How to Get Into Colleges: Guide 2024-2025
by
Indigo Research Team
&
Published:
July 25, 2024
Last Updated:
December 1, 2024
A new survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling confirms what many students are already aware of: applying to college can be nerve-wracking. More than half of surveyed students reported it as their most stressful academic experience, with anxieties running high about application errors and meeting the demands of competitive colleges. And rightfully so, because applying at some of the top colleges in 2024-2025 means checking a plethora of requirements like high school academics, standard tests, filling out extensive applications, and summing up yourself in a letter.
This guide will be cracking the code on how to get into colleges that you’ve always planned for during high school, taking you through each step of the process. Let’s find out how you can approach the admissions season with confidence!
An essential first step for many students is to assess how they will do academically in high school. Here’s the good news - as long as you are scoring decent grades, you will not have much trouble beginning your college journey. However, there's a lot more to getting into college than simply the numbers.
Academics is considered the foundation for college admissions.
Although the statement is true—that getting good marks is an essential first step in getting into college -it may be a little understated. A closer look at the significance of academics in the college admission process is provided below:
GPA Requirements: What grades do you need to get into a university? There are frequently minimal GPA requirements at competitive universities. If you meet these requirements, your application will be taken into consideration for additional review.
Indicator of Success: Universities desire applicants who are capable of handling the demanding coursework. Good grades are evidence of your academic aptitude and hard ethic.
If you want to know how colleges accept students, then it goes beyond your GPA. Here’s why:
Course Quality: Academic institutions take into account more than simply your GPA when evaluating applicants. Enrolling in demanding courses such as Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) demonstrates your commitment to a higher education.
Trends and Improvement: Colleges may take note of upward trends in your grades, which demonstrate your capacity for growth and learning.
Showing interest: Getting good grades in courses of your major shows that you have a sincere interest in and potential for success in that field.
Creating a Foundation: A strong academic foundation equips you to meet the unique requirements of your college major of choice.
The average student applies to 6-8 colleges. Aim for a balanced list with:
Getting your grades where you want them takes work, but with the right strategies and course selection, you can see significant improvement. Here's a breakdown of actionable steps and course-specific tips:
Go through your latest report card. Are there specific subjects bringing down your GPA? Do you spot any similar repeating mistakes across subjects like grammatical errors or missed deadlines? Your habits like procrastination could also be affecting your study methods.
Schedule meetings with teachers of your most challenging subjects. Discuss your struggles and ask for specific recommendations. Your counselor can help you develop a study plan, suggest alternative learning strategies, and connect you with academic support services offered by your school.
Passive studying is not the right approach if you plan to get into top colleges. Engage with the material through techniques like practice problems, flashcards, concept mapping, or summarizing key points in your own words. Create a weekly schedule that allocates dedicated study time for each subject. Find classmates who share similar goals and form a study group. Explain concepts to each other, quiz each other, and work on practice problems together.
Interest cannot be the only motivation behind choosing university courses. It's a strategic decision made after considering your current strengths and weaknesses, and here are some relatable scenarios to help you choose the right course:
Scenario 1: Strong Overall Grades
Scenario 2: Uneven Grades with Specific Strengths
Scenario 3: Lower Overall Grades
It is essential to pass a test to get into your desired college. Tests like the SAT and ACT are still important in many colleges. The first reason is that they give admission officers a standard way to compare students from different schools and backgrounds. Scoring well can definitely boost your application, especially for competitive colleges.
Let’s find out everything you need to know about testing in college applications:
The fact that elite universities like Princeton and MIT have just reintroduced their standardized test requirements highlights the continued importance of SAT/ACT results in the college admissions process. However, the conditions are changing, and students may find it difficult to adjust to this new reality.
If you’re wondering how to get into colleges, let's examine standardized testing's potential effects on your college application process in more detail:
● Decoding the "Middle 50% Range"
Although national criteria offer a broad understanding of test performance, a more focused strategy is essential. Examine the "middle 50% range" of accepted students' SAT/ACT scores for every college on your list, going beyond the national averages. The scores of the middle 50% of admitted students are represented by this range. Your application will be strengthened if you aim for a score in this range since it will show that you are intellectually capable of handling the demanding coursework at that particular university.
● Test-Required versus Test-Optional
After graduating high school, students are conquered by the question of how to get into colleges. Test-based admissions can become a nightmare for some students. The good news is that "test-optional" policies have been implemented by numerous universities. Thus, you won't face consequences for failing to turn in your results from standardized tests.
It's crucial to comprehend the technicalities of this policy, though. A high test result that is within a college's favored range can greatly improve your candidacy, especially if the rest of your application is equally solid. However, a strong application can still get you in without test results.
● Targeted Test Preparation
Make the most of standardized testing on your application by preparing strategically for the test. To determine your strengths and shortcomings, use approved practice exams from ACT, Inc. (ACT) or the College Board (SAT). Examine your performance to determine what needs to be improved the most. Spend less attention on general test-prep techniques.
Rather, make an investment in online resources or specialized preparatory classes that cater to your individual needs. With this targeted strategy, you can be sure that you're spending your precious preparation time perfecting the skills that will raise your score the most.
By being aware of how standardized testing is changing and putting these tips into practice, you can make sure that test results end up being a useful tool in your college application toolbox.
Achieving high scores on SAT Subject Tests or Advanced Placement (AP) examinations can significantly impact students who want to attend top colleges, even if the SAT and ACT are still crucial considerations in many college admissions decisions. Competitive institutions consider these subject-specific examinations to be a game changer. If you want to know how to get into colleges, here’s how:
● Demonstrating Depth and Passion
Subject tests and AP exams go deeper into certain subjects than the SAT and ACT, which measure broad academic aptitude. By passing these exams, you may demonstrate not only your proficiency on standardized assessments but also your in-depth understanding and enthusiasm for the subject matter. Universities are constantly looking for well-rounded individuals with true intellectual curiosity, and this is an effective way of bringing your name to the top of the selection list.
● Standing Out from the Crowd
Many students who excel academically and have good test scores and GPAs apply to top universities. Subject tests and AP examinations provide you the chance to stand out from the competition. For example, passing an AP exam in a subject linked to your major shows that you have a strong foundation in the subject and are committed to it, in addition to your impeccable academic skills.
Consider a candidate for an engineering degree. Their exceptional performance on the AP Calculus exam indicates that they have a strong grasp of mathematics and the ability to excel in the demanding engineering curriculum. This focused demonstration of expertise can significantly improve your application. So now you know how to get noticed by college, the right way!
● Strategic Research is Key
It's crucial to keep in mind that different universities place different values on these exams. Perform in-depth research on the particular universities and programs you are interested in before devoting a lot of time and effort to studying for AP exams or Subject Tests. Examine their admissions websites and, if needed, get in touch with their admissions departments. Find out whether any tests are taken for the major you want to pursue.
Let’s say you're a high school senior planning to attend a prestigious music school like Julliard. You're an exceptional violinist, and naturally, you're considering taking the SAT Music Subject Test to showcase your talent. However, through your research, you discover that Julliard doesn't require the SAT Music Subject Test! Instead, they emphasize a strong audition where you can demonstrate your musicality firsthand.
By researching Juilliard's specific requirements, you can avoid spending time and energy studying for a test that won't significantly impact your application. You can optimize the significance of your subject-specific test results by deliberately concentrating your efforts on the exams that are most important for your particular academic career.
Here are the most common criteria for colleges that you need to aim for when applying or scouting:
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT):
2. Harvard University:
3. Stanford University:
4. The University of Chicago:
5. Yale University:
Remember that you have to be one step ahead of everyone else. You need to challenge yourself by setting deadlines to complete your essays, collect recommendations, and fill out forms a few weeks before their last date. Put these early due dates on your schedule. Another way to keep track of dates is to put up a spreadsheet.
Now, collect the dates from all of your college applications on one page so you can see them all at once. The best source of precise deadline information is the college website. If you are thinking of ways how to get into Ivy League colleges, you have to prove to them that you are deserving by following the given steps:
Admissions officers' jobs are made easier when you use the same name on all of your forms. Utilizing your entire legal name is also smart. When you do this, the chance of errors and lag time will be minimized. It will also prevent inconsistencies in matching data between various systems for test results and FAFSA.
While there may be room on some forms for preferred names, it is advisable to use your legal name everywhere else. Changing your name—for example, from Bill to Billy—raises the possibility that your documents will be misfiled.
Ignorant errors on your application may reduce the chances that it will be accepted. One excellent tip for college applicants is to wait a day after submitting their application before reviewing it for mistakes. You'll be able to see it with new eyes and identify mistakes more quickly. Have a parent or teacher proofread it as well if you can. Before submitting online applications, save and review them.
Refer to your school's transcript submission procedure. The majority of institutions employ an online platform, which greatly improves efficiency and ease of administration. The same holds true for recommendation letters. Typically, writers can electronically send their letters using a user-friendly linked platform. Provide correct addresses and follow up to make sure everything is sent out on time if paper documents are required.
Grades are a crucial factor in college applications, but what specific numbers translate to "better"? Here's a breakdown with a table to guide you:
There is more to applying to colleges than just grades and test results. This is your opportunity to use essays and personal statements to share your special tale and highlight your individuality.
The personal statement is your chance to shine beyond grades and test scores. It's your story, your voice, and your opportunity to convince admissions officers you belong at their top-tier institution.
The Common Application, often referred to as the Common App, is a centralized online platform used by over 1,000 colleges in the United States for undergraduate admissions. It streamlines the application process by allowing you to submit one application to multiple colleges, saving you time and effort.
Here's where your part comes in: The Common App includes various sections, but a crucial one is the essay. This is your chance to showcase your unique voice and qualities that go beyond grades and test scores. Here are some specific tips to craft a winning Common App essay:
Avoid writing a generic essay that you could submit to any college. Research each school and tailor your personal statement to highlight why you are a perfect fit for their specific academic environment and community. Reflect on experiences, achievements, or challenges that shaped your personality and show them your passions, values, and goals.
Perhaps you had a summer of volunteer work overseas that totally altered your understanding of global health. Or maybe you built an invention that won an award because you were fascinated by robotics. It's these tales that distinguish you.
Use vivid language and storytelling instead of simply stating your qualities. It's a better way to showcase your personality in action.
Don't just write that you're a leader. Describe a time you rallied your classmates to organize a successful fundraising campaign for a local charity. Detail your strategies, challenges overcome, and the impact you made.
Describe how your objectives, interests, and experiences fit the particular program or college you're applying to.
Show your research! Mention professors whose work inspires you or specific research projects at the college that resonate with your interests. Explain how attending their program will help you achieve your future aspirations.
When you start writing the application, make the first draft without being limited to characters. Write what you must and do it in a storytelling way. Don't count words for it, as you are not sending this document. This will only give you an idea and insight into how your application should look like.
You start writing your application and you are trying to include all the catchy elements. Suddenly you remember the word count and characters, and you start panicking and leave it midway. That is how you can miss something really important.
Don't try to create an image you think admissions officers want to see. Acknowledge and honor your true identity. Let your genuine voice and personality shine through. This is something that can make you stand out from the crowd.
Be yourself and don't try to change your personality in application. Are you funny? Witty? or Analytical? let your application show your personality. This will help you to connect with the reader as well.
Make sure your essay is free of grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes. You can do this by proofreading it a couple of times. A polished piece reflects your attention to detail and professionalism.
If possible, ask a trusted teacher, counselor, or parent to review your essay. Their feedback can help you strengthen your argument and polish your writing style.
A college admissions officer or committee sifts through hundreds of applications every day, each application competing for attention and eventually, a seat in the class. There are impressive grades, soaring test scores, and a laundry list of activities, but how will your application manage to stand out? This is where an application theme can help in getting noticed. It’s a central idea or thread that runs common through your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, essays, and eventually ties with your chosen college. It highlights your passions, values, or experiences, and shows admissions officers who you are as a student and a person.
This is one of the best insights on how to get into colleges and helps to create a memorable impression on the admissions committee before they even meet you. A theme helps to tie in disparate elements of your application into a clear picture of your goals and motivations, also highlighting the contributions you could make to the college community.
So, where do you begin crafting your theme?
● Start with Yourself: Take time out for introspection. Jot down your core values, passions, or any life experience that shaped the path you are on today. What are the major turning points in your life or a cause you care about deeply? This will help you find a theme for your application.
● Connecting the Dots: Find that common thread that has been recurring in academic years, co-curricular activities, or any volunteer work that you did during high school. For instance, a passion for environmentalism might connect your participation in the school's environmental club to your volunteer work at a local wildlife rehabilitation center and your chosen major in Environmental Science.
● One at a Time: Don't try to be everything to everyone. Be authentic to your theme and stick to it throughout your application.
Now that you have your theme in mind, here's how to integrate it into your application:
● The Personal Statement: Your personal statement or essay is where you can take creative liberties and shape the reader's mind with your words. You can convince the applications officer that you’re a well-rounded student with a themed application. Do this by highlighting experiences and achievements that highlight your theme.
● Course Selection: Show how your coursework aligns with your theme. Did you take advanced science classes to prepare for your pre-med track?
Academics and extracurriculars go hand in hand, and when you’re trying to become a viable applicant for your dream college, you have to show how you’ve maintained a balance between both. In fact, a study by Pittsburg State University found that students who were involved in extracurricular activities(ECs) in high school had higher GPAs, so it's a win-win situation.
While grades and test scores certainly do quantify your academic capabilities, it's the ECs that reveal your passion and interests to the admission committee. It could be a robotics club, debate team, or volunteering at an animal shelter: your ECs paint a picture of who you are beyond the classroom. Colleges want students who are curious, engaged, and bring a fresh perspective into class, and ECs are a surefire way of achieving that.
Since we’re explaining how to get into colleges, it's important to cover how to utilize your ECs to create a stronger application:
High school is an exciting ride, but putting all your fingers in every group or event can backfire, instead of beefing up your application. Why? Colleges prioritize depth over scope. Select a few pursuits for which you’re genuinely enthusiastic about and can stay consistently dedicated throughout high school.
Don’t make your ECs go in a completely opposite direction than that of your academic interests. If engineering is your passion, then try to volunteer at a nearby engineering company or compete in robot contests. Make your application officer notice that you’re curious about your subject beyond classrooms and course materials.
If you’re still not sure how to get into colleges with the right ECs, here are some of the most recognized categories for 2024-2025:
When you reach the stage of finishing your college application, there are some additional tips to follow. This is to make sure you are on the right path:
Send in your online submissions a couple of weeks ahead of schedule. Anything that requires physical mail should be sent several weeks ahead of time. You never know about the unexpected circumstances that might affect your work. So, it is best advised to make an application checklist in order to remain organized and submit everything on time.
Usually, when you apply online, you'll receive an automated response stating that your materials have been received by the institution. Get in touch with the college's admissions office if you don't. Reapplying online or by mail is not permitted.
The most important part that most people ignore or underestimate is making copies of their important documents. Make a copy of each application component and save it. Keep track of your PINs, passwords, email alerts from admissions officers, and confirmations. If an issue comes up in the future, having this material for reference can come in handy.
To notify admissions officers that your materials have arrived, include a stamped postcard addressed to your home with each bundle of documents you submit. Online monitoring and a comparable "return receipt" service are also provided by the US Post Office.
Don't freak out if you receive an email or message stating that something has vanished. Go over the email carefully. It should include a list of the things you still need to send along with thorough instructions on how to submit it. Please don't hesitate to contact the admissions office if you need assistance if the information is confusing.
Create a formal-sounding email address that is only used for college-related correspondence when getting ready for college application cycles. Apply it to your applications. To ensure you don't miss anything crucial about the applications you've filed, check it frequently.
As a high-school student, knowing how to get into colleges can make all the difference in your acceptance rate at your desired institutions. By prioritizing strategic test prep, strong academics, and unique extracurricular involvement, you can showcase your well-roundedness and stand out from the crowd.
We also advise you to explore these research opportunities for high school students that will definitely set your profile apart from the rest.
Yes. Generally, the college application committee uses “admitted” and “accepted” interchangeably which means that you’ve been offered a place in the incoming class.
Colleges build their freshman class with well-rounded students where each individual brings something unique and interesting to their class. This will include your academic achievements, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities and the way you present yourself in your personal statement.
Every college has its own admissions and selection criteria so it's better to research and apply in schools that match your academic profile. Look for colleges where your GPA and test scores fall within their average admitted student range.
An average student will fill out complete college applications for 6 to 8 different schools. A smart tip would be to create a balanced list that includes:
Ideally, you should begin researching colleges in the 10th or 11th grade. This allows ample time to explore different schools, narrow down your options, and craft strong applications by senior year.
Research is a great way to showcase and highlight your academic interest. As you probably know, academics account for most of the college admission process. If you are interested in doing research, we can help you.
