One of the most common questions I get from students (and sometimes parents) is: “What do colleges actually care about?” or “What do I need to do to get into a ‘good’ college?” In a previous post, I discussed the problem with talking about “good” colleges as if it were a universal measurement. The truth is, every college is a little different – that includes their admissions process; however, there are some key parts of an application that consistently matter more than others. When students understand this, they can focus their energy where it counts most—and hopefully stress a little less about the rest.
The Big Four: What Colleges Look at First
I’ll be honest, the title of the Blog post was a bit tongue-in-cheek because there are so many variables and I get this reductive question often. Nevertheless, I’ll try my best to cover the four top things I believe matter (with the big caveat that it always depends on a number of factors – especially the applicant, the applicant’s high school, they year the applicant is applying, and the college/university where they’re applying)
- Academic Record (Transcript & GPA)
This is almost always #1 although rigor is definitely on the rise. Colleges want to see the courses you’ve taken and how well you’ve done in them. Rigor matters too—did you challenge yourself with honors, AP, IB, or dual enrollment classes? Your GPA in context tells colleges a lot about your preparation. Don’t forget that many colleges recalculate your GPA according to their own system (I’ll talk about this in another post), so don’t assume the GPA on your transcript is the GPA they’re using to calculate. - Course Rigor
A 4.0 in the minimally rigorous classes doesn’t mean much. As I always tell my students, a GPA does not exist in a vacuum and not all GPAs are created equally. Colleges would often prefer a B+ in a harder course than an A- in something that didn’t challenge you. Also, different schools have different rigor offerings, which is why it is so important for your school to share a school profile with colleges so they understand the students’s context. - Extracurricular Activities
It’s not about doing everything. It’s about what you care about and how you’ve shown commitment. Leadership, impact, or depth in a few activities stands out more than a long list. “Depth over breadth” seems to be the admissions mantra right now. Also, if students are focusing on things that are meaningful to them, it will just make their high school experience more enjoyable and enriching. - Essays
This is where students’ personalities come through. Colleges want to hear their voice, understand what matters to them, and see how they think. A well-written, thoughtful essay can make a difference. Students also get the misconception that their essay has to be some life-changing disaster or dramatic volunteer project. If they have a story like this… sure, absolutely write about it! Most of us don’t have an over-the-top story like this and colleges don’t expect you to. I’ll talk more about essays in an upcoming post. Counselors can provide guidance and brainstorm with students, but should not be writing it for them for a variety of reasons.
What Else Matters?
- Letters of Recommendation: These help colleges see you through the eyes of teachers or counselors who know you well. Choose people who can speak to students’ growth, effort, and character. Counselors can provide a prompt to students to fill out and give the teacher and refresh their memory. The prompt can ensure that the teacher writes a letter with concrete anectodes and meaningful content. Here’s some example prompt questions:
- Why did you choose this teacher to write your letter? In what contexts do you know them?
- What was your favorite lesson/topic in this class and why?
- What was the most challenging part of this class and how did you overcome it?
- What was a project or paper that you feel you did exceptionally well on?
- Test Scores: Strong scores will never hurt a student. If possible, I would recommend that a student takes the SAT and ACT once and then decide which one they felt that they can do better at if they decide to retake it and attempt to get a higher score. Some schools are test-optional, but more and more schools are returning to their old test-required policies.
- Demonstrated Interest: Some colleges track whether you’ve visited, attended events, or reached out. Not all do, but it’s worth checking.
Key Takeaway for Counselors:
Help your students focus on what’s in their control. Their transcript is already written, but how they tell their story—through activities and essays—can still shape their application in meaningful ways.
If students are feeling overwhelmed, remind them: not everything matters equally, and they don’t need to be perfect. They just need to be real, reflective, and thoughtful about where they shine.
