To have the greatest chance of getting into your top choice schools, your college application needs to shine in several areas. Here you'll find information on grades, AP classes, letters of recommendation, interviews, extra curricular activities, and athletics.
Almost all colleges and universities consider a good academic record to be the most important part of a strong admissions application. A good academic record, however, is about more than grades. The list below discusses some of the important features that separate a good academic record from a weaker one.
What is a weighted GPA? This article explains how high schools weight your GPA, and how the weighted GPA plays out in the college admissions process.
Should you explain a bad grade when applying to college? Do colleges want to know the reasons behind a bad grade on your high school transcript? This article addresses the issue.
High Grades or Challenging Courses? Many high school students have a hard time figuring out which courses will work best for getting into college.
Legacy admissions -- learn what college legacy admissions are and how they affect your chances of getting into college.
Legacy Students - Should legacy students get preference in the college admissions process? Share your thoughts.
College wait lists can be frustrating. Share your experiences with other readers.
Extracurricular activities are more than band, drama club and student government. In this article, readers describe their creative and unusual extracurricular activities.
Extracurricular Activities - What is an Extracurricular Activity? Many college applicants worry that they don't have enough extracurricular activities to impress admissions counselors at selective colleges. This article discusses the wide range of activities that should be included on a college application.
Extracurricular activities are an area of concern for many college applicants. Sarah shows how an unusual hobby can be transformed into an extracurricular activity that will impress college admissions counselors.
Finding yourself on a college wait list is frustrating, but you can do a few things to improve your chances of getting off the list.
Rubik's Cube may not seem to have much to do with college admissions, but anything an applicant is passionate about can be transformed into a winning piece of a college application.
Many students who applied to college Early Decision or Early Action are finding that they've been neither accepted nor rejected, but deferred. If you find yourself in this limbo, here are some guidelines for how to proceed.
College application mistakes can make the difference between an acceptance and rejection letter.
Facebook and MySpace matter during the college admissions process. This article explains how you can make social networking sites work for you, not against you.
Learn how to tackle some common interview questions.
This FAQ explains the significance of optional college interviews.
The college interview can help you if you make a good impression. Avoid these mistakes to keep from making a negative impression.
How many and what level of math courses do you really need to get into college?
Foreign Language Requirement - Learn how many years of a foreign language are required for college admissions. This article compares the foreign language requirements from several different colleges.
College admissions don't need to be a mystery. Most schools publish data stating exactly which parts of the application they weight most heavily. Here you'll find an overview of the key factors schools consider when making an admissions decision.
Nearly all college applications require letters of recommendation. These guidelines will help you know who and how to ask for letters.
Can you appeal a college admission decision? Is a rejection letter final? What situations warrant a letter of appeal to the office of admissions? Find the answers in this FAQ.
Wait-Lists. What should you do if you find your self in wait-list limbo? Read this FAQ to find out your chances of getting in and to get suggestions for planning your future.
Princeton Review offers advice on choosing your extracurricular activities.
Essay Edge provides tips for making a good impression at your college interview.
Kavin Buck of UCLA gives advice on preparing a portfolio for college applications to art schools.
