When colleges say that your transcript is the most important part of your application, it's a lie. Take two students. At the elite university they both applied to, there is one last spot in the freshman class and these two are contending for it. As far as essays, teacher recommendations, extracurriculars, and standardized testing goes, they are indistinguishable. Now, student A has a GPA of 3.95. Student B has a GPA of 3.8, but has written a best selling book series on quantum mechanics. Now, who do you think is going to get into the university. Hint: it's not A.
Here's the low-down from (APPROXIMATELY) least important to most important factors that most colleges consider and that are within your control
level of interest demonstrated
the interview
counselor/teacher recommendations
the essay
extracurriculars
curriculum (in context)/grades/class rank/grade trends
extremely special talents and skills
In my next post, I will address these all in detail. However, the following factors also bear mentioning here (and they will be covered in more depth later). They are out of your control and listed in no particular order.
ethnicity
geographic location
legacy status
miscellaneous
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