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Apply to universities at various levels of selectivity with at least one school that you will likely be accepted to. Assess a university’s selectivity by researching the percentage of students accepted versus how many students applied. Decide whether or not your accomplishments fit the criteria the university bases acceptance on.
Selectivity | Percent accepted | Acceptance Focus | Other Focus |
---|
Open | All high school graduates | Accept students on first come, first served basis Focus: High School Diploma |
|
Less Selective | More than 75% | Whether applicants meet minimum requirements Focus: GPA |
|
More Selective | 50-75% | Whether applicants are ready for college-level study Focus: course work, grades, test scores, recommendations, and essays |
|
Very Selective | Only admit a small percentage of applicants Fewer than 50% |
School officials look carefully at every aspect of a student’s high school experience, from academic strength to extracurricular activities. Since most applicants are strong in these areas, other factors such as the essays are critical. Typical GPA: Top 10% of graduating class Typical SAT score: 600-800 on each section |