COLLEGE ADMISSION CONSIDERATIONS

Most colleges consider a blend of your academic and personal qualifications. Some consider your academic qualifications only.

• Almost all colleges require a high school transcript and diploma.
• The more selective the college, the more stringent the admissions requirements.
• Requirements at a college may differ for different programs or different students.
• Some colleges suggest criteria for admissions, such as SAT I or ACT scores in a certain range, specific academic courses, and GPA's above some level.
• Colleges that require standardized tests usually like a balance between verbal and math scores. Very unbalanced scores should be explainable and appropriate for the college (e.g. high math scores for engineering).

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• High school courses--substance, diversity, and level of difficulty
• High school grades, including senior year
• Trends in grades (steady improvement, strong 11th grade record desirable)
• Relationship of grades to standardized test scores (high scores and poor grades undesirable)
• Standardized test scores
• Academic honors and awards
• Recommendations from college counselors and teachers

• Extracurricular activities, interests, part time jobs, community service, and hobbies (most important for the very selective colleges)
• Long-term commitment and talent in a few activities (e.g. sports, arts, student government, community service, religious activities)
• Recommendations from your college counselor, one or two teachers, possibly an employer--people who know you well and appreciate your strengths and potential
• Application essays
• Personal interviews

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: 

• Relationship to alumnus(a) (One who is influential or a generous donor can sometimes help)
• Sibling at the college (especially if he is/was a successful student)
• Geographic, ethnic, sex, socio-economic representation needed to balance a class
• Number of applicants from Episcopal High School
• Reputation of Episcopal High School

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