There’s a lot to know about the college application process. The first thing to take note of is that applying to college requires a pretty hefty amount of research. However, there are a few things you should know right off the bat before you jump into it all. Here are 5 things you should know about college admissions.
- GPA Isn’t Everything
A lot of high school students think that they won’t be able to get into college because they don’t have the most impressive GPA. On the contrary, most schools look at a lot more than just your GPA. They look at your course load, your test scores, how your grades have changed (preferably improved) over your four years in high school, your letters of recommendation and your essay to get a more well rounded idea of who you are and what you bring to the table.
- Tailor Your Essay to Each School
If you are planning on applying to several schools, then it can be difficult to tailor an essay for each and every one. That’s why you want to first focus on your top school and write that essay. If you want to go to GWU Online, then you want to start by researching the school and finding out everything to know about their values and their priorities. Once you have crafted an essay for them, you can start to manipulate that essay a bit for your safety schools, using it more as a template.
- Know the Acceptance Statistics
While you may think that almost all of the accredited universities in the country only accept a tiny percentage of applicants, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, some of the most well known colleges are highly competitive, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a school for you, even if your grades aren’t great. Most schools accept a good majority of applicants. If you are open to going to any of the other 500 universities in the nation, then you will have a much easier time getting accepted than if you only apply to one or two competitive programs. Most schools actually accept up to about 75% of applicants, and some even accept up to 100% of high school graduates.
- Consider What Environment is Best for You
You never want to apply to a school just because it has an impressive name. You have to know what you’re looking for in your college experience – big or small; private or public, strength of specific fields of study, etc. From there, you can think about your future career, but start with what you want from college. If the schools that your parents or your teachers want you to go to don’t seem suited to your needs, then be sure to listen to your heart and find the school that you want. It’s your life after all.
- Take Advantage of AvailableResources
If you think that you can’t go to college because you don’t have a trust fund or because you don’t know how to apply, then know that there are resources available to help you. You can speak with your counselor at school about the application process and get help from teachers in writing letters of recommendation and with proof reading your essay. You can also apply for financial aid, scholarships, and grants so to help pay for your education.
Eleena Timmons 
Roman Cyrus