he student's high school record, both courses taken and grades earned, usually is the single most important academic consideration. Many factors are often reviewed to get a clear picture of an applicant's achievements.

Decision Making Process

Decision-making Process

• Program of study
  • Types of courses taken
  • Number of academic courses taken each semester
  • Level of courses (regular, accelerated/honors, AP, IB)
  • College-prep curriculum
    
    
• Academic Trends
  • Number of academic courses per year
  • Grade pattern: an upward trend in grades will be noticed; unfortunately, so will a downward trend.
    
    
• Senior Schedule
  • Take challenging academic classes during your senior year; don't take a light load. Colleges will interpret a weak senior schedule as a lack of interest or motivation.
    
    
• Necessary coursework for particular programs of interest (e.g., if you plan to pursue pre-med, have you taken biology, chemistry and calculus?)
  
  
• Availability of courses at your particular high school - some schools are large enough to offer many advanced classes; smaller schools may offer fewer options.
  
  
• Academic strength of the high school
  Extenuating circumstances that may have affected your performance (e.g., extended illness, a change in schools, personal problems)
  
  
• Admission Committees often consider a variety of other factors, including:
  • SAT I/ACT/SAT II results
  • Special pre-college or college-level study
  • Admission application essay(s); content, style and structure
  • Unusual achievements, academic and otherwise
  • Special talents
  • Leadership experience
  • Activities and responsibilities outside of the classroom - at the school or in the community
  • Admission interview evaluation
  • Counselor and/or teacher recommendations
  • Other recommendations
• Past success of students from the same high school
• Other applicants from the same high school
• Early decision or regular decision: students degree of expressed interest
• Family ties to the college
• Timing: was the application deadline met?
• Overall appearance of the complete application

Colleges also take into account their institutional needs when they consider candidates for admission. Most colleges and universities seek a broadly diverse student body, and thus a student's sex, race, geographic origin, religious preference, athletic interests, alumni ties or specific academic interests may be considered.