What Makes a “Competitive” College Competitive?

What Makes a “Competitive” College Competitive?

Lower acceptance rate

High SAT/ACT test scores of the middle 50% of incoming freshmen

Percentage of students who rank academically in the top 10% of their senior class

Lower acceptance rate

High SAT/ACT test scores of the middle 50% of incoming freshmen

Percentage of students who rank academically in the top 10% of their senior class

Factors that Determine Class Rank

Factors that Determine Class Rank

Grades Rigor of high school courses Remember that honors, AP and

some dual enrollment courses get extra points calculated into the GPA

Students with highest GPAs have taken multiple AP courses

Grades Rigor of high school courses Remember that honors, AP and

some dual enrollment courses get extra points calculated into the GPA

Students with highest GPAs have taken multiple AP courses

Levels of CompetitivenessLevels of CompetitivenessMost difficult: More than 75% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on SAT (reading and math) or over 29 on ACT. Less than 30% applicants are accepted.Very Difficult: More than 50% of all freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on SAT (reading and math) or over 26 on ACT. 60% or fewer applicants are accepted.

Most difficult: More than 75% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on SAT (reading and math) or over 29 on ACT. Less than 30% applicants are accepted.Very Difficult: More than 50% of all freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on SAT (reading and math) or over 26 on ACT. 60% or fewer applicants are accepted.

Levels of Competitiveness Levels of Competitiveness Moderately difficult: more than 75% of freshmen were in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 SAT (reading and math) or over 18 on ACT. 85% or fewer applicants accepted.Minimally Difficult: Most freshmen were not in the top 50% and scored below 1010 SAT (reading and math) or below 19 on ACT. Up to 95% applicants accepted.Noncompetitive: All applicants accepted regardless of high school rank or test scores

Moderately difficult: more than 75% of freshmen were in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 SAT (reading and math) or over 18 on ACT. 85% or fewer applicants accepted.Minimally Difficult: Most freshmen were not in the top 50% and scored below 1010 SAT (reading and math) or below 19 on ACT. Up to 95% applicants accepted.Noncompetitive: All applicants accepted regardless of high school rank or test scores

Most Competitive College Examples

Most Competitive College Examples

College Acceptance Rate

Range of SAT

Class rank top10%

Harvard 6.9% 2080-2370

95%

Princeton 8.2% 2000-2300

92%

Dartmouth 11.5% 2210 avg.

95%

Most Competitive College examples (2)

Most Competitive College examples (2)

College Acceptance Rate

UC Berkeley 21%

Univ. of Virginia 32%

Emory University 27.2%

Georgia College ExamplesGeorgia College ExamplesCollege Accept.

RateMean SAT Rd/Math

Average act

UGA 54.8% 1215 27

GA Tech 63.3% 1330 29

North GA 61.7% 1075 22

KSU 59.1% 1060 22

Valdosta 62.1% 995 22

Competitive Colleges Attract Competitive Applicants

Competitive Colleges Attract Competitive Applicants

How Competitive

AreYOU?

How Competitive

AreYOU?

What makes a student more competitive?

What makes a student more competitive?

Multiple AP and/or dual enrollment college courses

High grades/high GPA High SAT or ACT scores Strong extracurricular involvement High level of quality community service

activities Leadership roles Strong recommendations

Multiple AP and/or dual enrollment college courses

High grades/high GPA High SAT or ACT scores Strong extracurricular involvement High level of quality community service

activities Leadership roles Strong recommendations

For most private colleges and some public ones,

like UGA, counselors and teachers are asked to

report class rank and rate their applicants.

For most private colleges and some public ones,

like UGA, counselors and teachers are asked to

report class rank and rate their applicants.

Here’s what a typical school report form asks:Applicant’s GPA______Highest GPA in the class_______Is GPA weighted?________Applicant ranks ______ in a class of _______ students.Is rank based on weighted grades? ________Applicant’s highest test scoresSAT reading_____ SAT math______ Date taken_______ACT composite_______ Date taken_________Are Honors and/or AP courses available? Which ones has the applicant taken?

Compared to other students in the class, please rate the level of difficulty of courses this student has attempted:

Below avg. Avg. Above avg. Adv. Most diff.EnglishMathSocial ScienceForeign LanguageScienceOverall

Please rate the student compared to peers in this graduatingclass in each of the following areas:

Below avg. Avg. Above Avg. Advanced Outstanding top 25% top 15% top 5%Academic achievementCo-curricular involvementCommitment to serviceAbility to interact with different groupsPositive impact at schoolCharacter & integrityOverallFeel free to attach an adidtional sheet or letter to tell us anything else about the student you would like us to know.

The bottom line is:

The higher your grades and test scores, the more college choices you will have. Good college search websites:www.careercruising.comwww.collegeview.comwww.collegeresults.com (good for findingstatistics like acceptance rate, etc. for colleges)