one:
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2012/09/25/focus-on-7-strategies-to-get-into-college
and there are many more. Also, speak to your HS guidance counselor. That will be time well spent. Good luck to you.
This is an excellent question, but of a general nature. This forum works best for you when your questions focus on specific career areas. For your question, I encourage using your favorite search engine, such as Google or Bing. Just type in 'how to get into college' and many websites will appear with in-depth information that far exceeds whatever those here can tell you. Here are two examples:
https://www.quadeducationgroup.com/blog/how-to-get-into-college
and this one:
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2012/09/25/focus-on-7-strategies-to-get-into-college
and there are many more. Also, speak to your HS guidance counselor. That will be time well spent. Good luck to you.