How to Improve Your Chances of Attending a Selective College

As high school draws to a close, it can be daunting to think of what’s next. Not all high schoolers will go off to college, but 61.4% of graduates were enrolled in college in October 2023. With this statistic, it can be expected that there are a number of students looking at college applications at this very moment, and some of them might be aiming for a selective institution.

If this is the case, then you need to boost your application to stand out from the crowd. These schools receive countless applications each year, but their acceptance rates have been limited. To improve your chances of attending a highly selective college, follow the three tips in this post.

Evaluate Your GPA

Grades are often one of the prioritized aspects of applying for colleges, especially with Ivy League institutions. A grade point average is a good indicator of a student’s academic potential for colleges should monitor; students who can add to the college experience will have an increased chance of admittance. Achieving a consistent GPA will display your dedication throughout your entire time at high school, instead of just performing well on test days.

But it’s important to remember that colleges will consider a student’s entire school career, including the classes they take. Although one student might have a lower GPA, they might be taking advanced classes. 

The college admissions officers will also look into the class size, grading system, and characteristics of the student body. For example, the class size gives the admissions office an indication of a student’s ranking; it is more impressive for a student to be in the top 10% of a class of 200 than of a class of 50.

Apply to the Best-Fit Colleges

Just like you wouldn’t wear a pair of shoes that were two sizes too small, you don’t want to attend a college that doesn’t fit your expectations. Some colleges won’t challenge you academically, while others might not have the right social qualities or be too far away from home. This can cause students to become anxious, which might cause them to dislike their time at college.

Knowing how to find the best-fit college for you is vital. You can do this by thinking about what you want from a college, reflecting on your needs and interests. The biggest choice will be deciding which major you want to study, although most colleges do not need this to be declared until the end of the sophomore year. Not all Ivy League colleges will have the same subjects, so this will also affect where you study.

However, as Going Ivy explains, students will “want a health mix of safe bet, target and reach schools.” This means you should apply to numerous colleges; for example, a safe bet college is one where you have at least 80% chance of acceptance.

Consider Early Action

Early action is just like early decision, but it does not entail a binding agreement. The deadline for this is usually November or December, although students do not have to commit to a college or place a deposit until the beginning of May. This means they can apply to as many schools as they want to with early action.

There is an increased chance of admission when using early action. For example, Harvard University was found to have admitted 8.74% of early applicants for the Class of 2028, which was more than the 3.59% of successful applicants overall. This could be the result of smaller applicant pools during the early admissions round.

By following the three tips listed in this article, your college application will be primed to send off to a highly selective school.