By: Zaynah Danquah, a 24/7 Instructional Design Superstar

Prefer to listen to this lesson? Click below:

Workshop Scenario:

Please think of yourself in the following scenario as you complete this workshop.

You are a high school senior. College application deadlines are approaching, and you have no idea where to start. You’ve reached out to the 24/7 Teach team to learn the basics of the college application process.

You are confident that, by the end of 24/7 Teach’s college application workshop, you will be able to understand the application process and how to get started.

As you have progressed through the workshop, you have learned the basics of the college application and the application process, including different types of application deadlines. However, you don’t know what parts of the application to prioritize the most. Your next step is to learn what parts of the application matter most to colleges.

Your Objective:

After successful completion of this lesson you will be able to: 

• Rank parts of the college application in order of importance

• Explain the importance of key parts of the application

Important Questions to Answer While Reading:

In order to be successful in this lesson, you must be able to answer these important questions.

• What are the most important parts of the college application process?

• What is the importance of key parts of each application?

Lesson 3: 

What matters most to colleges?

Take a Guess! How much do you think each part of the application is worth when colleges evaluate an applicant? 

Rank the following parts of the application in the order of importance a) Recommendations, b) Showing Interest in the college, c) Grades and Level of Coursework, d) Test Scores, e) Extra Curricular Activities, f) Essay, g) Grades

Click the dropdown below to find out how much each part of the college application is worth.

Important Factors in Each Part of the Application

Here is a list of some common factors that colleges and universities may consider when evaluating applicants:

• Grades & coursework: Most colleges and universities place a strong emphasis on grades, particularly in rigorous academic courses such as math, science, and English. 

Some colleges and universities may give special consideration to applicants who have taken advanced coursework, such as Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes, as this can demonstrate a student's ability to handle college-level material and their willingness to challenge themselves academically. 

Additionally, taking 4 years of another world language can demonstrate academic discipline and show an exploratory mindset to experience other cultures outside of your own. 

• Test scores: Many colleges and universities require applicants to submit scores from standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT as part of the admissions process. These scores can be used to help colleges and universities compare applicants from different schools and states.

In recent years, a growing number of colleges and universities in the United States have adopted test-optional policies, which means that they do not require applicants to submit scores from standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT as part of the admissions process.

However, even if you are applying to a test-optional school, test scores may still be important because many scholarships require an SAT or ACT score as part of the application process. Some schools use these scores to award merit scholarships.

• Extra curricular activities: Colleges and universities often look for applicants who are well-rounded and have demonstrated leadership and involvement in extracurricular activities, such as clubs, sports, community service, and other organizations. These activities can show that a student is engaged in their school and community and has developed skills such as teamwork and communication.

• Essays: Many colleges and universities require applicants to write an essay as part of the admissions process. The essay is an opportunity for the student to share more about themselves and their goals, and to explain why they are interested in attending that specific college or university. Effective essays are an authentic representation of you, providing an original voice, getting to the point quickly, and personalizing your writing through specific examples. 

• Letters of recommendation: Some colleges and universities may ask for letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other educators. These letters should speak to the student's academic abilities and potential and may provide additional context about the student's academic and personal strengths.

• Demonstrated interest in the college: Some colleges and universities may consider whether an applicant has demonstrated interest in the school, such as by visiting the campus, attending events, or communicating with admissions staff. This can show that the student is genuinely interested in attending the school and has done their research.

Closing Assessment:

Now that you have reached the end of this lesson, you should know the following:

• The 3 types of application deadlines 

• Where to find a college’s application

Discussion Questions:

Show your knowledge and connect with the 24/7 Teach community by sharing/posting your discussion question responses in the comment section below.

1. Do you believe it is better to have 1 or 2 extracurricular activities that you have done for a long time, or is it better to have many that you have done for a short time? Why or why not?

2. Why do you believe colleges value essays so highly during the admissions process?