What do colleges consider when reviewing your application?

• Course Rigor
• Grades—both weighted and un-weighted GPA (many have their own system of calculating your GPA)
• Class Rank (if your school ranks students)
• Recommendation
• Extracurricular Activities and leadership roles
• Community/Volunteer /Service
• Interview (not required by all schools)
• Essay (not required by all schools)

Tips on Completing College Applications

• Know application deadlines
• Most colleges prefer that students apply online. Visit the college website orwww.cfnc.org (for NC schools).
• If you apply online, print a copy of your completed application. Print out the signature page and send it in, if required.
• If you handwrite an application, colleges can tell if your parent did it.
• If the application asks for a list of activities and only gives you a small space, list your most important activities or ones for which you had a leadership role. You can also submit a resume.
• Type essays in Word format first and then “cut and paste” them into the digital application. If you are unsure of your essay, ask a teacher of someone else to read it first.
• Submit anything else the college asks for.