The College Admissions Process
Public and Private Colleges/UniversitiesGrandview Senior Parent/Student Workshop
September 17, 2012
Jillian McGlincheyAdmission Counselor
University of Colorado Boulder
Types of Post-secondary InstitutionsThere are over 4,000 colleges and
universities in the United States alone
Technical or Vocational SchoolsOffer programs toward a particular occupationOften accredited differently (not transferable)
Open Enrollment SchoolsPrimarily community and junior collegesOpen to anyone, small classes, transferable
Selective and Highly Selective Schools
Use GPA, tests, essay, etcFour year schools: public or private
What do I Want?Academics
What do I Want?Activities
What do I Want?Location
What do I Want?Other things to Consider
Campus size – total enrollment, class sizes, resources Cost and available financial aid – wait until you get a
financial aid package before eliminating any options General campus environment – religious affiliation,
political environment, school spirit Competiveness – your realistic chance of getting admitted
based on GPA, test scores, classes, activities, and the
school’s applicant pool and admission rates.
Remember…There is no one college that is right for everyone. Evaluate your
priorities and consider what is the best fit for YOU.
Visiting a College Campus
Try to visit several of your top choices Visit different campuses in your area,
even if you don’t plan to apply, so you can experience multiple environments
Take the official tour offered by the school if possible
Decide what additional information you’d like to get while on campus, and make arrangements ahead of time
What to Expect When ApplyingAt Most Institutions Application for admission (some use Common App) Application fee – online or mailed High school transcript (grades 9-12) SAT and/or ACT scores
Variable by institution Essays Letters of recommendation Interviews Additional tests (e.g. SAT subject tests) Mid-year reportsEarly Decision vs. Early Action/Notification
The Application
Factors in the CU-Boulder Decision Holistic review process Academic History
Course load Difficulty of classes Cumulative GPA Grade trend Test scores Strength of current schedule Minimum Academic Preparation
Standards (MAPS) completed Additional Factors
Volunteer and work experience Unique talents or backgrounds Extenuating circumstances
Minimum Academic Preparation Standards
ENGLISH 4
MATH 4
NATURAL SCIENCE(includes biology, chemistry, and physics)
3
SOCIAL SCIENCE(includes US and world history, and
geography)3
FOREIGN LANGUAGE(single foreign language)
3
Test Scores
Scores Used for AdmissionsEnglish 25Math 28
Reading 22Science Reasoning 27
Composite 26
ACT (Test 1)English 24Math 28
Reading 21Science Reasoning 27
Composite 25
ACT (Test 2)English 25
Math 26Reading 22
Science Reasoning 25Composite 25
Middle 50%
Middle 50% of Admitted FreshmenGPA 3.3-3.9
Percentile Rank 65-89
SAT Total 1090-1270*
ACT Composite 24-29
Admitted Transfer Students
3.21 average college GPA
2.5 minimum college GPA to be considered
With 24 or more completed hours of transferable coursework
decision will be based on college record
*SAT total includes critical reading & math scores only.
Tips and Recommendations Know and meet all deadlines (for
honors and scholarships as well as for applications)
Make yourself stand out in essays Ask for letters of recommendation
well in advance of deadlines Be realistic about admission
chances and have backup plans Ensure that your application is
presented appropriately Seek advice, but do your own work
on applications and essays
In the end…
You are choosing a community. Make sure it’s the right one for YOU!
Jillian McGlincheyAdmission Counselor
University of Colorado Boulder303-492-8316
Connect with your admission counselor!